clevermanka | That wasn't a great way to greet the morning

Thank you everyone so much for your kind words and support about Fetish.

Things are not getting better. She peed in the living room last night, right in front of us, so I put her in the bathroom overnight. This morning there were blood-pee spots all over the bathroom. And I mean all over. On the rugs, in the sink, on the counter, in the shower, soaking through the blanket I put down for her. Everywhere. The vet said not to stress her by bringing her back in because they have no idea what else to test for. There's no bacteria in her urine, she has no bladder stones. The lab work says there's nothing wrong. But something is obviously wrong.

By the way, does this sound familiar? I guess this stuff runs in the family.

The vet is going to see what he can have made at the compounding pharmacy since none of the medications they have in their office have helped. She will not take pills, in any form, through any sort of trickery. He's going to have made for her either another liquid I can squirt in her mouth (not great, but better than pilling) or an injection that I'll give her every six hours.

He's also looking into the possibility of putting her on anti-depressants in case this is stress-related.

o_O

I have no idea what that cat could possibly be stressed about, but hey. If anti-depressants help, I won't complain.

See new post for an update.

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Oh! I hope something works. :(

Thanks. Me, too.

That doesn't make any sense at all.
How frustrating!

and poor kitty.. so wish they could tell us what's wrong.

That doesn't make any sense at all.

Like mother like daughter.

oh. I guess it's more common than I thought (http://www.manhattancats.com/Articles/FLUTD.html).

And the money shot:

"Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug, has been used extensively in humans for the treatment of interstitial cystitis. The drug also has anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. The exact mechanism as to how it works in interstitial cystitis is unknown. Because of its success in humans, there was some hope that amitriptyline could provide symptomatic therapy for cats with iFLUTD. Initial studies seemed promising, but subsequent studies proved the drug to be ineffective, unfortunately.

"Interestingly, a drug that has recently gained widespread acceptance in the treatment of arthritis in dogs and cats may hold the key to symptomatic therapy in cats with iFLUTD. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate belong to a group of substances called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), compounds that serve as the building blocks for cartilage. Available as nutritional supplements, they are now routinely prescribed in dogs and cats with arthritis, especially arthritis affecting the hip joints. It so happens that the inside surface of the urinary tract is comprised of these same GAGs that are present in cartilage. They help to create a water barrier that protects the cells of the urinary tract, helping prevent bacteria and crystals from adhering to their surface. Studies in humans with interstitial cystitis suggest that damage to this protective layer may be a causative factor in this disease, and some preliminary data suggest that this layer may be altered in cats with iFLUTD as well. Although some studies show no statistically significant effect compared to placebo, a few individual cats in the treatment group did show dramatic improvement when given this medication, and quickly relapsed when the supplement was discontinued. Cosequin for Cats, (manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories, Inc., Edgewood, Marlyand) is a glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate preparation, available in tuna and chicken flavored capsules. The contents of a capsule, when sprinkled onto a cat’s food, is generally well-accepted by most cats. Veterinarians and clients should realize, however, that this supplement, if it works, only serves to make the cat more comfortable, and does not address the actual cause of the bladder irritation, which in most cases, continues to remain a mystery."

So how come this all started after I started giving her glucosamine supplements?

I was thinking the same thing. She didn't have troubles for a long time after, so I suspect it's unrelated. But since you stopped, she's had many more problems....

Ah-yup.
I might start my older boy on the capsules just because, well, he's gettin that old too, and prevention being worth a pound of cure, and all tht.
Our dearly departed Wookie had urinary crystals even on the "good food" and Merc-bottled water. We switched all the pets to bottled water after the vet in Eudora told us he's seen more bladder cancer in pets in older neighborhoods of Lawrence than is normal and recommended it.

I just can't understand it being a stress reaction, but then who knows what lurks in those walnut-sized brains and creates stress for them?

Eeek, cancer from the water? Time to start using only filtered water, methinks.

I can't remember what exactly he attributed it too, something leaching from the older water pipes was what I can remember. I haven't drank tap water, that I can help, since then either.

Geez.....she's not that old is she? Have there been any food or routine changes? I read somewhere that those can cause stress....smell changes too.
Poor Fetish.......

She's pretty old--sixteen.

No, no routine changes. I changed her food back in August to help manage the diabetes--and she loves the new food.

So. Yeah. No clue.

:( Poor old kitty.

I almost succumbed to doughnuts this morning.

=(

I didn't.

=/

Oh, poor Fetish. It's so frustrating when they can't tell you what is wrong, and that the vet doesn't know either. I hope she feels better soon.

Thank you.

I feel so bad for her. So confused and feeling unwell.

When Pooky was having urinary tract problems, which were similar to how Fetish's sound, it basically came down to FLUTD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_lower_urinary_tract_disease), which doesn't really say much exactly about causes, though Pooky's was definitely caused by stress. She got sick directly after we put Sambuca down and they had been close, well, as close as Pooky ever was with another cat.

So it eventually was treated after a couple of rounds of antibiotics and a food change. We put her on a wet food brand called Merrick's (http://www.merrickpetcare.com/), very moist with some fruits and veg in it. She LOVED it. (The high taurine levels in it made her a little spastic TBH but I'd rather have an over-active cat than a sick one.)

I don't know if this is anything new that you haven't already tried. Best of luck and I hope Fetish gets better soon. :(

I'm thinking of trying a new food, anyway--something maybe a little higher quality. I'll look into Merrick's. I would love to see her a little spastic again. She used to be so active!

Thank you for the tip on the food type.

That wasn't a great way to greet the morning

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