One of our cats, Ratty (short for Ratatouille) has been having some litter-tray problems today. Can anyone help please?

She visits quite often, more than usual, and spends longer in there. Not much seems to be happening though, and after inspecting, there's a tiny amount of pink in the litter (at the moment we're using Catsan, so I guess it shows up pretty easily) - ie, she seems to be weeing blood. Only a teeny amount but it's important. I'm not 100% sure, but I reckon it's wee rather than No2 we're talking about here...

I've looked at a very good thread which is full of really good advice - blood in urine - help :( - but wondered if anyone has anything to add, or help, please?

For info: She's 3, tichy tiny, and very timid. We adopted her 6 months ago. She's shown no previous problems. She doesn't seem to be ill, isn't behaving abnormally, etc. However (and I'm sure I'm not imagining this having read the thread mentioned above) - she HAS been eating more dry food lately (Iams) and seems to be favouring this above wet food which we prefer to feed our cats. I've not given her any dry food since this morning, and she has fresh water all day, although it doesn't seem like she's eaten or drank much today.

A trip to the vets may be called for and if it's not better tomorrow then I'll give them a call, but I wonder what you all think about this????

Thanks, Goulash and Ratty

Oh poor Ratty!!
This is just a suggestion. I think it could be cystitis.
One of mine had this when she was 6 months old. She kept going to the litter tray and there was some blood. I felt so sorry for her i was at the vets first thing the next day. As we women know how uncomfortable this can be.

You need to get her to the vets tomorrow morning. or ASAP.
I would not give her anymore dryed food. Also try and get her to drink some water.

Let us know how you get on.
Good luck Ratty.

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I agee with what jill has said id take her to the vet poor thing.

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Banner By Smudge.

Thanks for your advice. Just called the vets and she's going in later this morning. She seems absolutely fine otherwise - just visiting the litter tray more often. I'll let you know how we get on....

Just visited the vet. It's actually a first time for us all (we've only had her 8 months). He was very good, and reassuring, with such a timid and tiny cat. He's given her an anti-inflammatory injection. He offered the choice of leaving her there overnight, or us bringing her in first thing tomorrow - we chose the latter, I hope correctly - so as he can anaesthetise her, get a urine sample and do a scan.

As I write this she's playing with her favourite catnip toy and trying to pounce on my partner. It seems the anti-inflammatory has settled her a little. But she's not eating or drinking, and she's nil by mouth from 8pm...

Anyway, I'm feeling a lot more relieved! Next installment soon.

Ah poor little Girl.
Hope she will be back with you soon.
Let us know how you get on.
It's nice to know it's not bothering her too much.

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poor ratty, hope she feels better soon


i have been through this recently with my marmalade, he is now on cystaid daily as a precaution as he had 2 bad bouts one after the other. the vet also said to stop feeding him on dry food as he obviously wasnt getting enough moisture as he didnt drink much, since his diet has been changed and on the cystaid he has been fine

hopefully with ratty it is something as simple to treat

Thanks Nanamoo, and to all you others too. Having spent ages looking on these forums (and elsewhere), a recurring theme seems to be that exclusive dry food, or too much of it at least, isn't a good thing - at least for some cats. It seems too much of a coincidence that about three days or so before Ratty's problem started, I noticed she was eating far more dry food, and deliberately choosing it over wet if she could.

Since yesterday I've taken away the dry food, for now, and been giving them wet with a little added water stirred in (there are two of them, and he doesn't seem to be suffering at all, in fact he couldn't care less, bless him )

I've also put their water in a far bigger bowl. A fountain is coming - who knows if it'll work or not. It was a joy (and a relief!!) to hear her slurping her food this evening, as it was the first time she'd eaten all day

i have 2 cats at 1 yr old, and only 1 suffered with cystitis but as the vet said it is unusual for a male cat of marmalade's age to suffer from it

i bought a fountain too but neither of the older cats seem to bother with it, its only the kitten and the dog that will drink from it lol

just keep an eye on her until she is next at the vets, if she shows signs of going for a wee and not actually doing anything call the vet for advice if you can, just to be on the safe side

lots of loves n purrs for poor ratty hope she is lots better soon

Latest: Took Ratty into the vets this morning first thing. Vet has just told me he found a bladder stone on the scan, about 3mm across he reckoned. He's going to operate to remove it, and get it analysed. He may have to keep her in overnight the poor thing - but I know it's for the best in the long run. No idea what it is yet, or how long it's been there. So glad we got her to the vet when we did. Bless the poor little sausage!!