| I have a cat, Double Talk ("Talker" for short), who had a urethrostomy
about 10 months ago. He has completely recovered although I don't think
he has realized that he isn't a "boy" anymore. He is on a diet of
Science Diet Dry or Tamiami Dry and Friskies Buffet. He wouldn't make
the switch to a totally moist diet, he just wouldn't eat. He isn't on
any other medication, although he was for about 2 months after the
surgery. It took him longer than normal to heal and be able to have
his stitches out. Did Max have to wear this really huge plastic collar
around his neck??? Talker did, and did he look ridiculous!!
Talker doesn't go outside, but none of my cats do. He now tolerates other
male cats where before he wouldn't. He does still try to "jump" the
females though. He is a himalayan and was a "stud" cat before he was
altered. Talker didn't really have cystitis though, he has f.u.s. which
was actual urinary blockages, but the surgery is the same. Talker seems
alot less stressed since he has been altered, on the whole. He lives
with 9 other cats,
\ oops!!! not necessarily the same ones. We have
him taking care of the kittens also, since he loves kittens, so the
kittens around him keep changing as they get older. There are usually
about 4 kittens most of the time.
Anyway, good luck with Max, I think he'll adjust just fine and pretty
soon will be back to a normal life .
Cin
OP
|
| Hobbit, my maine coon, had a total urethrostomy last spring. He is also
on a strict C/D diet. He seems to have recovered well and re-assumed his
position as "king of the cats." I haven't had to worry to much about stress,
since Hobbit is probably the world's mellowest cat. He did, however, contract
a bacterial bladder infection this fall...my vet says this is common in cats
who have had this operation. The only clue I had that something was wrong, was
that he lost some weight and his coat became very scruffy. He seemed to eat,
sleep, and play normally. So, you might want to watch for similar symptoms.
Medication has seemed to take care of the problem...although I bring him in
for quarterly checkups just to be sure (he's 15, so I keep closer watch on
him than my other cats...besides he has a large fan club at the vet's office).
Hobbit also had to wear a booster collar for about a week after the operation.
He seemed able to maneuver without too much problem, but his dignity (he's
painfully dignified) was hopelessly compromised.
I would caution anyone with an altered male cat, to be sure you feed it only
low ash food (less than 3% ash is considered low ash). 9 Lives has several
varieties that meet this criteria.
-nn
|
| I have an eight year old male cat, Ghandau, who had an urethrostomy
about six years ago. He was suffering from chronic cystitis attacks
and nearly died from a blockage one weekend while his owner was out
of town. Since the operation, he has had only one major attack
(which occured a few weeks after the stress of moving him from the
midwest to New England) and had to be catheterized. But overall, the
urethrostomy, while not a cure for cystitis, has, with reasonable
attention to diet, reduced it to a manageable level.
Speaking of diet, I feed him both the C/D dry (good for the gums and
teeth) and Mother Hubbard canned. Mother Hubbard, available at feed
stores, has the lowest ash and magnesium I have seen, and it is quite
reasonable in case lots. I add a couple of tablespoons of Brewer's
yeast to it as a vitamin supplement as well as half a cup or so of
water. This increases his fluid intake and keeps his bladder flushed
out (important for a cystic cat). Incidentally, the people who manufacture
C/D are marketing a low ash food under their own name (Hill's) through
the feed stores. The composition differs from that of C/D only
slightly, and it is MUCH less expensive than C/D from the vet.
I haven't tried it, somewhat afraid to rock the boat, but would be
interested if anyone else has tried it or has heard of any good
or bad effects on cystic cats.
|