About 15 years ago, my mother got a cat. After about 6 months, he got a severe case of urinary tract infection. The vet told her to give him low sodium chicken broth along with his medicine until he was over it. Because of the chicken broth, he would drink more water.
After he was well she decided to give him chicken broth every day. He never had urinary tract infection again. Mom (Margaret) and the cat both died last year.
Mom wrote this down with a note. "Can you believe how much money you can save, by not taking your cat to the vet for urinary tract infection all the time?"
Source: A veterinary in Tipton told my mother who passed on to us kids.
By Pearl G. from Greenwood, IN
By smponder from New Orleans, LA
You need to change his food, Science Diet has a special vet only formula for this to disintegrate the crystals. The food is what normally causes crystals.
Also if it is frequent they normally chop off most of the penis so the crystals can pass, but since your cat is so old they may choose not to do so. Some indoor cats will keep getting them over and over so this procedure is a last resort.
Will they allow you to inject water into your cat? If so then you could inject him with water to help flush the bladder.
Also try adding multiple water bowls through out the house to encourage drinking.
Lastly, you can have the crystals analyzed and find out what they are made of and try to avoid foods that cause them.
Please keep close watch with your vet. I had no idea my cat was so very ill until it was too late. (kidney failure) The vet made me fell very bad for waiting so long as he said this is VERY painful for them.
"The Vet has not offered any explanation for the UTI frequency. Does anyone have any ideas?" Yes, go to another vet.
I don't know anything about pet urinary tract infections but for myself I take probiotics that are specially formulated for urinary tract and I have seen probiotics created for animals at my health food store. Best wishes.
My mother had a male cat for many years. He came down with uti. Her vet put KitKat on antibotics and also told mom to put low sodium chicken broth in his water.
Sent you a message sweetie. OK for anyone else on here with this problem. Male cats can not have anything over 3.0 in ash max..(look at your cat cans in the back) If a cat has a UTI/blockage they can die from it. And it can be costly to have them unblocked. They are in alot of pain and end up with a fever, if not treated it will get worse. I have done this and done research on it.
Buy a bottle of cranberry pills. The ones you can either open or cut in half to get the cranberry gook out. This should cost no more then $10. (cost of vet for me once was $800) Give him the cranberry stuff from the inside (not the casing) that isn't good for them. I had two sick kitties at the same time. Gave them one cranberry pill contents then that evening I gave them another. The following day they urinated like a race horse (don't want to offend but you get the idea) it flushed them).
For the rest of the week I put it in their food, even tho some was left in their bowls, they were still eating some of it. Leave fresh water out they will need that. Funny thing is, the vets never told me why it was happening, i found out from a shelter telling me. Dry food is not good for male cats, it is high in ash this is why you don't see it listed on the bags, boxes, etc.
Only on can food. I stick with friskies and only buy 2.7 and under for them now. I also now have them on a schedule. They eat twice a day when I get up and then for the evening. Not only is it healthier they eat most of their food and not leave much which also helps with weight. (even tho vet said they are a bit over weight). Dry food is giving once in awhile and as a treat and that is it. Worried about them eating too much wet food because of their teeth. You can also start brushing them they need that anyway. :)
That's a pretty old cat. Poor old guy. I had frequent UTI's and they were torture until I got to the right MD. I start out with every new cat giving them dry food with urinary tract protection in it. There are several brands you can get.
First of all, I thank you for being such an attentive pet owner. To have an 18-year old cat reflects much love and care. UTI is more prevalent in male cats than females, and can be fatal in a very short time (overnight). Sometimes it comes with age, sometimes it's the food. I hope your vet prescribed an antibiotic and a special food. Royal Canin makes a very good dry food - Urinary SO. He might need to stay on that food for the rest of his life. It's not cheap - sold only at a vet clinic - but you pay for it one way or another. Just like most anything else in life.
FYI, I have done rescue work for over 25 years. I have always fed premium food (Iams, Science Diet, ANF, etc.) but my (highly regarded) vet told me he has seen fewer UTI problems with cats who are fed Science Diet (regular food) and, after switching, I found this to be true. Now that's if you have other cats who are not experiencing frequent UTI. I hope this helps. Susan
My cat has been on Science Diet CD for several years because of crystals. He has never had a recurrence. I would go see another vet, as the first vet I consulted said my cat had a hair ball. If I had left it at that, he would have died. He was 11 at the time; now he is 16.
My vet told me to quit feeding the cat "whiskas" (INMHO) as it is a cause of urinary tract infections in some cats, I have never heard this before but i did and he seems to be much better (I am not stating this as fact only what I was told and what has worked for me. :)
I hesitate to post since everyone here seems to know so much more about this than I do. But I had a completely different idea and think I should mention it. Have you changed cat litters or do you think you should change cat litter?
Cats have their own ideas about things. If it is painful when they urinate sometimes they blame the litter box and go elsewhere. I have had two cats who needed special food that I bought at the vet. One was diabetic, took insulin and ate low salt food. Most commercial food has two much salt. My baby now has a problem with constipation and won't urinate when she is constipated and gets UTI.
We solved the problem with high fiber food from the vet and a teaspoon of inexpensive cat stool softener. Most problems can be fixed with a good vet. I take my cats to a vet who only treats cats. No offense to dogs but when a cat is stressed it is aggrivated by the sound of barking dogs all around.
My 4 year old female cat is peeing everywhere, mainly on my couch and blankets, and recently started meowing constantly. She has been treated twice for a UTI. The first time they tested the urine and it came back positive.
The second time they took the urine from the bladder and said it may have had a trace of a UTI, but weren't sure so they put her on a 14 day dose of antibiotics. I am not sure what else to do. Please someone help!Prescription wet canned cat food for a urinary diet is not very interesting to my cat. Our cat Patches' veterinarian granted that the second best alternative is to have a high-quality canned food, that is "no dry".
I have multiple cats. The male is prone to urinary tract infections and has had two surgeries, which are very expensive. He has to eat the special food, but doesn't like it.
My female cat loves it. Is it OK for me to let her eat this special food, as she eats his food and he tries to eat her food.Your vet can help your cat with this problem, but the cat's diet may contribute to why this has happened. This is a page about urinary blockage in cats (feline urinary syndrome).
This is a page about remedies for cystitis in cats. Cystitis is a bladder infection, often from unknown causes.
