growth in bladder

Question
Hello.  My 11 yr old neutered cat was diagnosed with a bladder infection 3 weeks ago. He was put on clavamox 2x day, and Hill's perscription food. He went for his recheck today, and is still peeing blood.  The vet said that his urinalysis is 100% better than last time, and his ph is perfect.  She did, however, feel a growth in his bladder almost the size of a golfball. It was not there 3 wks ago. He has had xrays and nothing showed up.  No stones or crystals. The growth did not show up.  He is now on Baytril 1x a day for 3 weeks.  She seemed puzzled by it. Do you have any idea's on what it could be?

Answer
Michelle,

Welcome to the frustrating world of cats and urinary problems.  Feline cystitis (medical term for inflammation of the urinary bladder) is one of the most common urinary problems in cats and can be the most frustrating to treat.  We dont know exactly what causes them, and some dont respond to therapy like they should.  I have sometimes treated kitties with 4, 5 even 6 (or more) different things before we find the treatment that works best for them.  

Now, as to feeling a mass in the bladder....  Radiographs (xrays)  are the first step to figuring out what it is.  But there are some rare stones that dont show up on radiographs and soft tissue inflammation or thickening of the bladder wall does not show up on radiographs at all.  The only way to determine exactly what is going on in and around the bladder is an ultrasound.

Has a culture on your kitty's urine been done?  Was the urine collected in a box or by cystocentesis?  Has an ultrasound been recommended?  As you can see, you are at the beginning of a potentially long road.  If the urine remains bloody, I would continue to take the steps necessary to figure out what is happening.  

Good Luck to you both.