Our trip to the vet was helpful. The vet didn't think it was necessary at this point to take an xray or a urine sample. He said he couldn't feel the bladder in a cat this big, to tell whether it was distended (he's not fat, just large). That inclined him not to do the urine sample with the needle, just yet, as well, since he would be doing it blind. Kitty had a low-grade fever, so we both thought the conservative approach was antibiotics and watch and wait. I'm watching his litter for more blood (I put shredded paper in the box.)

Thanks for encouraging me to take him in. I do tend to wait and see too long, sometimes. It pays off most of the time, though!

Karen