Remember. Dat one word rings loud and true. Remember lest we furget and be doomed to repeat our mistakes. Today is Veteran’s day here in da U.S. and we are sendin’ out our thanks and deepest gratitude to those who serve both past and present. We thank you fur goin’ to purrtect us. We thank you fur standin’ watch on da wall while we sleep peacefully in our beds. We thank you fur leavin’ your family and friends to go far away to places where you’re not always wanted. We thank your families fur sharin’ you with all of America. We thank you fur those Americans who bash you. We proudly salute you and send you our purrayers.
Thank You and God Bless America
We started writing this last night and mommy got to emotional so we stopped and came back to it this meownin’. Meez blog is not pawlitical. But in case it wasn’t clear, We are very patriotic and believe in the Constitution of the United States purrtectin’ our God given rights. We know dat our fureedom came/comes at a very high price. We live furee cuz there were and are those willin’ to fight and die to purrserve dat fureedom.
Thank You and God Bless America.
While lookin’ fur foto ops on da innernet we found lots of happy Veteran’s day templates, but what’s so happy ‘bout a day dat recognizes so much loss? Da loss of fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, daughters, husbands, wives; da loss of limbs and in sum cases sanity. We are one small voice but we are shouting, Thank You and God Bless America.
Father we come to You in the Name of Jesus and we ask that You keep Your hand on all those serving in our military. Many are far from home and loved ones. Many are scared and lost. Our government is trying to keep the very freedoms they are fighting for away from them because it’s offensive to those we are trying to help. We ask You give strength to these men and women and clarity of thought. Let them know You are there when the darkness of night sweeps over them and the sun beats down on their face. Comfort their families waiting back home for them. Bring peace where there is no peace. And bring our soldiers home. Let our country heal. For all those who served and never came home alive, give hope and peace to their families knowing that they served honorably and died to protect us. Help those of us at home to remember how our country became great. Our freedoms came at the cost of the life’s blood of our soldiers. Lord, help us to remember, lest we repeat our mistakes. And God, bless America. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Well here we are a few weeks after meez diagnosis with Sterile Cystitis to tell ya’ da truth as we have found it. We told you then what we were told by da VET. We told you dat this was very common ‘specially among cats who eat Blue Buffalo foods and dat it was caused from too much protein in da diet. Yep we wrote it as we was told, but we also included dat mommy wuld be duin’ a lot of little research herself. Just didn’t seem right dat an obligate carnivore kuld be eatin’ too much protein?.
Meez sure glad you don’t believe everything your told mommy. Me just wuldn’t like eatin’ salads and cereals.
No sweety you sure wouldn’t have, nor could you survive on those. Quite frankly I’m sick and tired of hearing from vets and pet food companies that cats, who everybody knows are “obligate carnivores,” need less protein. And I’m tired of pet food companies including so many ingredients in their foods that cats don’t need, can’t process and that could literally kill them.
Me thinks we oughtta ‘splain what dat means. Wikipedia says Obligate means by necessity. And Carnivore means flesh (meat) eating animal. In plain human English dat means Cats MUST eat meat. So how is it dat me kuld eat too much meat?
Pull up a chair, get’cha’ a cup of joe, tea, or whatever you dwink and let mommy tell ya’ how it is.
That’s just exactly what I wanted to know baby, and one of the many reasons I like to research everything myself. And the biggest thing I found in my research was not the amount of protein in cat foods but the amount of carbohydrates. High carbs can cause inflammation in the bladder and thus bring on a bout of Cystitis. Your grain free diet was full of them as are many cat foods regardless of quality or price, grain free or not. Pet parents almost need to become scientists to understand the labels on their pets’ food. The photo on the package is rarely indicative of the actual ingredients in the bag or can of that food in your cabinet. You can read the Truth About Pet Food for more information about what’s in your pets’ food and the FDA regulations, etc. Again, there are many other places to gather this information and you need to research and decide for yourself what is fact and what is fiction.
The ingredient list of the food Dezi was eating.
Ingredients on the Hills bag the vet recommended below:
Sterile Cystitis can be called a myriad of things such as, Idiopathic Cystitis, Urinary Tract Infection, and others. Anything having to do with the lower urinary tract is put under the umbrella of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Altho’ Sterile Cystitis is NOT an infection.
Sterile Cystitis is a condition that can affect both cats and kittens, male and female alike. The first occasion of Cystitis often occurs in young cats between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. The name implies an inflammation of the bladder of unknown origin with no infection present. In other words, they don’t really know what causes it. And altho’ there’s no infection, the cat is most likely in pain.
Vets make assumptions and all too often give bad or outdated information. We were told Dezi was eating too much protein and that the prescription diets for this condition (like the one for Lexi’s CKD) had a lower protein percentage and would clear up her symptoms. And that a lifetime switch would keep it from coming back.
