Emergency cat situation?
January 1, 2010 6:13 AM Subscribe
My cat just woke me up to show me that she has blood and crystals in her urine. My vet seems to be closed for the 1st. Can this wait until tomorrow or should I try to find another vet in the area to see her?
I'm not sure how long this has been going on but she has been sluggish the last couple of days. I had chalked it up to having just made the trip from my mothers where we stayed a week for the holiday. I would prefer to take her to her usual vet, who specializes in cats only, and wonder if waiting a day is safe or if she'll be in too much pain or get much worse as a consequence. Anybody have a similar experience?
I'm not sure how long this has been going on but she has been sluggish the last couple of days. I had chalked it up to having just made the trip from my mothers where we stayed a week for the holiday. I would prefer to take her to her usual vet, who specializes in cats only, and wonder if waiting a day is safe or if she'll be in too much pain or get much worse as a consequence. Anybody have a similar experience?
Response by poster: update: Closest open vet is about an hour away. I'm calling a vet to see if i can get an emergency appointment closer. Also, is there anything I can do in the meantime to help her be more comfortable?
posted by gilsonal at 6:37 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by gilsonal at 6:37 AM on January 1, 2010
If you can get your cat to drink more water, it may help dilute her urine and help make the crystals easier to pass. If she's not big on drinking water directly try wet food, tuna juice or chicken broth.
It is less likely for girls to have a complete blockage, but because of the severity of a block if it were to occur, I would still treat it as an emergency as Salvor Hardin suggests.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:43 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
It is less likely for girls to have a complete blockage, but because of the severity of a block if it were to occur, I would still treat it as an emergency as Salvor Hardin suggests.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:43 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes, you need to get her to the emergency vet. When my cat had crystals I was told a 24-hour wait could kill him. I don't know that it's quite that dire with female cats, but personally, I wouldn't want to take the risk.
In the meanwhile, the previous suggestion is good - get her hydrated as much as possible. Get her to drink anything you can. Give her wet food if she'll eat it, or baby food (with no onion or garlic powder), or the cat milk they sell at pet stores. Whatever she'll take.
posted by Stacey at 6:46 AM on January 1, 2010
In the meanwhile, the previous suggestion is good - get her hydrated as much as possible. Get her to drink anything you can. Give her wet food if she'll eat it, or baby food (with no onion or garlic powder), or the cat milk they sell at pet stores. Whatever she'll take.
posted by Stacey at 6:46 AM on January 1, 2010
My cat had this once. It had a lot to do with dehydration from eating corn-based dry cat food. The vet had us feed him canned cat food smushed to the bottom of a bowl and then covered in water. That way the kitty would have to lap up all the water to get to his "kitty soup".
Dr. is a must.
posted by debbie_ann at 6:53 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Dr. is a must.
posted by debbie_ann at 6:53 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Having been through this too...Be prepared for the possibility that there may be surgery involved, and it may have to happen today -- though I imagine your cat's regular vet could take over aftercare when the office opens (and should also suggest cat food that will reduce the risk of this happening again).
posted by gnomeloaf at 6:55 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by gnomeloaf at 6:55 AM on January 1, 2010
As a data point, whenever a cat specifically took steps to show me evidence of a health issue (especially if it entailed waking me up), it's been serious. They're hardy animals and if they're concerned, you should be too.
posted by carmicha at 7:02 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by carmicha at 7:02 AM on January 1, 2010
I'm with carmicha. Cats are great at hiding pain. If she's telling you, she needs help now.
posted by heatherann at 7:24 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by heatherann at 7:24 AM on January 1, 2010
My cat had blockages with crystals in the urine.Get plenty of water available,and to the vet as soon as possible. Good Luck.
posted by Upon Further Review at 7:50 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by Upon Further Review at 7:50 AM on January 1, 2010
If you give her broth, make sure it's low sodium.
Good luck!
posted by sugarfish at 7:52 AM on January 1, 2010
Good luck!
posted by sugarfish at 7:52 AM on January 1, 2010
Go to the vet right now. IANAV, but those symptoms can indicate a serious, likely lethal problem in cats. An hour is much more survivable than twenty-four or more. You will be glad you went. Your cat will be glad you went. Go go go.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:00 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:00 AM on January 1, 2010
You should go as soon as possible. We had to go to the emergency vet on Christmas day for the same thing. Make absolutely sure to pony up the cash for the follow-up appointment, because out cat is currently resting comfortably at a boarding vet over New Years too after relapsing (he'll be fine, and since we found a great vet for lower-income pet owners, it's not breaking the bank).
posted by theraflu at 8:33 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by theraflu at 8:33 AM on January 1, 2010
No, it can't wait. We just had this problem with our little guy (crystals in urine, blockage) about three weeks ago. Vet told us that once they get blocked and can't pee, it can take less than a day for them to die. Sluggishness is the first sign. Vet now.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 9:43 AM on January 1, 2010
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 9:43 AM on January 1, 2010
IANAV, but these are possible symptoms of FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), which will kill a cat quickly, and often requires expensive surgery. It's most common in males, but does occur in females.
