Dear Cat

[Bethany1]

Dear Bandit,

I'm sorry you have a UTI. The vet took care of you today so maybe it's good thing you peed all over my cycling clothes so I'd notice something was wrong. It still took four washings to get it all out so I'm not happy. Vet said your bladder is the size of a grapefruit. I feel so bad.


Dear Vet,

Are you sure you aren't getting paid to push prescription cat food? Or is it your only source of income besides what you charge for visits? Not sure I buy into this idea as you want me to feed my cat a couple of cans a day.


I know there was a discussion about canned vs dry, but how do you afford canned cat food when it's .75 to 1.50 a can and you need several a day?

[Biciclista]

Bethany, you don't have to buy that kind of cat food. But you do need to wean cat off dry food. Or he will continue to have problems. I feed my cats raw meat and canned cat food now for their health and comfort.

[indysteel]

Bethany, you don't have to buy that kind of cat food. But you do need to wean cat off dry food. Or he will continue to have problems. I feed my cats raw meat and canned cat food now for their health and comfort.

+1. There are some past threads on this subject that are worth reading. I also found this chart to be helpful. When we switched to canned foods, I bought a variety of brands and flavors, primarly focusing on the carb and protein content (I look for low carb and high protein). As you can see from the chart, some of the brands we tend to think of as premium (like Science Diet and Hills, which is what vets often push) do not offer a good carb/protein ratio. So, while they are better than dry food in terms of moisture content, they are still less than ideal.

For better or for worse, one of my cats had a distinct adversion to some of the premiums brands of canned food. He mostly prefers Friskies. There are some varieties of Friskies that offer a good carb/protein ratio, so that's what he gets. We also have additional water bowls out now than we once had, and he seems to be drinking more from them. So far, so good. He hasn't had any additonal urinary issues since we made the switch.

My point in sharing that is that if Friskies or another cheaper brand fits your budget better, then look into what flavors or varieties are best for your cat and go from there. Also do what you can to encourage more water consumption by putting out multiple water bowls and/or using a water fountain. My cats didn't care for the latter, but they show a marked preference for the water dishes that are in private areas away from where they are served food. You can also add a bit of water to the canned food to make a bit of a gravy. Every little bit of extra water you get into them helps.

In the end and IME, treating chronic UTIs and/or kidney disease ends up costing more--financially and emotionally--than dry food. I lost a cat to chronic kidney failure, after feeding her a dry diet her whole life. I wish I could go back and undo that.

[Biciclista]

In the end and IME, treating chronic UTIs and/or kidney disease ends up costing more--financially and emotionally--than dry food. I lost a cat to chronic kidney failure, after feeding her a dry diet her whole life. I wish I could go back and undo that.

wow, what an angle. no kidding. and watching your cat be in pain ... horrible

[indysteel]

wow, what an angle. no kidding. and watching your cat be in pain ... horrible

Perhaps I stated this inartfully. What I meant is that I would have gladly paid more for canned food to spare my cat and myself the pain of CKF.

[smilingcat]

Yes, we also have a cat with chronic UTI and Urinary tract blockage problem. He has been to emergency on three occasions so far. First two times, his bladder was ready to rupture and he would have died.

We now keep a very close eye on him and watch for signs for urinary related distress: trying to pee out of the box and nothing. Peeing in inappropriate places but just small amount drop or two sometimes maybe teaspoon worth of pee. I also check the litter box to make sure he is peeing. Usually the volume is much bigger than the other cats so I know its him. If I don't find big clump of litter from pee or he does any of the above, we get ready to take him to the emergency.

Definitely no dry food for your cat!! Strictly wet food. We also thin down his food with water about one and half teaspoon of water per feeding. It should be soft paste. It's not so watered down that he would suffer from loss of minerals in his system.

We also buy whole chicken on sale around 99cents a pound and boil the whole chicken. We add pieces of cooked chicken to their food. At 99cents a pound, its cheaper than premium canned cat food. We feed Wellness brand. And the broth/stock is skimmed of fat and we give it to the cat with urinary tract problem.

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getting rid of pee smell.

use hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda. Test the fabric to make sure it doesn't bleach or change the color first. We use it around the house and it does breakdown the urea. Even the cats can't smell the pee afterwards.
www.remove-cat-urine.com

[indysteel]

I'd also suggest having your vet show you how to palpate your cat's bladder. It is possible to check it yourself to see if it is full. But there are other issues that dehydration can cause short of a UTI or obstruction, constipation being one of them and, obviously, chronic dehydration can lead to kidney failure. Finally, I'd note that you should determine, if you haven't already, if your cat has any crystals in his urine and, if so, their type. This could necessitate other changes to his diet.

[Biciclista]

oh yeah, i used to do that constantly. But have not had any issues since we turned dry cat food from a staple to an occasional treat.