Bladder problems

We have seen an upsurge in the number of bladder problems and blockages in young male cats this winter. Cats don’t like braving the rain and the mud to toilet and some male cats don’t urinate often enough. Crystals and mucous then plug up the urethra and prevent the passage of urine.
The urethra is the passage urine takes from the bladder out through the penis. It is very narrow in male cats and easily blocked in some individuals.
If you see your male cat straining to urinate, licking his penis a lot or squatting repeatedly he needs immediate veterinary attention. Blocked cats soon lose their appetite and become weak because of the build-up of toxins in the blood. If they are left too long they become dehydrated and weak and go into shock.
We treat blocked cats as an emergency. They need a drip and relief from a very full bladder as soon as possible. If left blown up for too long the bladder can burst making the cat even more toxic.
A catheter into the bladder is left in place for a day and treatment to prevent re-blockage is started.
There are many other causes of blocked urethras. Some cats block up when stressed or anxious. Others refuse to toilet outside or in certain litter trays because of rival cats or fear of disturbance. Whenever the urine doesn’t regularly flush the urethra the risk of blockage in male cats increases.
To increase the amount of urine produced we must increase fluid intake. Cats do not have a very strong thirst drive. They ingest most of their fluid needs in their food so the easiest way to increase fluid intake is to increase the amount of wet food in the diet. Canned and sachet food, and raw meat are great because they contain the same amount of water as natural prey like mice, rats and birds.
Water fountains or water flavoured with chicken stock also help increase fluid intake.
Avoid dry cat kibble or biscuits because they cause low level chronic dehydration, induce concentrated urine and may increase the chances of a blocked urethra.

Inner City Tiger

My daughter's cat, whoops Tiger, Isabella, known to family as Fizzy Izzie, out in the jungles of an inner Sydney terrace courtyard, keeping fit and watching out for flies.

does this happen in your house????

Big-boned Cogsworth

Cogsworth

Cogsworth shows his wares

Cuddly old Cogsworth found his way into his family's hearts when they saw him at the RSPCA.  He was a thin little street waif then but quickly established his preference for  24 hour eat-in snacks and lots of sleep between.  The sorry result is a rather large belly...
Problems later in life because of that belly will include diabetes, arthritis, chronic pancreatitis and liver troubles. 
Cogsworth has bravely recognised that he needs to slim down.  His plan:

• only two meals a day
• no cat biscuits
• no cheese, no pate or liverwurst, no treats of any kind except for cuddles 
• measured amounts of canned food and roo meat
• slow weight loss over about 6 months
• weigh in every 2 weeks
• entertain staff by chasing ribbon, butterflies and mice; running through their silly cardboard tunnels; and climbing the cat tree twice a day.

We watch with interest, Cogsworth!

Mellow Morris

Morris waits in his coccoon

Morris' family found him in a carpark.  He soon snuggled his way into their hearts and made friends with Jasper, their older cat.  Jasper was desexed when he was only 5 months old and has remained a very affectionate and kitten-like cat so Morris hopes to follow in his paw prints.  Today we will desex him. Tomorrow he should rest but by the weekend he will be back to his normal active self.  

Lap wanted

Desexed male short haired grey 12 year old cat, fully vaccinated and up to date with health checks, is looking for a new home, preferably with comfortable lap in front of fire.
Present owner not allowed to keep him.  Originally rescued and owner doesn't want to surrender him to RSPCA.
He is fully toilet trained and has no bad habits, but likes sitting in the sun outside on fine days.
Phone Hall Vet Surgery on (02) 6230 2223 for more details if you have a place for him in your heart.

Cats on the prowl

Male cats hit the tiles in late winter and spring looking for females and trouble.  Adrenaline levels rise and even the most placid felines - entire or desexed - will ready for a fight with intruders.
Already this winter we have seen a couple of cats with abscesses that have come up after a brawl in the backyard.  Sometimes the scratches and bites are obvious and carers bring their cat in for preventative antibiotics and pain relief.  More often the first sign is a swollen face, a lame foreleg or pus discharging from a soft lump.  If not treated with antibiotics and drainage of the pus, blood poisoning and infection of deeper organs develops.
Wandering cats cause anxiety in some inside cats, too.  We see cats marking doors and windows, passing blood in their urine and overgrooming because they are feeling anxious.  These behavioural problems are much harder to treat and it is almost impossible to prevent strange cats wandering through your yard.  Refer to the Indoor Cat link to the right of this blog for some suggestions to try at home.  Sometimes we have to supplement your efforts with calming medication (for the cat!).