My Cat Drive Me Nuts...help !

[Lorin]

I have Siamese cat about 3 years old, he is indoor cat that been taken very well with all the vaccination etc. About a week ago he started to act strange. Walking around in small or big circles and peeing in my living room in different places instead of his box(that is always clean and located in quite place). I asked my gf to take him to the doctor, they came back with 2-3 antibiotics to take daily, but couldnt explain me what the problem was, except from bill of 900 baht nothing is changed. My guess that the vet she took him to, has no clue, but just wanted charge her and give all those stupid antibiotics(as Thai doctors usually do with humans as well). After 2 days of the medicine intake i had mercy on my cat soul and stopped that drug abuse. Anyway anyone can tell me what's wrong with my cat and what to do right now? I will take him myself to another vet, but maybe its not a medical problem? Help and advice needed. Thank you in advance.

[sbk]

Well, I am no vet but I know that an inner ear infection could cause equilibrium and balance problems--thus causing the cat to walk in circles. And in case anyone asks why I post when I am no vet, I have seen this before with an inner ear infection.

Is there any other odd behavior besides walking in circles and not using the box?

[kennkate]

I have Siamese cat about 3 years old, he is indoor cat that been taken very well with all the vaccination etc. About a week ago he started to act strange. Walking around in small or big circles and peeing in my living room in different places instead of his box(that is always clean and located in quite place). I asked my gf to take him to the doctor, they came back with 2-3 antibiotics to take daily, but couldnt explain me what the problem was, except from bill of 900 baht nothing is changed. My guess that the vet she took him to, has no clue, but just wanted charge her and give all those stupid antibiotics(as Thai doctors usually do with humans as well). After 2 days of the medicine intake i had mercy on my cat soul and stopped that drug abuse. Anyway anyone can tell me what's wrong with my cat and what to do right now? I will take him myself to another vet, but maybe its not a medical problem? Help and advice needed. Thank you in advance.

HI You say HE So presume its Male. Has He been taken care of in the Testical Dept ?

If not that could be your problem. It looks like he just wants out on the town, Walking the streets

As regards the peeing, That is just his way of marking his teritory in case another Male comes by,

It's his way of saying this is my patch,

Any girls here are mine and I want em Now Bring em on

[Lorin]

Well, I am no vet but I know that an inner ear infection could cause equilibrium and balance problems--thus causing the cat to walk in circles. And in case anyone asks why I post when I am no vet, I have seen this before with an inner ear infection.

Is there any other odd behavior besides walking in circles and not using the box?

Let say it is an inner ear infection, and that makes him walk in circles, but why he started to pee outside his box? Is no more odd behavior besides those two, he sleeps well, eat well, play sometimes etc.

[Lorin]

I have Siamese cat about 3 years old, he is indoor cat that been taken very well with all the vaccination etc. About a week ago he started to act strange. Walking around in small or big circles and peeing in my living room in different places instead of his box(that is always clean and located in quite place). I asked my gf to take him to the doctor, they came back with 2-3 antibiotics to take daily, but couldnt explain me what the problem was, except from bill of 900 baht nothing is changed. My guess that the vet she took him to, has no clue, but just wanted charge her and give all those stupid antibiotics(as Thai doctors usually do with humans as well). After 2 days of the medicine intake i had mercy on my cat soul and stopped that drug abuse. Anyway anyone can tell me what's wrong with my cat and what to do right now? I will take him myself to another vet, but maybe its not a medical problem? Help and advice needed. Thank you in advance.

HI You say HE So presume its Male. Has He been taken care of in the Testical Dept ?

If not that could be your problem. It looks like he just wants out on the town, Walking the streets

As regards the peeing, That is just his way of marking his teritory in case another Male comes by,

It's his way of saying this is my patch,

Any girls here are mine and I want em Now Bring em on

Yes, Tuna is male cat, not sterilized(that what you call it?). Anyways he is grown cat already and never been behaving that way, marking territory. Its not make sense after 3 years....

