Saving Laddie’s Life
Urinary Issues in Cats Require Urgent Care
by Rita Reimers, Multi Cat Behavior Expert
Urinary Issues in Cats often go untreated, which can sadly lead to serious illness or even death. Acting quickly saves lives.
Let me tell you a story that happened early in my cat sitting career.
A friend of mine, who was also a fellow pet sitter, called me to discuss a situation with a cat she was visiting. She was very concerned. Laddie had been acting oddly, not eating, hiding instead of greeting her at the door. He just wasn’t his usual self. She was in communication with his owner, but it was the second day of this and Laddie was showing definite signs of distress.
The latest sign was when Laddie was found lying on the floor with his head perched at the edge of his water fountain. I headed over to help, as my friend, along with Laddie’s, owner arranged for an emergency vet visit to a local Cat Hospital. Initially, Laddie’s people wanted to wait until they arrived home the next day to take him to the vet themselves. But by the time, Laddie’s humans were convinced that a vet visit was urgently necessary.
Getting Laddie to the Vet, Just in Time
When I arrived, I found that Laddie had collapsed on the floor of the bathroom, trying to hide behind the toilet. His body was so still, at first I was sure that he had died. But then his head lifted ever so slightly, as he uttered a weak meow when I laid my hand on his side.
My pet sitter friend and I worked quickly to gently lift him up and place him inside of a soft cat carrier, his weak cries breaking both of our hearts.There wasn’t a moment to spare.
We arrived at the vet’s office within five minutes, and Dr. Beth immediately took him in to be examined. Laddie’s condition and gone down rapidly and we were all very worried. We had good reason to be worried. Laddie was diagnosed with a complete urinary blockage, a urinary issue that male cats seem to have more frequently than females due to the narrow urinary passage in males. Laddie had a very high level of toxicity in his body, and later we were told he would not have made it had we not brought him in as quickly as we did.
A dietary change was prescribed for Laddie to include wet food in his diet; this will help to insure he is getting adequate water in his system. Adequate water intake is one of the keys to prevention of this condition. He was then watched closely over the next several weeks to be sure there is no permanent damage to his body.
Prevention of Urinary Issues
As you can see, urinary issues in cats can be very serious, and fatal if not diagnosed and treated quickly. I am happy to report that thanks to his pet sitter’s quick concern and observation of Laddie’s behavioral changes. He has recovered fully, and his owner is eternally grateful to her caring professional cat sitters for knowing what to do!
If you would like more information about urinary blockages in cats, please consult the following websites:
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_urinary.cfm
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/BladderandKidneyStones.cfm
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