My cat's UTI symptoms persist despite antibiotics. Is it cystitis?

Cats normally don't have an infection associated with cystitis (bladder inflammation), so it's definitely possible that she would resolve the inflammation on her own. They actually tend to get cystitis that is related to stress, so it would be good to see if there is something new and potentially stressful in the environment. One big thing I worry about with cystitis is blockage of the urethra (the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside world). If you all-of-a-sudden notice that she's not urinating and she is acting abnormally sleepy, then I would definitely advise a visit to the vet to make sure she's not blocked. If she is still urinating, but not as frequent, then it is less of an emergency. However, it is still a good idea to have her evaluated by a veterinarian, because there could be something else going on that you are not aware of.

Unfortunately you will not be able to just order an antibiotic online. This may not be a urinary tract infection and could be what we call a sterile cystitis. You could start by ensuring she is drinking plenty of water (recirculating water fountains help), switch to canned food and start a supplement called paxon or cranberry supplement treats for cats, which can be found online. If the symptoms are no better, the next step would be to have her seen by a veterinarian for testing and further treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

I'm sorry for the problems Duck is having. I would consider asking the vet to image his bladder with ultrasound or possibly X-ray to make sure he doesn't have bladder stones. He may also just have residual inflammation. Make sure that he can urinate as if he becomes blocked that can be life threatening. Some therapies that can help may be prescription diets, Cosequin supplement to decrease bladder inflammation and feliway if stress in a component. He may also need pain medication if still crying. Some veterinarians have had luck using a medication called cerenia for urinary issues. Feline urologic syndromes can be difficult to diagnose and treat in some cases. Keep trying to help Duck feel better. More info. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=612 Good luck

This is very abnormal for a cat this young to have these chronic issues. If your family vet is stumped then it would be best for your kitty to see a specialist. I would recommend asking for a referral to a veterinary internist. Internists have advanced training beyond a family vet and can diagnose and manage more complex cases such as this one. Any blood work performed? This is a crucial first step. Xrays of the spine? Have these UTIs been diagnosed and treated by running urine cultures? With a chronic history this is very important. Has any endocrine testing been performed? There are some congenital/developmental disorders that should be ruled out as well given the history. An abdominal ultrasound is important as well to assess for structural changes to organs. Unfortunately in order to help your kitty she needs more tests. Not all pet illnesses are easy to diagnose and some cases can be complex. It sounds like you are worried about her so i would recommend reaching out to your family vet with your concerns and/or to ask for a referral. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

There can be flareups, but typically it's a signal that she needs to be checked again. The main reason is that there is a concern anytime there is inflammation in the lower urinary tract that the cat can suffer from a urinary blockage and become unable to urinate. If Sgt. Jellybean is still successful at passing urine, it's not an emergency, but you do need to follow up. If she's still getting Metacam orally at home and is now again having trouble, it's a sign that the inflammation isn't properly resolving. I would also recommend having x-rays made to ensure that there are no urinary stones that could be intermittently causing a blockage, if this hasn't been done.

What seems to be UTI in cats are in 99% of the time a condition which is actually a bladder inflammation, it's not an infection and for this reason it is not treated with antibiotics. it is treated with special prescription diet for urinary problems, anti inflammatories and other supplements such as Cystophan. the cause of this condition is usually due to stress, so you might want to check this out as well.

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.