[sbk]

Could be he feels unsure to enter the box. Where is his litter box located?

Also, is there any other strange behavior, or unusual symptoms that you've noticed lately?

[Lorin]

Could be he feels unsure to enter the box. Where is his litter box located?

Also, is there any other strange behavior, or unusual symptoms that you've noticed lately?

His box located in the toilet, he been using that place for few months without any problems. Nothing more unusual except the circles and the pee.

[Nowhereman60]

Move the box to another location and see what happens.

[sbk]

Is it up on a shelf, or on the floor? Are the sides quite high? Its just that IF he is having balance problems that might make him nervous to use the box.

So, he isn't yowling or scratching his head, or acting odd in any way?

[mangotogo]

Hi,

male cats can have frequent problems with crystals in their urine: multiple factors associated: diet, change of environment,change of litter...Sometimes they hold on too long before going to the toilet and crystals precipitate in their bladder. These crystals are painfull to pass. This could be one explanation for the peeing outside the box.

Did you buy a different brand of litter?

Diet can be implicated but I don;t believe it to be the only cause: any major change in hs diet?

Is he peeing on the floor or against things: spraying (against things) usually indicates a territorial issue: and there, cats are notorious for finding all sorts of insults!

One easy test to do is if he pees on tiles: check for crystals once it dries or even you can feel the crystals in a wet pudle: any blood in the urine?

The vet prescribed antibiotics. First reaction but a good analysis of the history is important, not just the shotgun approach.

The circling can also indicate some discomfort before peeing. If he can walk in a straight line most of the time and jump onto things: there is no problem with his middle ear.

The danger with crystalluria( production of crystals in the urine) is that they can also block and be unable to pee due to the small diameter of the urethra. That can turn into a life threathening emergency.

Some diet food are suggested as lowering different minerals to prevent the formation of crystals but I would need to know more about the environmental issues of the cat before i would suggest to change his diet. Can be a nightmare with stubborn/fussy cats....and not work!

Hope this helps a bit to identify the cause of the behavior.

Then I can maybe advise more on the treament warranted.

[desi]

Hi,

male cats can have frequent problems with crystals in their urine: multiple factors associated: diet, change of environment,change of litter...Sometimes they hold on too long before going to the toilet and crystals precipitate in their bladder. These crystals are painfull to pass. This could be one explanation for the peeing outside the box.

Did you buy a different brand of litter?

Diet can be implicated but I don;t believe it to be the only cause: any major change in hs diet?

Is he peeing on the floor or against things: spraying (against things) usually indicates a territorial issue: and there, cats are notorious for finding all sorts of insults!

One easy test to do is if he pees on tiles: check for crystals once it dries or even you can feel the crystals in a wet pudle: any blood in the urine?

The vet prescribed antibiotics. First reaction but a good analysis of the history is important, not just the shotgun approach.

The circling can also indicate some discomfort before peeing. If he can walk in a straight line most of the time and jump onto things: there is no problem with his middle ear.

The danger with crystalluria( production of crystals in the urine) is that they can also block and be unable to pee due to the small diameter of the urethra. That can turn into a life threathening emergency.

Some diet food are suggested as lowering different minerals to prevent the formation of crystals but I would need to know more about the environmental issues of the cat before i would suggest to change his diet. Can be a nightmare with stubborn/fussy cats....and not work!

Hope this helps a bit to identify the cause of the behavior.

Then I can maybe advise more on the treament warranted.

This happened to my male cat just a few weeks ago. I have a great English speaking vet and he explained the very same thing (above). That the crystals blocked my cat's urethra. He also said it's a male thing (normal and to be expected), suspected to come from them being spade.

As for the peeing out of the box, I took it as my cat trying to get my attention, telling me something was wrong (my cats tend to do things like that when they want action). And it did get my attention as it's hard to not notice a cat peeing on an Iranian carpet for long (cheap though it is).

I immediately called the vet who collected my cat for an overnighter. The vet wasn't sure if he'd have to flush the urethra out, but in the end it wasn't that serious. A shot (just the one), a change of diet, and now things are well again.

