Getting my cat to drink more water...

[mianiro]

Hi I'm kinda desperate and looking for new ideas on how to get my cat to drink more water. He had UTI a few weeks ago and I know he will have more issues unless he keeps drinking water.

So far he has been very stubborn. This is what I have tried:

Perscription canned food - won't go near it, tried mixing it with dry food as well. He is eating the perscription dry food that the vet gave us.

I have 4 water bowls around the apartment, changed with fresh water at each feeding.

Tried a drinking fountain, he seems scared of it. It is the petco brand fountain, it is very quiet, besides the noise of the water trickling dwn.

Tried the other UTI over the counter canned food, same result as with the perscription.

He doesnt like canned tuna, but I was able to get him to eat a little canned chicken in water. However, the next day, he didnt want to eat it.

He does like water out of the bathroom faucet. I kept track all day yesterday and he went to the faucet for water twice and once to one of the water bowls.


Anyone have any other ideas? I'm pretty frustrated at this point and I don't want his health to suffer because of this. I'm thinking about trying just normal over the counter canned food...like fancy feast or something. The cat I had growing up loved fancy feast, but I know it was horrible for her teath. If I could at least get him to eat a little canned food a day, I would be happy with that.

Thanks
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[Traci]

Have you had kitty back to your vet for a recheck urinalysis? Whenever a UTI is treated with antibiotics, you always want to get a recheck urinalysis after the course of antibiotics is done. If you haven't already, get him back in for a recheck NOW.

Did the vet find any evidence of crystals when he did the first urinalysis?

What is the prescription diet, (name and brand)?

Are you actually monitoring the water dishes to determine he might be drinking when you're not noticing?

DO NOT feed tuna or canned chicken, cats don't need either. When cats are on a prescription diet, you don't want to feed anything else outside of the diet, otherwise it renders the prescription diet ineffective....these diets are specifically designed to treat the condition.

[mianiro]

He is getting a recheck on Friday. His antibiotics are done tomorrow.

He is on Hills Perscription Diet C/D ... dry food. Yes, they found crystals.

I am unable to monitor him when I'm not home...unless I lock him a room. I have another cat who drinks like a fish. I keep a close eye on him when I am home the whole day to monitor his drinking.

I noticed today that he was licking himself after he went to the bathroomI have not seen him do that since last week.....I saw he was very red down there as well...I'm a little worried he might be starting to relapse.

[Traci]

Then get him back to your vet NOW (Today!!) Please understand that crystals can cause blockages that can be fatal if not addressed RIGHT AWAY!

It's entirely possible he is drinking more than you notice. Keep him on the C/D diet and don't feed ANYTHING beyond that. Your vet, upon kitty's exam, can determine if he's dehydrated or not, if he is not dehydrated, then he is probably drinking enough water and you just might not be noticing.

Please don't "lock him up", this would be stressful, and stress is a common precursor to UTI flare-ups and crystal formation.

As for the other kitty, you said he "drinks like a fish", if you imply that he is in fact drinking an excessive amount, he needs a complete exam and bloodwork to rule out diabetes and/or kidney problems.

[mianiro]

The other cat drinks like a fish because he is Felv +. Cats with feline leukemia tend to drink more than other cats. My cat with UTI is Felv -.

Thanks for the help

[Traci]

Not necessarily, any cat can develop diabetes at any age and time. Please, get him checked. A blood and urine glucose should be included in testing. As you know, an FELV+ cat is susceptible to any number of secondary problems like bacterial infections, and excess glucose in the urine does indeed cause bacterial infection, equaling a UTI. Don't wait on this, get him checked.

And, I'd advise getting your UTI kitty to the vet TODAY, not waiting for Friday.