Cat Cystitis

[Donna]

As you all know, Chloe suffers from cystitis from time to time. I know she doesnt drink much so am looking into the water fountains for cats as I think she might like one of those.

I know she likes her dry kibbles and think that when she has more of these compared to her wet food that they are not helping the situation... she will eat dry food over the wet and I tend to give her a bowl of wet and dry mixed up.

Are there any good quality dry foods that are made especially for cats prone to cistitis that I can buy online? It might be worth me trying her on such a food to see if this improves the situation.

The vet hasnt recommended putting her on any special foods, but it was just something that I have thought of as she does love her dry food and I dont think the dry food she is eating is helping the situation.

[alexgirl73]

Hi Donna

Since broxi suffered I have had him on the RC vet food, which you can now buy online at their website

http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/vet/clinical_diets/feline_clinical_diets/urinary_dry.aspx

I also use a fountain for him (and the others) and they all use it brilliantly. One of my best buys.

[dandysmom]

Have you tried adding a little lukewarm water, just a small bit, to her wet food to make more gravy? I got this tip here, and Leia seems to prefer it that way. She also wants dry, so I mix them up together. She hasn;t had a bout of cystitis (knock wood!) since I added the extra water.

[calismum]

We bought this for Alfie 3 years ago, still going well, keeps the water cool and he loves it.


http://www.petsemporium.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=44

[Donna]

I do already add a small amount of water to the wet food Eileen.... but she tends to prefer the dry so is not getting enough water in her diet as she hardly ever drinks. She picks out the dry bits and has a small amount of wet, but it is just not enough.... she is a tiny cat anyway so cannot afford to stop the dry completely otherwise she wouldnt eat anything.

Thanks for the water dome link... I think this is a good idea for me to get.

[kado]

All of my cats apart from troy and chester are on hill science persciption only c/d. Simon and guinness problems started off when i started too feed them go-cat. they got a upset stomach so i put them on a dried food called technical. That blocked Simons bladder up and 3 months later it started guinness cysitas off. I think its something with the ph value in the food. I havent tried the fountain but would love one. I used to use filtered water and they seemed to drink more.

jane

jane

[Elaine]

Donna I dont know if any of these suggestions will help but came across this...
http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/cystitis.html

I am sure i also read some where that free feeding and fishy flavoured cat foods are thought to contribute to feline cystitis.

A water fountain is a good investment, I first got one when Winston was still with us, he liked it and Eva and Bernie do too.

[sammy]

Hello, just wanted to say I got a Cat-it water fountain from Freecycle. It's worth putting a wanted post on your local group site........you never know, you might get one for free like I did! :lol:

[Donna]

Soooo..... just looking into water fountains.... what one do you use (or your cat lol)?

Dome one or the ones where the water looks more like a waterfall?

[Donna]

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_bowls_feeders/cat_fountains/14806

or

http://www.hagen.com/uk/cats/addinfo/catit_water_fountain.cfm

[Elaine]

I have a dome one, but was thinking of buying one of the fresh flow ones in the near future.

[Donna]

Why are you thinking of changing Elaine?

[Elaine]

Just because the Cat-it fountain I have now takes up a fair bit of space and is a bit cumbersome to dimantle and clean. I thought the fresh flow ones looked smaller and a little less fiddly for cleaning.
You can get smaller Cat it fountains than the one I have, may even go for that.

[alexgirl73]

I have the small cat it fountain, and it's great. It doesn't take up much room, is quiet and the cats all use it!

[dandysmom]

Do these cat fountains require electricity? I ask because I live in an old house with few electrical connections, especially in the kitchen where I'd be using one. I suppose I could look it up, but it'd easier just asking you who have one......:-D

[Donna]

Yes they run on electric.