Well, all things are not exactly well. My female cat hates the new food. Being pretty smart, she avoids eating it, just tips her paw in to grab two at a time to play food hockey all around the house. I now find little round brown balls everywhere. She especially loves chasing them under carpets where they create hard, crunching mounds. She dropped weight pretty quickly so I had to add other food back into their diet.

Several years back I researched a cat water fountain. The reasoning is that cats don't like stagnant water (I don't know if this is true or not). And since males in particular have these crystal problems, getting them to drink fresh water is supposed to be a benefit.

I might just invest in a water fountain as I can't see existing long under these conditions. Anyone know where to find one? I could use a regular water fountain from JJ's, but can't seem to find one that doesn't spit water all over the floor. My poor floor.

Edited July 5, 2008 by desi

[Lorin]

Is it up on a shelf, or on the floor? Are the sides quite high? Its just that IF he is having balance problems that might make him nervous to use the box.

So, he isn't yowling or scratching his head, or acting odd in any way?

He is scratching his head and body or the furniture and our legs, but he's always been doing it, as well as meowing loudly, that is common for him as well. The box is on the floor, and he is using it when locked in the toilet(as I did lock him there last nite with small carpet to sleep on and his food and water). Besides he is always poo in his box, if it was balance problems he would do it in the living room as well right?

[Lorin]

Hi,

male cats can have frequent problems with crystals in their urine: multiple factors associated: diet, change of environment,change of litter...Sometimes they hold on too long before going to the toilet and crystals precipitate in their bladder. These crystals are painfull to pass. This could be one explanation for the peeing outside the box.

Did you buy a different brand of litter?

Diet can be implicated but I don;t believe it to be the only cause: any major change in hs diet?

Is he peeing on the floor or against things: spraying (against things) usually indicates a territorial issue: and there, cats are notorious for finding all sorts of insults!

One easy test to do is if he pees on tiles: check for crystals once it dries or even you can feel the crystals in a wet pudle: any blood in the urine?

The vet prescribed antibiotics. First reaction but a good analysis of the history is important, not just the shotgun approach.

The circling can also indicate some discomfort before peeing. If he can walk in a straight line most of the time and jump onto things: there is no problem with his middle ear.

The danger with crystalluria( production of crystals in the urine) is that they can also block and be unable to pee due to the small diameter of the urethra. That can turn into a life threathening emergency.

Some diet food are suggested as lowering different minerals to prevent the formation of crystals but I would need to know more about the environmental issues of the cat before i would suggest to change his diet. Can be a nightmare with stubborn/fussy cats....and not work!

Hope this helps a bit to identify the cause of the behavior.

Then I can maybe advise more on the treament warranted.

To answer your questions: I'm always buy only 1-2 kinds of litter from Foodland and havent change it lately, his diet havent change from the day I got him(got him from my condo unit owner in BKK 2 years ago, he was grown up already, from his medical book I figured the first record was done in 2005, so that should be his year of birth). He is always eating cat food with Tuna flavor, never eat human food,I offered him many times, he just dont like it I guess. I'm not sure about spraying, I saw him do it once on the wall, but other times just on the floor, or even on my working table. I havent seen any blood or crystals in his urine. He is able to go straight, jump on the things and run, so I believe is no problem with middle ear. The only change that happened in his life few month ago, that I moved out of BKK and staying in new condo,and my gf taking him sometimes to her apartment when I'm out of the country, but seems they are ok with each other, he even sleep with her in the bed, thing he never done with me. Regarding peeing out of his box, it happened before few times, but it was always on my bed, probably attention thing, and I dont mind that happening sometimes, but not like what is going on now. Ahh and by the way, the first thing he pee when its started a week ago, was his travel plastic box, he jumped on it, smell it, play a bit with his paws and then pee on top of it.

