Cat suddenly peeing outside the litter box - Page 2

[kyndmamaof4]

OMG, I'm so sorry for you and your kitty.

[rhiOrion]

So, is kitty in the main room with these dogs? Or is she back in a kennel somewhere? Because if she's back in a kennel somewhere then I say that's just unacceptable! We would keep cats and dogs next to each other in our main treatment room- but then they could at least see humans. And any crazily barking dog was not going to stay in the main treatment room for long anyhow, because they would have driven us crazy.

Ugh. I hate how they're treating you. When we had a dog in quarantine at our office one time we let the owner in any time she wanted (even on weekends- we told her when we'd be there and she'd come in)... and she got to pet and love and feed treats to her dog.

Do they not have any kitty condos or something? I mean, I understand if they're full of boarders that you wouldn't get priority, but if they have any empty ones, you'd think they could put her in one for now! Or empty bigger cages?

But, on another note- are they at least treating her health problems? Is she doing better with that?

[rhiOrion]

Also, you said one of your former students works for that vet, right? Could you maybe ask her to give your kitty some extra love?

I'd also maybe take in an old t-shirt that smells like you (wear it for a little while first), and if they okay it as far as the urinary problems go, maybe some treats for them to give her? They make cranberry based ones (i get them at petsmart) that may or may not (i'm still not sure) be better for UTI problems.

Don't take anything that you want back, because there's a good chance it'll get lost. And write your name on anything you even possibly want back - in sharpie.

Just be the loving, caring pet owner that I can tell you are, and you and kitty will get through it. After she's been there a few days take the veterinary team some food! Keep in mind that no matter how much you hate them, they probably love snacks. Sucking up isn't such a bad thing in this case. And, there are probably some techs and kennel workers who are feeling very sorry for you.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Thanks so much, everyone! This has been a nightmare of an experience. I'm going back today to see my kitty, and am going to take a t-shirt, too. I might run by petsmart and see if I can get a treat, too. My kitty loves treats with every fiber of her being.

I talked to my former student yesterday, and she could tell I was very upset. She gave me a hug and said she would take good care of my kitty. I am going to definitely ask if she can be moved out of the kennel room with the big dogs.

I hate all these protocols. Yes, I know I was behind on her rabies vax, but I was upfront about it when I brought her in to be treated for a UTI. My cat is extremely docile (she's patiently taken "abuse" from my son for over 4 years!), so if SHE bit, how in the world do they handle more aggressive animals?! She has zero symptoms of rabies, and I'm understanding of needing to be careful, but this all seems so excessive to me.

And I'm going to end up with that dreaded $500 vet bill when it's all said and done, I'll wager.

And this is small and petty, I know, but it really irked me anyway: They spelled my cat's name wrong on all her stuff. I wrote it correctly on her paper work, so I don't know why they didn't pay more attention. *harrumph* Her name is Flour and they wrote Flower on her paper collar and cage label.

[rhiOrion]

Aww! Flour is such a cute name!

Could you talk to them about a payment plan (most vets won't do it, but you never know). Maybe if you were willing to go ahead and put a deposit down now?

When I worked at a vet we only sort of did payment plans. We would, on a case-by-case basis, let people write us several post dated checks. Yeah, we ran the risk of them canceling their checking account, but we didn't run the risk of them just never coming back, because it didn't matter- we already had their checks.

[Ola_]

That is so awful! I too wonder what happened for your kitty to bite someone.

I'm so sorry.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Ola_

That is so awful! I too wonder what happened for your kitty to bite someone.

I'm so sorry.

My cat once caught a vet tech IN THE NOSE with his claw. I wish I'd been there to witness that.

I think even the nicest of cats can behave strangely at the vet's office.

[MrsMike]

I am so mad for you. Personally, and others may disagree, I think it's BULL that they kept your cat overnight for a pee sample. Pure bull. Any vet or tech worth their salt should be able to obtain urine via cystocentesis (with a needle). If she didn't have a big enough bladder they could have sent you home with No-Sorb litter and told you to keep her in the bathroom with a litterbox overnight so you could collect the urine. In all my years....oh, I'm so mad for you.

The rabies vaccine thing was bunk, too. Most states allow 3 years for rabies vaccines, unless it's Purevax, at which point it's one year. No vet with half a brain denies an animal care due to vaccine status. We HAVE TO see unvaccinated sick animals all the time. You shoud NOT give a vaccine to a sick animal. It's bad for their immune system. Rabies is the only vaccine required by law. You don't need to get the FVRCP shot if you choose. I'm surprised they wouldn't let you do a home quarantine, but I know that varies by state.

Have you looked into Care Credit? A lot of vets I know will end up working a billing plan.

One thing I will say about the biting - I have 4 very sweet cats. They deal with my 3 year old on a daily basis and have never moved to swat, scratch, bite or even hiss at him. They are very gentle and easy going cats. This all changes at the clinic. My sweetest, most carefree and loving dopey cat, Gawain, will absolutely try to eat anyone who comes near him. The clinic is a scary place. It's loud, it smells and there are these people who shove things in your butt and horrible meds down your throat. Even the nicest pets can turn aggressive while at the vet. Many owners are embarrassed when their pets act like that at the clinic, but I tell them not to worry as all of my cats have lased out like that.

All in all, I'm so sorry you are going through this. When she is home, make sure she has plenty of fresh water at all times and that she is drinking. I personally think there is a lot of overkill with prescription urinary diets. Plus, those foods (Science Diet, Royal Canin, Iams) have crappy ingredients and chemicals in their food. Science Diet loads their urinary diet up with sodium in order to get the cats to drink more. And the majority of them have chemicals. My two males have FUS and required surgery to remove their penises. I don't have them on a special diet (I feed Blue Buffalo Spa Select Holistic) and they have done well on it for years. I second the craberry treats. I hope everything works out with your dear kitty. And when this is all said and done, please find a new vet if possible.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by MrsMike

All in all, I'm so sorry you are going through this. When she is home, make sure she has plenty of fresh water at all times and that she is drinking. I personally think there is a lot of overkill with prescription urinary diets. Plus, those foods (Science Diet, Royal Canin, Iams) have crappy ingredients and chemicals in their food. Science Diet loads their urinary diet up with sodium in order to get the cats to drink more. And the majority of them have chemicals. My two males have FUS and required surgery to remove their penises. I don't have them on a special diet (I feed Blue Buffalo Spa Select Holistic) and they have done well on it for years. I second the craberry treats. I hope everything works out with your dear kitty. And when this is all said and done, please find a new vet if possible.

My male Himalayan had the PU done years ago, and is on the Royal Canin S/O (switched from the Science Diet). It works so well that I'm scared to try a non-prescription food on him! Actually, a couple of years ago he was having a string of UTI/struvite problems, and we switched him to the science diet SD for one bag, and he hasn't had an issue since then. I wonder if putting him on the SD for one bag every once in a while, when he starts having recurring problems, would be enough for him. It would be nice to get him off the S/O.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Well, Flour is home now!

My former student took one day off my boarding fee, and dropped the medicine administering fee, so the total bill came to a bit over $275 with the rabies vax and antibiotics. They didn't give Flour the abx during the quarantine because she kept throwing up.

She seems very happy to be home. Poor kitty. What an ordeal.