Kitty kidney problems?

[Tuckervill]

Yesterday, I caught one of my cats peeing in a box of t-shirts I was going to give away. He's been known to use a plant once in a while when it was too inconvenient to go outside or use the litter box (sometimes the bathroom door is closed for a day by accident). So, I didn't think much of him using the t-shirt box--I was just a little miffed that he ruined the shirts.

Today I noticed that one of the top t-shirts had blood spots on it that it didn't have yesterday (the shirts are all brand new, leftovers from my baseball league). In my decluttering this evening, I realized that he has definitely peed on the wall or carpet there, because I could smell it after the box was outside. The box has been sitting there for a while, so he may have used it several times before I caught him in the act. (I didn't smell it until yesterday, and since I moved the box it is stronger.)

Now because of the blood I'm concerned that the kitty has a UT problem. I'll probably take him to the vet tomorrow. But I'm wondering, how do they diagnose such a thing?

He seems normal in every way, except for the blood. All four of the other animals have had access to that box, but none of them would pee in it and none of them have bled anywhere else. (My other cat goes exclusively outside. He doesn't use the litter box unless absolutely necessary, like extremely bad weather.)

As an aside, both of my cats were overdue for their shots (>3 years) and I had them vax'd about 2 months ago. Should I be concerned about a reaction to the vaccinations? They eat Nutro dry food and always have.

Thanks!

Karen

[Eden]

Crystals in his urine are definitely a possibility. They are sharp and can cause bleeding.... (my poor boy had some blood when he had his bout with FUS). Take him to the vet ASAP - it doesn't sound like he's blocked yet, but it will be bad if he does become blocked (very painful for him and $$$ for you). They'll get some urine and test it, then probably put him on a crystal busting food - it makes very acidic urine to break the crystals down.

[Tuckervill]

Thanks, Eden. We'll go in the morning.

Karen

[Biciclista]

If your cat already has blood in his urine, it's already very critical and painful. Please get him to the Vet asap. This can kill them, it's a really painful death.

[Tuckervill]

My only opportunity to get him to a vet is tomorrow a.m., unless I drive for an hour to the animal emergency clinic in the "city". I don't think that's necessary, because this does not look like a cat in pain. He looks and acts completely normal. He just beat up his brother to get him out of the window he favors. He threw himself on his back in front of me while ago to get me to rub him. He's eating and drinking normally.

He may be having pain when he urinates, but he's not in pain otherwise. Thanks for the advice, though.

Karen

[Blueberry]

As long as he's still eating and still going, he's not completely blocked (the crystals can totally block his ability to go). Unless that happens, his regular vet should be fine (at least this is what my vet told me after years of dealing with this off and on). It probably is crystals in the urine. Depending on the type, they may be easier or harder to deal with. The vet will get a urine sample to check, and perhaps take an x-ray.

CA

[SheFly]

I've dealt with the same thing, and in my cat, it is chronic. We feed her a urinary tract-specific food (prescription), and haven't had any issues since two large stones were removed (surgically) from her bladder about 4 years ago.

Good luck to you and kitty!

SheFly