Another assumption is that stress is a leading factor in causing Cystitis. For cats, stress could be anything. In general (not always) cats don’t like change. They are creatures of habit. Anything out of the ordinary can stress a cat. Boredom can cause stress as much as a thunderstorm or a house full of guests.
You can find a list of “typical” symptoms all over the internet, but I will list them here as well.
1. Frequent attempts to urinate
2. Straining in the litter box
3. Crying out while in the litter box
4. Blood in the urine
5. Urinating outside the litter box
These are the main symptoms that alert to a problem in your cat or kitten’s urinary tract. BUT Dezi had none of these symptoms. Altho’ Dezi went to the litter box 4-5 times a day, she never strained or cried out and there was never blood in her urine. She wasn’t drinking excessively, altho’ she did like to play in the water fountain, thus justifying her 1-2 extra trips a day. When she did use the piddle pads instead of the box, it was always because the box had been used and not yet scooped. If she poops before urinating, she won’t go in the same box. The only time she will do both in the box at the same time is when she urinates first. Yes I know she’s got a few strange quirks, but that’s my baby girl and I love her no matter what.
So what were Dezi’s symptoms you ask? What caused me to think a urinalysis would be a good idea as it’s not really part of the complete exam the vet was offering? Well a lot of you know I lost Lucky to a urethral blockage, and Dezi was mimicking some of the behaviors that he had. So we are going to list them as well because feline health is so important and they can hide an illness so well.
1. Excessive licking/cleaning of the genitals immediately after urinating.
2. Appearance of spraying without actually spraying. Example:Tail straight up, cat backed up to wall/chair/leg/etc. and then tail shimmies/shakes with no urine produced. (This is something both Lucky and Dezi did when they got excited so I never thought it was a symptom of anything other than joy. They would both sometimes chatter at the same time. However, Dezi no longer does this regardless of her excitement level so this is a symptom of a problem).
3. Smaller than normal urine clumps.
Meez harness helps keep da stress down durin’ a funder storm.
With Sterile Cystitis there is also the possibility that crystals have formed in the urine/bladder. There are 2 main forms of crystals called Struvite and Calcium Oxylate. Since this didn’t happen in Dezi’s case we won’t go into them here, but you can read more about them at uvma.org.
With a condition that has no real explanation as to it’s cause, how do you go about treating it? Something you should be aware of is the fact that cats can have this condition and have it clear up on its’ own in a week or two with no treatment whatsoever. Since there’s no infection, antibiotics are not helpful and should be avoided so your cat doesn’t build up a tolerance. If you’ve been alerted that there’s a problem then no doubt your cat is in pain. Since the bladder is most likely inflamed, an anti-inflammatory may be prescribed for 1-3 days as well as a pain medication by your vet. If you suspect anything is wrong with your cat’s health, please see a vet immediately.
In Dezi’s case, there was no infection and no formation of crystals so after a few days of an anti-inflammatory, pain meds and an increase in hydration, she appeared to be doing better. We also began a food change as I personally didn’t like her eating the BB kibble due to the ingredients. (We’ll cover all of this in another post) We have urine pH testers on their way so that we can test her urine pH and be sure, but she is leaving larger deposits in the litter box fewer times a day now and no longer “faux spraying”. She can also leave the litter box without plopping down immediately to clean her genitals.
As you all know, I’m not a fan of prescription diets from any manufacturer since they are all based on the studies done by Hill’s Pet. Instead of doing their own research they rely on old studies performed by a food manufacturer more than a decade ago. Now having said that, you must make the decision for your own cats. I only ask that you do some research before you believe everything you’re told. Vets are an invaluable resource, but even they don’t know everything, and can’t keep up with all the new information and studies. And you know your cat better than anyone. Okay, off my soap box now and back to the known facts.
Cats don’t drink like other species so a wet diet is preferred to aid in keeping them well hydrated. Water fountains are also a good choice because cats like fresh running water. (please clean your pets’ water bowl or fountain regularly.) A batch of cooled nip tea, cooled chicken broth or a few ice cubes in your pets drinking water may also entice your cat to drink more.
We’ll be discussing Dezi’s food change and supplements in a future post as well as the stress relieving supplements and changes we are making in our everyday lives so that we can lessen the possibility of a recurrence of Sterile Cystitis or any other FLUTD’s.
Fank you all fur helpin’ us. Our Chewy box arrived today wiff our noms, litter and pH testers.
Well mommy ifin anypawdy was wonderin’ where me got meez wordiness from, they be wonderin’ no more. MOL We know this is a long posty, but it’s full of good infurmation and in human English so it shuld be easy fur everypawdy to read. This post is in no way a comprehensive look at Sterile Cystitis, but is the truth as we have found it.