[Priceless]

Hi,

male cats can have frequent problems with crystals in their urine: multiple factors associated: diet, change of environment,change of litter...Sometimes they hold on too long before going to the toilet and crystals precipitate in their bladder. These crystals are painfull to pass. This could be one explanation for the peeing outside the box.

Did you buy a different brand of litter?

Diet can be implicated but I don;t believe it to be the only cause: any major change in hs diet?

Is he peeing on the floor or against things: spraying (against things) usually indicates a territorial issue: and there, cats are notorious for finding all sorts of insults!

One easy test to do is if he pees on tiles: check for crystals once it dries or even you can feel the crystals in a wet pudle: any blood in the urine?

The vet prescribed antibiotics. First reaction but a good analysis of the history is important, not just the shotgun approach.

The circling can also indicate some discomfort before peeing. If he can walk in a straight line most of the time and jump onto things: there is no problem with his middle ear.

The danger with crystalluria( production of crystals in the urine) is that they can also block and be unable to pee due to the small diameter of the urethra. That can turn into a life threathening emergency.

Some diet food are suggested as lowering different minerals to prevent the formation of crystals but I would need to know more about the environmental issues of the cat before i would suggest to change his diet. Can be a nightmare with stubborn/fussy cats....and not work!

Hope this helps a bit to identify the cause of the behavior.

Then I can maybe advise more on the treament warranted.

This happened to my male cat just a few weeks ago. I have a great English speaking vet and he explained the very same thing (above). That the crystals blocked my cat's urethra. He also said it's a male thing (normal and to be expected), suspected to come from them being spade.

As for the peeing out of the box, I took it as my cat trying to get my attention, telling me something was wrong (my cats tend to do things like that when they want action). And it did get my attention as it's hard to not notice a cat peeing on an Iranian carpet for long (cheap though it is).

I immediately called the vet who collected my cat for an overnighter. The vet wasn't sure if he'd have to flush the urethra out, but in the end it wasn't that serious. A shot (just the one), a change of diet, and now things are well again.

Well, all things are not exactly well. My female cat hates the new food. Being pretty smart, she avoids eating it, just tips her paw in to grab two at a time to play food hockey all around the house. I now find little round brown balls everywhere. She especially loves chasing them under carpets where they create hard, crunching mounds. She dropped weight pretty quickly so I had to add other food back into their diet.

Several years back I researched a cat water fountain. The reasoning is that cats don't like stagnant water (I don't know if this is true or not). And since males in particular have these crystal problems, getting them to drink fresh water is supposed to be a benefit.

I might just invest in a water fountain as I can't see existing long under these conditions. Anyone know where to find one? I could use a regular water fountain from JJ's, but can't seem to find one that doesn't spit water all over the floor. My poor floor.

It is certainly true that cats don't like stagnant water. Three or four years ago I got water fountains for my cats. It could easily be seen from the contents of the litter boxes that they immediately started dring 50-100% more water. Cats, especially ones that are fed dry food, tend not to drink enough (supposedly they are set up to get their water largely from the prey they would catch in the wild). I have discussed water fountains with a number of vets that specialize in cats' kidney diseases, and they agree that getting the cats to drink 50-100% more is one of the most beneficial things that you can do for your animals.

Unfortunately I don't know where to buy fountains in Thailand (I brought mine from Europe), but they can be bought over the net.

Best of luck with your cats!

/ Priceless

[Nienke]

I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip!

Priceless can you please send me a link or something about these fountains. Maybe I can bring one or two from Holland. Good for in the cat kennels.

Nienke

[bina]

i second mango,

go back to get his pee checked... there is food that can be given to deal with the crystals problem...

unfortunately that seems to be a major problem with male cats neutered or otherwise... every other day we get a pee problem...

science diet and royal canin have foods for urinary crystals etc...

but go back first to get his pee checked (they put in a catheter and check it)...

bina

[desi]

there is food that can be given to deal with the crystals problem...

Yes, and I have a personal grudge against food with a serious design flaw.

It just boggles my mind that someone created a health food for cats that ROLLS.

