Cat Problem

[beckahyael]

Please help. My cat gets severely depressed if I go away. When I return, his psychosomatic issues manifest themselves. His bladder constricts, and then he pees blood, in the same three places in the apartment OUTSIDE THE LITTER BOXES.

I have two litter boxes this is not the problem. I have brought him to the vet every time this has happened and NOTHING is working. Please someone give me some advice. I've tried it all. I haven't slept since I've been back because he head buts me ALL NIGHT long, just to make sure i know he's there. He was abandoned by his first owner, and has not forgotten.

HELP!

[RAUL ALVAREZ]

I KNOW WHAT THAT CAT IS GOING TROUGH IT IS VERY TERRIBLE AND PAINFUL FOR HIM HE IS SURFERING FROM BEING NOT WANTED AND FROM BEING HOMELESS BEING HOMELESS IS NOT FUNNY YOU NO ITS SOMETHING YOU NEVER FORGET AND CANT STOP SURFERING FROM IT

[Lisa]

Reply by Corndog 6 hours ago


I think you must take care of his physical illness before you can effectively address any psychosomatic/behavioral issues.

Believe it or not Physical and Psychosomatic issues are all to often, one in the same.

[Lisa]

Reply by Lisa 10 hours ago


Replying to get another cat..how does this solve the problem?
What do you suggest she does with this cat?
Will you take this cat or will you sentence it to a life or death in a shelter?

My Reply in getting another cat was based on experience with many animals in my life and personal guilt myself when I had to leave an animal home because I was working. It's a tough situation when you love an animal. The simple answer is they need company. Believe it or not animals are very much like people in their needs. Just like we get upset and frustrated when were alone to long, so do animals. I believe another cat in the house would solve this problem. This cat is manifesting physical symptoms due to the fact he feels like he's being abandoned all over again. Just like people or a child might do. The presence of other company whether it be human or animal helps to diminish that fear.
This might not be a 100% solution. But time does heal all wounds. I think it would at least relieve some of the stress he's feeling.

[beckahyael]

I have had the other cat for 9 years, and this one for about 5. Yes, I need to find a new vet - none of the vets I have found have helped...I clearly must go to one that will do a thorough check up and a blood work up.

[Vladimir]

Beckahyael, the problem you discuss sounds extremely serious, and I hope that you can find and work with a vet immediately. Urinary tract issues, or, issues about "peeing blood", and/or "peeing issues," (that is, peeing outside of the litter box) are very serious and warrant immediate attention, without delay. One poster commented below about your cat being in "agony" and I think that is an accurate assessment.

I recently fostered a small cat who it turned out was peeing all over her owner's apartment. I took in the cat while the apt. was being cleaned, and despite my efforts, she died 10 days later. I am inconsolable and distraught every day about this. I implore you to seek medical attention right away, before this progresses to an incurable stage.

[Vladimir]

I am terribly sorry, to become an "alarmist," however, I will add to Oscar's post above. More than even his observations about vomiting after antibiotics, I can tell you that administering antibiotics followed by a reaction such as you mention, can progress to shock, seizures, and even death. The reaction means something, and Oscar is correct that you should not dismiss it. By typing this, I do not want to re-live the horror and guilt that I face every day, but I will do so here, at the cost of appearing petulant. I don't want you to go through what I have. Again, I implore you to seek medical attention without delay.

[Paula]

Have you tried adding another pet into the family? It certainly worked with my cat. My cat and dog became buddies so much that now the cat cries when I take the dog for a walk!!!!
She would accept everybody to leave the home except for the dog!

[beckahyael]

OK everyone. I brought him to the vet. He was not so worried as you all were. Didn't give him any antibiotics, just thinks he needs to change his diet. You can stop reiterating what a terrible pet owner I am. I have two cats, i have brought him to the vet 5 times now. Nothing more I can do. As the vet noted - AGAIN - only 15% of the time do cat's have UTIs. He says the change in diet is really all he needs. My cat is not crying, he is not screaming in pain, he purrs when we are relaxing together. As I mentioned, these types of things tend to be stress induced. So all of you who think everything is medical - realize, sometimes there is more to it than meets the eye. THanks for your concern and thoughts though.

[Vladimir]

beckahyael, posters here merely reacted to your intial post about severe stress and blood in your cat's urine, the latter of which particularly, (especially from those who have experience of one sort of another with urinary/urinary tract/peeing issues) can be exceptionally serious, and indicating immediate (absolutely, without delay) attention. You have to understand, that reaction is normal-- no one is coming down on you unnecessarily or being critical, posters were worried. You seemed to indicate that you were dissatisfied with your vet, and posters reacted to that as well. You state above that, you brought him to "the vet," but does that mean a different one? A lot of memebers will recount stories on this board about repeated visits to vets who aren't making any difference, and members react to that as well. So, please don't think contributors are being harsh on you.

I hope that you can move to a more natural diet, (that is, high protein/low carb) with little or no dry food. The article "Feeding Your Cat" @ www.catinfo.com may provide a good starting point. You need not fear that you will have to "start cooking" for your cat to provide wholesome meals, there are commercial foods which will ease the process-- and you can also let your cat share a remarkable percentage of your meals too, (huge myth: human food is "bad" for cats). I am not recommending any brand: once you learn about cat nutrition (there are lots of resources, but I don't want to overtake this discussion), you will easily make your own choice. One other thing that might help, my vet just recommended a vitamin supplement (to help with allergies), just started using, I will post back here after a period to state how it is going. I was directed to Platinum Performance, this is a powder added to food. It does not seem to have any taste, (but that does not mean my cat likes it added to his food anyway, I think he does not), and no preservatives. So it is much better than most "store-bought" supplements. Problem is it has a short shelf life, (5-6 mos.), and if he starts refusing it in his food... we will see and I will post back here.

[Lisa]

My sincere apologies if my post led you to believe what "a terrible pet owner"..as you stated in your post on 2/6/08 led you to believe that you had become. For the opposite is true..for taking him to the vet yet again..regardless of the expense proves that you are anything but!!!
May the change in diet solve any issues..as for the UTI's I am proof as a pet owner of the "under diagnosis" of this issue with at least two males and a female who slipped under the diagnostic radar with this diagnosis. So...I am in complete agreement that medicine and intimately getting to know the soothing needs of you unique fur baby are equally important...keep me posted. As for your 'vet" any concern that you have for your animal should be the most important issue that your vet faces upon the scheduled exam of your unique animal...accept nothing less from any vet...and best of health to you both!!!

[barbara]

have you tried leaving clothing that you have worn in his favorite spot? and see if you can get him to get close to one of your friends and i always leave the tv on for my guys so there is always some stimulation you may have to try getting a companion cat take him with you so he can choose who he likes good luck let me know if i can try and think of something else for you barb and powwow

[BarbaraRose Farber]

Abandonment for any animal is traumatic, be it one of our pets or a human animal. How long do you go away for? Is it hours; days or weeks?
Why don't you rescue another cat, about the same age, but of the opposite sex or you will have cat fights. He is lonely plain & simple.