Expert: Karen Craft - 2/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Karen,

I received your name from Maria Peppers.  I have a 4 year old female cat who has been fighting cystitis for a few months now.  She had xrays this morning and no crystals or stones.  The vet did mention that stress can be a cause of this.  I have 4 cats, the other three are males, all neutered.  One of the males still has the urge and he tries to mount her, she screams and I yell at him.  This could be part of the stress she is feeling.  Is there a way to stop him from making her life miserable?

ANSWER: Hi Ellen,

Stress can trigger this as can other factors. Make sure she drinks alot. If she is on dry food switch her to canned food. If she is on canned food do what I do. I add extra water to the wet food, (usually 1-2 tablespoons). The more water she gets the better to dissolve the crystals. If you think she is beginning to have an attack take a jar of baby food,(stage 1 beef or chicken), mix with 6 jars of water and bring to a boil. Use a syringe or turkey baster and give her about 1-2 tablespoons an hour. Do this for a couple of days. This will help.

Now onto the stress. You can try Feliway Comfort Zone. It acts as happy cat pheromones do to reduce stress and anxiety. Whenever the male goes to mount her don't yell, swat him. He will get the picture. Males sometimes are stubborn and this is the only way to get their attention. And if all of this doesn't work ask your vet about putting her on amitriptyline (Elavil) for the same effect. Hopefully one of these will work. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Karen,

I am so sorry for being such a pest but I am having a hard time of it with her.  I have three other cats and this is getting out of hand.  She has been urinating with blood on my down comforter which I threw away today, hoping that maybe she will go back to the litter box.  I put an old sheet on the bed but that is not good enough for her.  I can't stop this.  She has been on antibiotics for over a week now, Clavamox twice a day and Baytril once a day.  Tomorrow is the last day for the antibiotics.  Nothing seems to be working.  I also have been giving UTI Free which is a holisitic medication.  I give it to her 6 times once every hour.  It helps for the time that I am giving to her and then it all stops.  

If this does not get better soon, I will have no choice but to put her in the vet and I really do not want to do that.  Is there anything else I can give her that speed this along.   This has been going for several months already.  She had xrays the other day, unless he read them wrong, there are no crystals or stones.  HELP!!!!!

Answer
Hi Ellen,

You have your hands full. I know what this is like. I have a Persian that was back and forth to the vet for the same thing. What seemed to work was feeding him Purina One for Urinary Tract Problems. If you decide to feed them this,(all the cats can be on it at once) make the changeover gradually.

Here is a link that you need to read. This is from a vet who answers a lot of questions about Cystitis. http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/caturinary.html
He gives a lot of good info and advice here. You need to get her relaxed and stress free. Try the Amitriptyline. See if you can keep her in a room by herself until this episode stops.

Get your vet to run a urine culture. Find out if it is bacterial related. Try the food and the Amitriptyline. Episodes take about 8-10 days to run the course. Make sure you clean the areas she has been using with a really good enzymatic urine remover so she isn't tempted to use that area again. Try using this litter. You can get it at Pet Smart.
http://www.preciouscat.com/
You will hit on the right combo to help her. It is just going to take a little time. But once you find it this condition won't happen anymore. Good luck and let me know what happens.

Ciao, Karen