Thread: Poor Monty... peeing probs / cystitis

Really sorry to hear he's still struggling, especially as it was looking so promising. No wonder you're feeling gloomy but take heart by the fact that he's okay in himself, that must be a good sign. I think Jackie's right about the vets tomorrow if it's an option, and if you can pop him let us know how it goes. Will be thinking of you and Monty.

Hello all, thanks once more for your advice and sympathy. I really appreciate it.

El Monto still acts like he’s fine. Yesterday evening, while hubby was scooping out one of the litter boxes, Monty jumped in (they all do that over here, they have no shame) and produced a pee the size of a walnut. Still not much but rather more than earlier on. And this morning he hasn’t been nervously going to an fro the litter box… so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
He eats well and drinks like a fish from the tuna-tin water. He is curious and playful as always, pushing open and shut every door in the house, following me into the bathroom and attacking the shower curtain while I’m showering, chasing and catching the clothes I’m trying to put on… in short, the normal daily Monty-routine.

@Jackie – There is a backup surgery nearby for emergencies during the weekend, so if needed we can always bring him in. But the way things are looking now I don’t think it is necessary. I have thought about using a syringe – we have one in the house. But I want to keep Monty’s stress levels as low as possible… I have read a couple of times that stress can aggravate cystitis. Don’t know how reliable that information is, but I’d rather take no chances.

@Candes – Thanks for the tip about the antibiotic. I looked it up… it is broad-spectrum.
The vet told us about the signs of a blockage: lethargy, going off his food, etc. If that happens we’ll have to rush him to the emergency clinic. But as long as he is not showing any of these signs I don’t want to break up his daily routine and put him through the stress of yet another car ride and another examination by an unfamiliar vet.

Again, many thanks for your interest. I’ll keep you posted.

I thought about Monty several times at work this morning especially with the ones that had been seen in the last few days & were not due in again until next week but the owners were worried about leaving them until then,a couple were false alarms but one wasn't & thats the one it is all about. I know stress can cause cystitis but also you have to get a good flow of fluid through to clean the bladder plus make it start wanting to work properly again,I still wonder if Monty had got a good fluid imput through in the first place
wether it would have helped him more,its the same as with us,if you get cystitis it is fluid,fluid & more fluid,something had already caused it so I don't think putting fluid in by syringe would have caused too much problem,as long as you put it into the side of the mouth gradually they normally take it quite easily.The thing that did worry me more was what Candes put in her post,if there is a blockage then you must not overfill the bladder.
The fact that he is happy in himself is a good sign & hopefully when he gets a good bladder full of fluid there will be a super big pee & we will hear the cheer right over here....

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

I don't think putting fluid in by syringe would have caused too much problem,as long as you put it into the side of the mouth gradually they normally take it quite easily.

So you think using the syringe wouldn't stress him out all that much? If so, I'll certainly give it a go.

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

The thing that did worry me more was what Candes put in her post,if there is a blockage then you must not overfill the bladder.

That's why we're watching him like hawks. At the slightest sign of distress, it's off to the emergency vet with him.

If you face his head away from put your spare hand acroos his head & ears & then gently squirt the fluid into the side of his mouth,the syringe goes in through the gap in his teeth & going at that angle he will swallow as it goes in,never give it straight into the front,give it a go,if he does stress then you can stop straight away,I think it is being firm but kind when you hold them that gives you the edge,if you hesitate you are lost,as the saying goes....

I don't know of a higher problem within male MC's but no doubt someone will pop up with some facts & figures,also do not know of any nutered related male problems within the breed.Like a lot of things I think this is a "Chicken versus the egg"situation & you are very often left wondering the what ifs.....

I hope it’s not too soon to cheer, but El Monto appears to be doing well. As far as I can tell he pees a good volume, due to drinking copious amounts of tuna water. In the morning I open a tin and squeeze out the water, which I give him to drink. Then I mix the tuna with some tap water and put it in the fridge. Each hour I drain the water, let him drink it, and top up the tuna with fresh tap water. It’s amazing how many brews you can get out of a single tin before it loses it taste! Especially if you put the ‘broth’ in the microwave for a few seconds to bring out the flavors.

So, there’s hopefully no need of syringes and X-rays. Still keeping my fingers crossed though.

By the way, now that all three are on wet food they pee a LOT. I have to scoop out the litter boxes several times a day. But I don’t mind because this seems so much more natural and healthy. And there was me being so happy about the dry food regimen in an earlier post!
By now I have really gone back on that. Yesterday I’ve been reading up on feeding cats and learned that all this dry food is quite unnatural. Moreover, there seems to be a correlation between too much dry food and bladder trouble!

Here’s a very interesting link – it was a real eyeopener for me:
Feeding Your Cat: Know The Basis of Feline Nutrition

I’ve also become interested in the concept of raw food. There’s a lot to be found on the web about the BARF method… I wonder who first came up with that acronym and what were they thinking?
Anyway, I am going to study this subject. Maybe even try to slowly introduce the odd chicken leg or neck… see what the Coonies make of it.

Anyone on here have any experience with raw feeding?