Meowllo everypawdy. Today’s da big day. It’s time fur meez 6th birthday party. Me must tell ya’ this party really put mommys foto editin’ skills to da test. MOL She wanted one big foto of everypawdy dat attended meez party on da regal staircase of Tara. And she did it, but it wasn’t easy dat’s fur sure. MOL It’s been stormin’ here fur days now so we spent most of yesfurday playin’ and cuddlin’. Me had a purrfect day. But enuff ‘bout dat, let’s get this party started.
Group foto on da Tara staircase
Fanks to everypawdy dat sent their fotos to be included in meez posty. Everypawdy looks so amazin’.
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It wuldn’t be a party at our house wiffout pizza or steak. But me also has sum pawsum veggies fur meez non meat eaters. Sum little shrimpys and me luvs ice cream and cake, so we have an ice cream cake and ice cream cookies fur everypawdy to enjoy. We don’t drink alcohol but there’s flavored iced tea, soft drinks, and coffee.
Fank you all fur comin’ to celebrate meez birthday. Stay as long as you like and enjoy. The food keeps replenishin’ furever. MOL Fank you all fur da cards and well wishes. Ifin you’re on Facebook, weez’ll be celebratin’ on sis Lexi’s page this Furiday da 6th.
It’s Here!!! It’s November 1st and it’s officially meez 6th birffday!!! Weez gunna be celebratin’ here on meez bloggy tomorrow, but da festivities at our house start today and last all month long. WooHoo Me fawt me wuld show you a few of da cards me got today. Mommy spent all day yesfurday workin’ on meez party so me knows it’s gunna be amazin’. She’s still got a little work left to do, but…
Fank you awnty Sylvie, Cleo and Mika
Lexi: Yeah todayz youz 6th birthday Dezi. I wazn’t so shur ‘bout you when mommy furzt brought you home. You were tiny and fluffy and stinky. And you had WORMS!!! You were on youz death bed and I didn’t think you were gunna make it. I purrotested loudly and told mommy to take you back. I even whacky pawed ya’ and splatted ya’ flat on da kitchen floor. But you just popped right back up and side floofed me. Yeah dat sent me screamin’ down da hall; but deep inside, and I mean way down deep inside, I was glad you had enuff spunk to stand up to me. No kitty had done dat in a long time.
Youz turned out to be a great sisfur. I know I hiss at ya’ when you come back from da VET or when you and mommy go visit da sick peeps, but I really do lubz ya’. I wuldn’t want any udder kitty to be my sisfur. Truth iz, you not only picked mommy, you picked me too. When mommy went to meet you she had rubbed my scent all over her so dat you wuld smell me too. I feel purretty blest to habz been chozen to be youz big sisfur. Thankz fur comin’ into our livez and lubbin’ me and mommy. I will alwayz lubz you too.
Fank you Pipo and Minko from Webeessiamese.blogspot.com
Mommy: Yes Lexi we are very blest to have been chosen by Dezi.
Dezi my sweet beautiful angel, you are the light of my life. You make me smile and laugh. When I cry you’re there to wipe the tears away and purr away the hurt. Your constant companionship is a comfort and joy. I’m thrilled to be celebrating your 6th birthday and plan to celebrate many many more. You make me feel so special. I can’t even begin to count all the ways you brighten each and every day. I often get lost in your big blue eyes and can lose all track of time just watching you breathe when you fall asleep in my lap. I wish I had more so I could give you the world. Or at least everything a kitty could ever want. But I assure you my sweet, no one in any world could ever love you as much as I do. Both of you girls are my world. But since this is your special day and month Dezi, Lexi and I are at your meweek (mew and squeak) beck and call.
Fank you Sammy and awnty Pam from One Spoiled Cat.
Aaaaaaaw Thanks mommy and sis Lexi, me luvs you both sooooooo much. Me is so glad you came to meet me mommy and saved me. Me wulda been dead ifin you hadn’t brought me home and took such good care of me. And me really purreciates you puttin’ up with all meez little quirks.
And me really purreciates you showin’ me da ropes sissy. And fur teachin’ me ‘bout pizza, and how to help mommy. You are da bestest big sisfur any kitty kuld ever have. We are truly blest.
Aaaaaw Fanks mommy and sissy.
And me luvs and purreciates all of you. Meez family grew by leaps and bounds when we joined social media. Me has all of you wunnerful kitties and doggies and bunnies and piggies and awnties and unkles. Me is so blest to have you all in meez life. What a life it is.
Me can’t hardly wait to start celebratin’. Me sure hopes you will all come to da party and celebrate meez 6th birthday tomorrow. It’s gunna be great fun. See you then.
Service Cats U.S. 