I keep his bandanna on the cat tree that they all LOVE. I figured after a while it would pick up their scent and he wouldn't freak so much with it near him. It worked 

I think those bumps were a reaction from when he was outside and infested with fleas. I really fought whether to bring him in for a steroid injection because I think he has seen enough of hospitals for a little while. I kept a close eye on it and little by little they got tiny scabs on them and almost all of them are gone. I spoke with the vet that is seeing Andy and she said between the fleas and the mites he probably had it was probably a sensitive area and might take a while for him to calm down, almost like it had become a behavioral habit. I think he is going to be ok  His ears are cleaner than mine are lol, and his skin is not red or broken out ... whew. I really didn't want to put him through another process again, not yet. 

Andy is going back for a recheck this morning. I am keeping all of my fingers and toes crossed that his urine has gone back to normal. 

SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!  How is Rusty man doing??

Big hugs and much love,

Jackie 

Oh us too! Going to New England to see my folks and the grandkids. I'm worried sick over leaving him. Part of me just can't wait for the new year to be here and life go back to normal so I can anticipate spring 🌷🌷

Merry Christmas and Hoppy New Year! Be safe in your travels and the BIGGEST of hugs to all of you 💛

Huckleberry's itch is finally under control. We believe he was having a reaction to the infestation of fleas that he USED to have. He is just doing wonderful 

My husband just brought Andy to the vets and after a 2 week shot that he was given almost 3 weeks ago, his urine is FULL of struvite crystals   I am SO UPSET!!!!!  He got another shot today, we recheck him in 2 weeks again. I had mixed his prescription diet with a low cal high fiber diet made by the same company, Royal Canin and evidently this may be why. I spoke with a tech from Royal Canin and she said even though the high fiber diet is good, we are going to have to be totally strict with Andy's diet because of his sensitivity. OMG!!!  This is the THIRD cat I have had with urinary problems. My Gazoo ended up with a p.u. surgery because even meds and diet did not stop him from blocking. Falcor did ok most of the time. 

So... we are back to square one with Andy. My eyes are just filling up typing this. If he has to have p.u. surgery it will be about another $3000.00. I need to see if we can get this under control with diet. As bad as I feel about not giving treats to Huck and Oscar, I am going to have to be a hard @$$.

Please wish us luck, Andy is such a good boy 

Hiya Rene, Huckleberry was so good for his "photo session" last night 🙂 

I wish litter would make a difference, it has nothing to do with it, really. Some say that scented litters can give them a higher risk for urinary tract infections. High PH levels in their body is what make them create crystals. The PH levels in the urine is related to their diet. Crystals, in large numbers, are like beach sand. When they create enough crystals they settle over the opening of the urethra and create a mucus like "plug" stopping them from being able to pass urine. It is always the boy cats that block because their opening is so much smaller. The special urinary diets are formulated to stop them from having high PH levels so that they won't form crystals in the urine. I was stupid to think that even though it was a good reputable food it would be ok to give it to him. 

Falcor, Gazoo, and Andy never got to meet. Falcor passed in the early 90's. Gazoo passed 2 years ago. Andy was adopted 2 years ago after Gazoo passed. Gazoo was brought in as a euthanasia back in 2001 at the animal hospital I worked at because he couldn't pee. His bladder was the size of a tangerine and his body temp was 96 when he was brought in. He was only 2 years old and the people that owned him could not afford to unblock him. He almost died. I adopted him after we unblocked him with his previous owner's blessing. I thought I knew what I was getting into with him because of Falcor, and being a vet tech has true advantages to affordable health care. Anyhow, Gazoo blocked 7 more times, once with a catheter inside of him while he was on antibiotics. He is the one that had the p.u. surgery. He never had a problem after that. Andy scares me because he does not show traditional signs of a kitty blocking. Most of them will pace back and forth to the cat box and pee just a few drops, sometimes it is bloody. Andy was just fine as ever when I went to bed one night, and I woke to find him in a fetal position panting and crying. It was so strange that I didn't even know he was blocked until we rushed him in and the doc did a physical on him. 

Sorry, I am rambling on. If we cannot get him regulated with diet, then surgery or euthanasia are the options. I will not put him to sleep because of this. He is such a sweet and gentle soul, after having a  first few years of life he deserves better than that. Besides... he is my feral kitty whisperer, right? We will get through this one way or the other. 

Sending big hugs and smooches for your beautiful pup,

Jackie