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Path: utzoo!linus!faron!bs
From: bs@faron.UUCP (Robert D. Silverman)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Feline Urinary Syndrome
Message-ID: <385@faron.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Nov-85 23:33:10 EST
Article-I.D.: faron.385
Posted: Fri Nov 15 23:33:10 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Nov-85 03:58:11 EST
References: <1032@gitpyr.UUCP>
Organization: The MITRE Coporation, Bedford, MA
Lines: 39

> I have 2 male kittens that I plan to have neutered when they are old
> (and big) enough.  This talk about Feline Urinary Syndrome has me worried.
> 
> How do you tell if a cat is suffering from FUS?  Do they cry?  Act lethargic?
> Make repeated unsuccessful trips to the kitty box?  Bob Silverman mentioned that
> you can feel the distended bladder, but what is your clue to look for this?
> 
> Is FUS related to kidney stones in humans?
> 
> -- 
> Kathy Moore
> Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
> ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,masscomp,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!kathy

Yes, the syndrome is related to kidney stones in humans. Usually what happens
is that urine crystals form and block the urethra. Whether this happens 
depends mostly on the metabolism of the cat, i.e. whether his urine is
sufficiently acidic. If it gets too basic, crystals form.

The first symptom to look for is repeat trips to the litter box or a
prolonged stay at the litter box. If the cat is 'blocked' he'll become
VERY uncomfortable quite quickly and start acting irritable. FUS can
become life threatening but responds very well to treatment. The trick
is to suspect the problem early enough so that the cat gets treated before
uremia occurs.  My cat did not have his first attack until 3 years
after he was fixed so it came as a surprise when it happened. My vet
suspects that changes in his metabolism occurred as he got older and
eventually caused crystals to form. However, a 3 year lapse between
castration and the first onset of the syndrome was unusual.

The reason for waiting before castrating the cat is to make sure that he
is big enough. Otherwise the surgery can have the side effect of constricting
the urethra and making it more likely that a blockage will occur.

Urine crystals can occur with female cats but it's much less of a problem
because they generally have a much larger urethra and the crystals pass
right thru.

Bob Silverman   (they call me Mr. 9)