Inappropriate elimination - feline

15 years ago

Well, dog-gone it ...... my Lucy (nearly 3 years old) has had about 3-4 days of something going on. My husband said that she has gone outside in the snow and has urinated and defecated in the corner of the basement. I found her, yesterday, urinating on my dog's bed and then, just about an hour ago, she urinated on some bathroom rugs that I was going to put in the washer.

This is totally unlike her and my husband keeps the litter box very clean daily and changes the litter weekly. I know that I have read that there may be some medical problems going on so I left a message on the office machine for my full-service vet. I asked that they please call me first thing in the morning so I could bring Lucy in. I don't even know if they are open tomorrow or the day after Christmas. I sure don't want to wait until next week to take her in.

Right now she is back in the basement with my husband who has a little office area there and is with her a good bit of the time.

I am open to any words of wisdom you may care to share.

Thanks,

Robyn

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Comments (9)

michelle_phxaz
15 years ago
Get her to the vet immediately, look for an emergency vet if yours isn't. Most likely it is a UTI or kidney problem, there are a lot of posts here about this exact problem, but each case is different. The only thing that is the same is that your kitty needs to see a vet immediately.
Elly_NJ
15 years ago
More wisdom: Anytime your cat exhibits aberrant behavior (This is totally unlike her ), there is something wrong, and you should seek help from a vet. Cats are very stoic, so by the time they show symptoms, they are either very sick or in great pain.
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jrdown
Original Author
15 years ago
The vet's office called a little after 7:30 this morning and I shared what I told you. The receptionist (?) said it sounded like a bladder infection and could I bring her in right away. I was there a bit before 8am.

They want to get a urine sample which is no small feat with a cat so she, most likely, will have to stay over. The office closes at noon today and is closed tomorrow. I was told that the doctor will come in tomorrow anyway to check on the guests and that there would be no charge to keep her until it is determined what is going on.

I got a sheet with the charges so far and it includes an office call of $43 and a urinalysis with sedimentation (whatever that is) for $47. No further charges (which I can pay when I pick Lucy up) unless the doctor calls and we discuss something further. I realize there may be meds associated with this escapade and am ready for that. I will do some research on my own so I know what I am dealing with.

Thanks for your suggestions. It looks like Lucy may not be spending Christmas with her sister, Lola, and our dog, Wesley. I will keep her gift under the tree until she returns home.

Robyn
runsnwalken
15 years ago
Maybe you should increase the amounts of litter boxes, just an idea
jrdown
Original Author
15 years ago
Here is my update:

I got a call at 11:40am from the vet's office and they were not able to collect a urine sample for testing. The doctor has given her an injection to counteract what they believe is a UTI or bladder infection. I have a 15ml bottle to give her a dropperful of med to 2 x daily which starts on Christmas Day

If I don't see an improvement within a week I am to bring her back for an x-ray to see if something else is going on. I sure hope it won't take that long to get her back to her regular toilet habits.

Robyn
jrdown
Original Author
15 years ago
A little update before I head off to bed:

Only managed to get one eyedropper full of liquid med into her and the next time she hissed and tried to bite me. I then decided to mix it into her wet food and she consumed it without a problem.

Unfortunately, today I noticed that when she urinated (in the living room) that her urine was pink tinged. I called the vet's office but they had already closed by noon. I left a message and asked them to please call me as soon as possible.

Tonight Lucy had come in from outside on the deck and I took her up to my room and she immediately jumped down and went over to the laundry that I was folding and urinated on a black pair of pants. This time there was red tinged urine and I took her back down to the basement. She got her last of today's meds in wet food again. I will call the vet at 7:00am Monday morning which is when they open.

I will try to do some research before Monday but wanted to know if the pink/blood tinged urine was part of having a UTI or bladder infection?

Thanks,
Robyn
rivkadr
15 years ago
It's a very obvious sign of a UTI (I'm guessing you've never had one yourself ;) It could also be a sign of a more severe health problem, but you haven't mentioned any other symptoms, and the fact that she's urinating on soft things...it sounds a lot like a UTI.

You really need to get her taking the medication -- if she'll eat it mixed in her food, and you're sure she's getting pretty close to 100% of it at that time, then you're probably okay.

It'll probably take her a few days to a week to start feeling close to normal again, or at least that's how long it's taken with my cats (and myself!) when having a UTI. Personally, although it sounds a little cruel, I would leave her in the basement for the next couple of days until she's feeling a little better and stops peeing on things. I'd visit her a few times occasionally, or let her into the kitchen, but that's it.
Elly_NJ
15 years ago
Make sure she is eating wet food with water added, to help flush her bladder. No dry food.

Good luck.
michelle_phxaz
15 years ago
I agree, there is something very wrong, the pink indicates blood in her urine. Lots of water and wet food, no dry food.

I think you should try giving the meds by themselves, they might be more effective if not diluted by food or water. Scruff her by the back of the neck which will paralyze her and then use the dropper to shoot it into the side of her mouth. Don't let go until she has swallowed it. I go through this nightly with a gel for my cat for her renal failure, I swipe a glob on the inside of her cheek; if I let her go too soon she will jump down and spit it out, so hold on to her until you know she has swallowed.

You might want to look into other vets; a good vet can draw urine directly out of their bladder with a needle, not the most comfortable way but it will give you the results quicker. Also, you need a 24 hour vet. Something like this can't wait over a weekend, it is cruel to make her wait in pain until the vet is open. We have an awesome vet close to our home but she recommended a 24 hour vet hospital for when she wasn't open. Just like humans, pets have emergencies and need help immediately too!

Good luck, I hope things are good and the infection isn't too far along to have hurt her chances of healing quickly.

Inappropriate elimination - feline

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Inappropriate elimination - feline

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