**UPDATE** Our cat had the surgery, and it was rough for him

[chrissyk]

We had a male cat that had the urinary blockages several times. We got a second opinion and he was operated on to create a new passage. He was about 3 years old at the time and lived to be 16. His urinary problems were solved and he died of cancer after a long and good like.

Best wishes, you are a caring person.

Thank you Your post makes me feel very hopeful. My cat has had this issue since he was 3, and now he's about to turn 10. I feel like every vet we've seen about this in the past 7 years has tried pointless things instead of just doing the surgery and getting it overwith. I feel absolutely horrid about not being a better advocate for our cat in the past.

Did your cat actually require the surgery for a new passage, or did they do the surgery to widen his urethra (perineal urosthomy or something to that effect)? Ours is having the surgery to widen his urethra. I know that some male cats get so badly blocked that they actually do need to do a surgery to create a new opening, though.

 

[Gary M]

Our cat had the surgery for a new opening. This was about 20 years ago and surgery has changed since then, I'm sure. The first vet had catheterized him so much, that I'm not sure if the vet that did the operation had a choice of what to do. As I said earlier, it was the best thing we could have done for him since he lived another 13 years without urinary problems. I know every situation is different and I hope this works for you guys.

 

[chrissyk]

Our cat had the surgery for a new opening. This was about 20 years ago and surgery has changed since then, I'm sure. The first vet had catheterized him so much, that I'm not sure if the vet that did the operation had a choice of what to do. As I said earlier, it was the best thing we could have done for him since he lived another 13 years without urinary problems. I know every situation is different and I hope this works for you guys.

Wow, that definitely sounds like the more major of the 2 surgeries. I'm glad to hear that it worked so well for your cat. Our cat has had a lot of blockages, but this is actually only the 2nd time that they've catheterized him. In the past, our old vet always tried to "flush" him out with subcutaneous fluids. This problem is getting worse and worse, though. I'm so hopeful that this surgery will really change his quality of life for the better.

 

[Rajah]

Chrissy, y'all are in my prayers. Don't feel guilty, please.

 

[Tantor]

Sending lots of PD your way......

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

to you and your kitty. aw: Please don't beat yourself up. You are doing everything you can!! I hope he gets through the surgery okay. Please update when you can!

 

[eclectics]

Hope everything goes well. Whenever any of my cats was at the vet for prolonged stays, I was always allowed to vist and stay as long as I wanted. Hope your vet does the same. It makes a difference when they know you will come vist with them.

 

[Snowysmom]

I hope your kitty does well.

 

[chrissyk]

Hope everything goes well. Whenever any of my cats was at the vet for prolonged stays, I was always allowed to vist and stay as long as I wanted. Hope your vet does the same. It makes a difference when they know you will come vist with them.

We were unable to visit him today because of the hurricaine We always do visit him at least once a day (and usually more) when he has to stay at the vet. I hate being away from him like this! Because of his urinary blockages, he normally travels with us when we go away even. I'm not used to being away from him for so long, and I can only imagine that he thinks that we've abandoned him I can't wait to see him tomorrow!

I have my fingers crossed that the vet who is doing the surgery can get him scheduled for tomorrow. If not, we'll be bringing him home and then having the surgery done as soon as that vet can get him on the surgery schedule. I hope that he's able to have the surgery asap, since clearly this problem is not getting any better.

 

[eclectics]

We were unable to visit him today because of the hurricaine We always do visit him at least once a day (and usually more) when he has to stay at the vet. I hate being away from him like this! Because of his urinary blockages, he normally travels with us when we go away even. I'm not used to being away from him for so long, and I can only imagine that he thinks that we've abandoned him I can't wait to see him tomorrow!

I have my fingers crossed that the vet who is doing the surgery can get him scheduled for tomorrow. If not, we'll be bringing him home and then having the surgery done as soon as that vet can get him on the surgery schedule. I hope that he's able to have the surgery asap, since clearly this problem is not getting any better.

Don't beat yourself up. You are doing the very best you can under very difficult circumstances. I have always felt that animals have a instinct and they know when you are trying to help them. He knows you love him! God bless. All of you will be in my prayers. Keep us posted.

 

[mousey]

Chrissy,
I hope all goes well with your kitty. Prayers and pixie dust on the way!

 

[chrissyk]

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes The good news is that the recommended vet can do the surgery this morning, as he already had other surgeries scheduled for first thing. My DH is bringing our cat from the emergency vet to the surgeon right now. I'm really hoping that they'll let us visit him later on today, after the surgery is done. We're so hopeful that this surgery will change our cat's quality-of-life for the better.

