Female Cat with UTI/Cystitis and Crystals

Question
I have a 4 year old female cat who has been suffering with a UTI/cystitis for a
few months now.  She has xrays taken and has crystals.  The vet wanted to put
her on one of the prescription diets and I rejected it.  I read up on one of the
inredients in the diet foods which is corn glutten and I will not allow it.  
Instead I have her on Merrick No Grain Wet food and Merrick Grain Wet food
which I mix together.  She is staunching when she urinates trying to push the
urine out which tells me the crystals are getting in the way.  She has blood in
her urine.  She was on antibiotics which did not work.  I am just curious if
maybe this is bacterial now and if a round of antibiotics would work. I have
been trying to get her to drink more water, but that is hard to do.  I have also
been adding a little vitamin C to her food which I read is good for this.  She
has also been meowing excessively, I hope it is not because of pain.  She is
urinating in inappropriate places in the apt.  Any help or suggestions would
greatly be appreciated.

Answer
Ellen -

I think you are making a mistake by not giving your cat the prescription diet to help control her  crystals and improve her overall urinary health.  I have seen animals on special diets do exceptionally well - often the crystals will dissolve and the cat is able to develop a healthy urinary tract.  

The symptoms you describe tell me that your cat is miserable.  If she is trying to push the crystals out of her urethra she must be in excruciating pain.  Most likely, the blood in her urine is caused by the crystals scratching her urethra.

Please find a veterinarian you trust and give your cat some relief.  You are not helping her by treating yourself.  If your are not happy with your present veterinarian, why not seek out the help of a holistic veterinarian?  It sounds to me that you are more comfortable with a holistic doctor.  Holistic veterinary medicine is a great alternative to western veterinary medicine and is just as effective as western medicine.

As I stated earlier, the prescription diets are great. If you absolutely are opposed to them for any reason, please do your kitty a favor and find a veterinary professional that can give her the help she needs.  If her condition continues get worse it will become even more difficult to treat.

I would also like to suggest that you feed her a canned food diet.  Research has shown that the moisture form the canned food can help to reduce the incidence of crystal formation and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM