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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekgds!tekecs!orca!ariels
From: ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: male cat disease
Message-ID: <332@orca.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Nov-83 14:38:02 EST
Article-I.D.: orca.332
Posted: Fri Nov 18 14:38:02 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 20-Nov-83 19:30:37 EST
References: <257@nbires.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR.
Lines: 63

Cystitis is not a male cat disease, it is a desease that bothers all
cats.  Males have more of a problem because their urethras are very
narrow and have a tendency to clog up.  There has been a correlation
between "fixing" a male cat and cystitis, but not a very large one.  
My (ex-)male got it so bad that they did have to reroute his
plumbing.  He's just fine now.  I've even heard of active toms
having the surgery.  At least my cat didn't know what he was
missing.  I don't medicate him for the cystitis now, I only did that
for a couple of months.  

Once they've had the surgery, they can no longer plug up (which I'm 
sure makes them VERY happy).  This doesn't mean that the cystitis 
won't flare up again, if this happens to my Absinth, he'll have to 
start on the acidifier and the anti-biotic again.  I'm pretty sure
that the long-term medication your vet is suggesting is an
acidifier.

My vet said that some cats will drink tomato juice. If your
cat will, give it to him.  It'll keep his urine high in acid (which
helps keep the granules from forming). Also, salt his food for a
while, he'll drink more then.  You will never again be able to feed
him dry food, as this will probably precipitate an attack of the
disease.

The only problem I've had with the surgery (besides the bills and
the cat wandering around the house in a funny plastic collar to kep
him from tearing his stiches) is that the hair didn't grow back for
almost a year, and also, the poor kitty kept licking himself raw
looking for what they took off.  He had to take hormone pills to
keep the itching down, but at least the hair is finally back, so I'm
going to take him off the pills when I run out of this batch.

You can avoid the hassle of the catheter and enourmous vet bills by
keeping an eye on your cat.  If he yowls when he pees, or goes to
the litter box often without producing any urine, or begins to pee
in non-litter box spots (especially female cats, and especially if
the urine is bloody (which is sometimes the only way you can tell
with a female)), then take him to the vet.  If they treat it early,
you may be able to keep your male cat from plugging up.  I waited too
long and even though I brought him in before he plugged up, I still
had an emergency (6:00 in the morning, the poor cat lying on the rug
with his back legs twitching, having to run up to the emergency
clinic (mucho $$$) because the vet wasn't open yet, the catheter,
the surgery, the bills, the worry, the wondering whether to just put
him out of his misery, It sure wasn't fun).  

However, if your vet ever tells you that your cat needs his plumbing 
rerouted, go ahead and do it if you can afford it.  He'll be just
fine in a couple of months and just as obnoxious as ever.  It cost
me $80.00 in emergency room fees, and $150.00 in surgery and
boarding fees, including follow-up visits and medication.  Shop
around for a lo-cost vet for the surgery.  I saved $80.00 this way.
I did go back to my regular vet after the crisis, but if I'd have
had to pay his price ($200.00), I might not have been able to afford
the surgery. 

So, there's another horror story.

The moral is: don't feed him dry food, and watch him when he goes to
the litter box.

Ariel Shattan
decvax!tektronix!tekecs!ariels