Even if you can't afford/justify the surgery, you should get to a vet ASAP for a diagnosis, so you at least have some greater certainty what you're dealing with, and can take appropriate action.
FWIW, my roommate's cat was diagnosed with possible FLUTD a couple of weeks ago. (It might have just been an infection, not an obstruction.) On the advice of various people, he fed the cat wet food, distilled water (if it was a crystalline obstruction, our well water was likely to blame), a course of vet-prescribed antibiotics (in case it was just an infection), and force-fed apple cider vinegar with an eye dropper (to lower the pH of his urine). He got better after a few days. At least those are some things you could try (but I'd still consult with a vet first).
So sorry that your little fuzzbutt is sick. Hope everything works out.
posted by ixohoxi at 9:55 AM on January 1, 2010
Even if you can't afford/justify the surgery, you should get to a vet ASAP for a diagnosis, so you at least have some greater certainty what you're dealing with, and can take appropriate action.
FWIW, my roommate's cat was diagnosed with possible FLUTD a couple of weeks ago. (It might have just been an infection, not an obstruction.) On the advice of various people, he fed the cat wet food, distilled water (if it was a crystalline obstruction, our well water was likely to blame), a course of vet-prescribed antibiotics (in case it was just an infection), and force-fed apple cider vinegar with an eye dropper (to lower the pH of his urine). He got better after a few days. At least those are some things you could try (but I'd still consult with a vet first).
So sorry that your little fuzzbutt is sick. Hope everything works out.
posted by ixohoxi at 9:55 AM on January 1, 2010
Vet! Vet! Vet!
Go! Go! Go!
There may be an emergency veterinarian in your area who is available when your regular vet is closed.
Good luck.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:20 PM on January 1, 2010
Go! Go! Go!
There may be an emergency veterinarian in your area who is available when your regular vet is closed.
Good luck.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:20 PM on January 1, 2010
nthing that this is an emergency. Urinary blockage in cats leads to coma and death with shocking swiftness. So the sluggishness is one more reason for worrying.
Hopefully by now you and fuzzbutt are in capable hands. For the benefit of future posters, a word of advice: in similar circumstances, check the litterbox and floor. Pain, sluggishness, and no sign of recent (within the last 1-2 days) urination == get the cat to a vet immediately.
A word of warning: this kind of health crises can get very expensive. If budget is an issue for you, let the staff know upfront so that the vet can help you figure out treatment options that are financially viable. Unlike MDs, vets are very used to this kind of conversation. I've never known any vet or their staff to be anything less than compassionate.
Once the crisis passes, please do update on fuzzbutt's condition. AskMeFi is rooting for her.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 11:26 PM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hopefully by now you and fuzzbutt are in capable hands. For the benefit of future posters, a word of advice: in similar circumstances, check the litterbox and floor. Pain, sluggishness, and no sign of recent (within the last 1-2 days) urination == get the cat to a vet immediately.
A word of warning: this kind of health crises can get very expensive. If budget is an issue for you, let the staff know upfront so that the vet can help you figure out treatment options that are financially viable. Unlike MDs, vets are very used to this kind of conversation. I've never known any vet or their staff to be anything less than compassionate.
Once the crisis passes, please do update on fuzzbutt's condition. AskMeFi is rooting for her.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 11:26 PM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Requested update: Anna was deemed okay by the vet. Turns out at least the sample she had to test she had no blood but definite crystals. So she'll be going on a urinary diet to disolve them and I'll be trying to keep my other cat from getting into the rx food. Thanks for the feedback.
posted by gilsonal at 6:29 PM on January 4, 2010
posted by gilsonal at 6:29 PM on January 4, 2010
Whew! Thank you!
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:53 PM on January 4, 2010
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:53 PM on January 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
If I were you I would try to find a vet right now even if she doesn't seem to be in much pain or is straining to pee - the blood and crystals are a sign that your cat could have a blockage soon, and once that occurs, it can kill your kitty in less than 24 hours.
Good luck to you and your kitty!
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:33 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]