I really need help!

[Tracey]

Okay last week one of my cats had a bad cold, eye partially closed, red third eyelid, and constant sneezing... I kept careful cleaning his eye, and would put him in the bathroom with hot water in the tub, and let him breathe the steam.

Well yesterday and today I was excited that he was all better, only today, this evening actually, he's peed twice out of the litter box. The litter is clean and he's never done this before...

The first time was in the kitchen, the second in the bathroom on the bath rug. This may seem odd, but Griffin is pretty needy with me, and I have to leave the door open while I'm in the washroom, or he cries at the door. So I was in the washroom myself, and he came in and squatted in front of me and peed.

What could cause the change of behaviour? We have no new pets, he's not under any stress that I know of, there aren't any changes around the house either...

[Traci]

Has he been seen by your vet??

Cats don't truly get "colds", not in the human sense. They get feline-specific viruses and bacterial infections. You need your vet to examine him and find out what is causing the eye problem and sneezing, he could have herpesvirus, an infection from a wound or scratch/bite from another cat, upper respiratory infection, etc. Has he ever been tested for FELV/FIV? Vaccinations up-to-date?

With what and how were you cleaning his eye? If this were an upper respiratory infection, for example, it needs to be treated by the vet, with oral antibiotics, and possilbly opthalmic eye ointment or drops.

The urination could be a cause of the current health issue, meaning he needs examined, tested, and get a urinalysis done to rule out newly forming urinary tract infection, or pain resulting from an untreated eye/nasal or upper respiratory problem. Do NOT wait on this, get him to your vet immediately!

[StarfishSaving]

Seconded. Usually when a cat starts urinating outside the box, there's a health issue there, not a behavioral one. I've known cats to pee outside the box because of not only urinary tract problems but parasites, respiratory infections, and even injuries. It's like a signal that something is wrong and it's best to listen to them!

Good luck and please keep us posted!

[Tracey]

We have an appointment for tomorrow at 9 am, it was the soonest we could get in... poor little guy... my cats are like my kids (as I am sure is the case with many of us) and I feel physically nauseated when they aren't well.

[mamabear]

Tracey, KUDOS to you for getting an appt asap for kitty. Please keep us posted, we would love to know the outcome. prayers for kitty's health.

Hi starfishsaving(yes it's me same name, different board, but same me!!). Ladyhawke is here as well but she is under Tambrey.

[Tracey]

Ok, so Griffin had to stay at the vet for most of today, we took him in and found out right away that his heartrate, and temperature were fine, and that his bladder wasn't dangerously overloaded, in fact it was too empty for the testing they needed to do.

So we left him there, so they could obtain a urine sample. Later in the afternoon they called us and said he has a mild UTI, with no crystals! So that is great news, they do want my tubby little guy to loose some weight though.

So we are doing measured food (he had free access to his food until tonight), and antibiotics, which of course he isn't too impressed with, but he got new toys today, for being such a good boy, and is back home with his parents and doing well

Thanks for the advice![/i]

[Tambrey]

good to know that he is on the mend!!

[mamabear]

Thank you SOoooooooooo much for letting us know. Sometimes people come ask for advice but dont update. It's great when we do get an update and we can celebrate the beginning of animals on the mend.

again kudos to you for being responsible and caring so much!!



(((((((((TRACEY))))))))))))))

[StarfishSaving]

Ditto- thanks for keeping us posted!