My cat has to have surgery....bladder stones....UPDATED

I haven't had experience with that, but I'm sorry you're having to go through this with your cat. I'm so glad that you can afford this surgery. I had friends who were seminary students and couldn't afford that for their cat. They were heartbroken. The vet wouldn't give them payments or anything. Dh and I were so upset with them. None of us had the money, we were all newlyweds and broke.

I know mine hate the vet and take a while to get over the whole ordeal. I actually just bought this bag of crystals that you pour over the litter that works as a PH test to see if your cat's urine is normal. I thought that this $7 test would give me an idea of my old girl's health without subjecting her to the vet. I can afford to take her, but she does so poorly from the stress and takes weeks to get over it that the trauma puts such a toll on her. She's not sick right now--I just have the suspicion that something's a bit off. Cats are so hard to figure out because they won't act sick until they are bad.

I got the test at Petsmart. It's new. I thought I'd mention it because I have a bladder disease and have to have these tests often. My bladder disease is very common in cats, it's called interstitial cystitis. Sometimes infection can get into the kidneys as well and cause stones. So if the vet sees anything in the bladder, he might want you to check your cat's urine some more--and that's impossible with a cup.

I'm not sure if stones and crystals are the same thing? Mine had a few bouts with "crystals" as the vet called them. It may be the same since you mentioned diet. The crystals ours had were diet related...male cats tend to have the problem.

It was all a very long time ago so I don't remember the specifics. He was hospitalized a few days and catheterized (don't remember if it was the whole time.) The crystals were causing him to be blocked so they needed to catheterized to empty his bladder. He was sent home after a few days with instructions for a diet change. Of course it quickly happened again and he spent the weekend hospitalized again! But that was the end of it for us.

The diet change did the trick (the 2nd incident he'd barely begun the diet.) He now eats specialized food from the vet and has for probably 8 or so years. The food is expensive, but so worth it - like I said he hasn't had an issue since.

Hope Leo is feeling better soon! By the way oddly enough our cat is an orange tabby too (his name is Lou!)

Poor Leo. I hope he gets relief quickly. Best wishes for a speedy recovery sweet kitty 

We had a cat who went through this - years ago. He had a special diet
However, I wanted to mention that with our new cat, the new theory is to feed wet cat food along with the dry to offer the moisture to the cat. Maybe ask your vet?

Yea, we have had 2 male cats that have had this problem after getting fixed. UGH. Painful for the cat, and painful in the wallet, and emotions for owner. Just a tip, get the special food from Amazon. It's cheaper vs the Vet. We ordered a big bag online.

I am sorry for your kitty. What a sad thing for someone so dignified to have to go through. poor darling.

(I am sorry for you too as you have to pay for it...)

Our first cat had these stones/crystals and had the surgery to remove them. He was then placed on the special CD diet food and lived without any problems for many more years. It is always traumatic for them and us when a loved pet has health problems, prayers for quick healing!

I'm sorry for kitty! I have had a cat with urinary issues, but thankfully he recovered without needing surgery. The single best thing you can do for your cats is to feed them wet food exclusively. Dry prescription food isn't nearly as good for them, it's just more convenient for us.

I grew up thinking dry food was better for their teeth--not true, and it has way too many carbs for cats and they often don't drink enough water to really make up for what they're not getting in dry food.

Sometimes it can't be avoided, like if you're going to leave for a couple days, but I pretty much never give my cats dry food any more. Some cats will be fine on it all their lives, but a LOT of older cats are diagnosed with kidney failure and diabetes and newer veterinary thinking is that a lot of it is diet-related.

Aw, Leo looks like a sweetheart! I hope he's feeling better soon.

My cat didn't have kidney issues, but did require surgery when she ate 3 ft of yarn that she tore from a "school" Christmas decoration one of the kids made. She was so unhappy at the vets office that they allowed me to bring her home early to recover. I had to learn how to "tube feed" her.

I hope the surgery and recovery goes well for your feline friend.

One of my cats had chronic cystitis but never got to the point of surgery. The vet put him on Cosequin (sp?) daily and that helped greatly. It is an arthritis medication but the ingredients help with the crystals. He was around 8 yrs old when we started that and he lived to be 17. We also had to change his diet and used the dry Wellness with cranberries and mixed with wet food and it never flared up again. He wouldn't eat the prescription diet food :/

It happened to my brother's cat. After surgery, he was fine. He recovered quickly, too.

(((hugs))) to you & your cat.