My cat has FIC, discomfort, and anal gland issues. What diet helps?

This is a frustrating disease to deal with. You can try to add Feliway diffusers or plugs in to help with stress in her environment and add more litter boxes. Some times you have to change the type of litter or litter box because some have a preference. They always make fountains to recycle their water to encourage more water intake. There are several different types of urinary food to help with infections, sediment and crystals, and stress that may help. I would monitor her a urinalysis frequently to make sure there is no infection or sudden changes.

Poor kitty. He may need his anal sacs expressed. I'd have him seen by a vet to have them expressed. Then I would give him Glandex, which is a supplement that can help with anal sac health. Make sure he has plenty of fiber in his diet. Brands of cat food I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams.

I'm sorry to hear of your concerns with Harry. FIC is a very frustrating condition. Individual cats can respond very differently to different therapies and so there is not one single, best way to treat FIC. There are diets on the market that can dissolve struvite crystals and stones, but these are not effective in all cases. The concentration of the urine and the components of the diet are the most important factors long-term. Different brands of diets can sometimes work better in different cats. If the c/d diet is not working for Harry, you may want to try a different brand such as the Royal Canin urinary s/o diet. If he has only had one obstructive episode you do not necessarily need to proceed with a PU at this time, but keep in mind that if he has small stones present and continues have to have flare-ups, he is at risk for another blockage. A PU surgery will greatly reduce the risk of an obstruction but is not without risk itself and is expensive, as you know. Most cases of FIC can be managed via diet and supplements but I cannot speak to the need for a cystotomy without reviewing x-rays and medical history. If you would like to discuss this case further, using our consultation option may be helpful as you are able to upload X-rays and other medical information. This would allow us to give more specific recommendations. I wish you the best of luckin managing Harry's condition. He's very lucky to have you.

High fiber diets can be beneficial for anal gland and constipation issues. There is some evidence that pets with chronic anal gland disease could have underlying allergies and by treating the allergies the anal gland issues resolve. You can discuss with your local veterinarian what allergies are most common in your area and if they think Misty could have allergies.

Reducing stress is an important part of the treatment, because this is suspected cause of idiopathic cystitis. Try to identify any stressors in the household and do your best to eliminate them. You can also buy a cat pheromone product like Feliway at the pet store, which may help to reduce stress. Aside from reducing stress, there's really not much more you can do besides giving the prescribed medication. Below is a link to more information about this condition. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cystitis-and-lower-urinary-tract-disease-in-cats I hope that helps and Ollie gets better soon.

Do not combine foods, this causes GI upset. Brands of food I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams. I recommend these foods because they run their own feeding trials, meet AAFCO standards, and have veterinary nutritionists on staff. They are the only four brands to do this. I think an indoor cat formula would be best for Storm. As for water, get a pet water fountain. It provides a constant source of fresh water, and encourages cats to drink. I have one for my cats, and they love it. Don't change litter if he has one he likes. Cats are very picky about litter, and a change in litter can lead to them not using their box.

He likely has FIC - feline idiopathic cystitis. It is associated with stress. Here is article about this issue: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=612 The article will address things you can do to help prevent occurrences of these episodes however, you will never full prevent them from happening 100%. I strongly suggest you start using Feliway diffusers in the house if you are not already doing so. This will reduce his stress and stress is a huge contributing factor to this issue. Be sure to get enough diffusers to cover the total square footage of your house. https://www.feliway.com/us/ https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-feliway-for-cats Hope this helps. If you have more questions after reading the article please feel free to post again. Best wishes.