 

[jx3smom]

sorry-I meant to start a new thread.

 

[chrissyk]

My sweet furbaby was over 19.5 years old. We were giving her fluids for renal failure and she had been doing great. Some blood levels stayed the same some were better. On Sunday she had some sort of "attack" and was really disoriented. I had noticed on Sat. that she was slower to jump on or off the bed and she was losing some of her sight. Later on Sunday she fell off the bed and was walking/staggering into things. We had her in bed with us and she could no longer lift her head. DH and I had hoped to take her to our vet on Mon. AM but at 11:30 pm on Sun. we took her to the emergency vet because we felt she was suffering and was very close to death. It only took a few seconds at the vet to end it but I have not stopped crying. We lost Mogwi exactly 3 months earlier. We have lost 3 in 2.5 years. It has been awful, all but one were elderly. None as old as my dear Trixie. I am so glad I adopted my little (2) kittens because they are a distraction and do bring smiles to our face. Trixie tried to keep them in line but now there is nobody to "discipline" them.

I'm so sorry to hear about Trixie It sounds like she lived a long and happy life with you, though. I hope that that brings you some comfort at this very tough time.

 

[Rajah]

Chrissy, glad to hear they can get him in -- keep us posted!

 

[chrissyk]

We are finally home, and our cat is alive and hopefully recovering from what was a very traumatic surgery. Today was beyond horrible. The recommended vet got our cat into surgery only to find that his urethra was severely damaged above where the surgery was to be done. He called us mid-surgery to tell us that this was pretty catastrophic. He seemed to want us to put him down, but we refused. He did say that there was a chance that this could be repaired by a specialist surgeon that sees clients by referral only.

We are so fortunate that she was only 1 town away, and that she could take him right away. The first vet closed up our cat and my DH rushed him from the vet to the specialist surgeon. She was able to salvage what was left of his urethra and to reroute it through a new opening in his abdomen. This is the same surgery that someone posted about his cat having on here yesterday. That is what is giving me hope right now, since it sounds like it turned out so well for that cat. As it turns out, our cat's urethra was likely perforated during the catheterization at the emergency vet on Sunday. That is always a risk with catheterization, and he would have needed to be catheterized to have the perineal uristhomy surgery anyways.

Hindsight is painfully 20/20 in this case If we had insisted that the surgery be done after his first blockage when he was 3 years-old, he would not be in this situation right now. It pains me greatly to know what we had to put him through, and I am beyond greatful that he is alive and will hopefully recover. If your male cat has more than 1 urinary blockage, please, please, please get several opinions before you rule out having the simple surgery done to widen his urethra. I wish that we hadn't listened to our old vet many years ago. I also wish that I had insisted on a 2nd opinion last week after that vet refused to do the surgery. Please keep your fingers crossed that our cat recovers well and that he goes on to have a normal quality-of-life.

 

[lisajl]

Chrissy,

Lots of pixie dust and a whole lotta prayers for your kitty tonight.

lisa

 

[eclectics]

Hoping for a speedy recovery.

 

[sammi]

I'm so sorry for your poor cat having to endur this ...along with you and your family.
We have had 6 cats in our married life and 3 of them went through blockages and we actually had the surgery performed on one of our boys about 8 years ago. It was really a messy situation when we brought him home as he had spots of blood etc discharging from him for a while but he did recover and never blocked up again. Sadly he passed away 2 years later at the age of nine from complications from pneumonia.
We presently have a 6 year old little guy...Willy, who also has been through the blockage twice (not in the last 2 years....touch wood) and we've been through all the stresses especially financially as these cats must return to be checked until there are no more crystals found.Our little boy is on CD and we found that spreading Brita water in cups throughout our home a great idea as he was a terrible drinker (which can contribute to this problem) but now he's a great drinker. He's always been a nervous cat too which is characteristic of these blocked up boys.
I hope your little fur baby does well and I give you plenty of as I understand what you're going through.
I hope it helps to know that other folks have been through this and are supporting you and your little boy for a speedy recovery....it's not a nice thing to have to put your pet through and it's soooo stressfull.
Please keep us updated and lots of prayers to your little fur kid!

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I'm so glad to hear your kitty made it. He sounds like a real fighter. aw: I hope he has a smooth recovery. Hang in there, little guy (and you too, Mom.)