[desi]

It is certainly true that cats don't like stagnant water. Three or four years ago I got water fountains for my cats. It could easily be seen from the contents of the litter boxes that they immediately started dring 50-100% more water. Cats, especially ones that are fed dry food, tend not to drink enough (supposedly they are set up to get their water largely from the prey they would catch in the wild). I have discussed water fountains with a number of vets that specialize in cats' kidney diseases, and they agree that getting the cats to drink 50-100% more is one of the most beneficial things that you can do for your animals.

Unfortunately I don't know where to buy fountains in Thailand (I brought mine from Europe), but they can be bought over the net.

Best of luck with your cats!

/ Priceless

Thanks, that's good to know. I wasn't sure if it was just a selling hype. And since the fountains are not cheap and importing just got a lot more expensive (rumours on extra baggage, etc), I wanted to make sure before I brought one in from the US or the UK.

In the meantime, I'll rig up a local fountain for now as I couldn't bear to put poor Mr. Bunt through that pain again.

[bina]

sorry desi but what is ROLLS??

dont quite understand?

if the stuff works for your pet, why not??

i personally am not a cat person, but i have to deal with cats everyday in the clinic with eating problems, pee problems and renal problems... including many that are yard cats (the cat people bring them in if they can catch them, treat them, and release them ... including giving meds and decent food for the most part, and these cats also have urinary problems even when its survival of the fittest.) obviously the purebred cats have more genetic problems and propensities, there's even special food for persians etc....

i can only tell u that all the patients that use these horribly expensive foods seem to be satisfied with them. our russian clients are cat fanatics for the most part, (more so then the israelis who just keep a cat as a sort of pet)and i see they use these special foods .

i have yet to hear anyone using a cat fountain. most people say they leave a dripping faucet in the bathroom and the cat drinks from there. or u can just make a zen feng shui type fountain and the cat will drink from that.

another suggestion from a 'cat' lady, she uses quaker oats as cat litter, same price , but healthier in that it doesnt cause as much grit and dust etc that the cat might ingest when cleaning itself.

i thought it was wierd but a good idea.

bina

israel

[desi]

sorry desi but what is ROLLS??

dont quite understand?

if the stuff works for your pet, why not??

The special cat food my vet has is in little round balls, so it rolls. Everywhere.

And although my male cat will eat it, my female cat won't. When I tried to wait her out, she dropped a lot of weight and that can't be healthy for a cat.

But what she does do is pick out two little balls at a time. She then plays with them up and down the hall, around the living room, in the kitchen, everywhere. And yes, with a cat behind, pushing and batting, they do roll. Everywhere.

She especially loves pushing them under all the carpets around the house until they show a mound. It's uncomfortable, making the carpets crunch when you walk over them. She gets her mound built, then she goes and gets more little food balls.

And like you mentioned, this food is not cheap. And they way she'd doing it, half is being eaten by my male cat and half (eventually) gets swept into the trash.

I could feed them separate but that would mean putting up with poor Mr Bunt howling outside the door. No thanks.

I'll figure out a fountain of some sort. I have two already but both spit water. With wood floors, it's not really a good idea.

I'm not really sure about letting a faucet drip. Seems to me it'd be a waste of water?

[Priceless]

I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip!

Priceless can you please send me a link or something about these fountains. Maybe I can bring one or two from Holland. Good for in the cat kennels.

Nienke

Hi Nienke,

This is the type that I use for my cats:

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Deluxe-50-Ou...m/dp/B000084F2Q

(BTW, this one comes in different sizes, depending on the number of animals you have. Since I have four cats, I use the "Large" size.)

Here's another one that I used before but found less convenient to refill/clean:

http://www.hagen.com/uk/cats/addinfo/catit...er_fountain.cfm

Here are a couple more that I haven't tried, but that also come in larger (dog-)sizes:

http://www.puddlepetcare.co.uk/acatalog/Ca..._Fountains.html

/ Priceless

[Nienke]

Thank you.

Nienke

[Patsycat]

When did whiskas go out of flavour?