I noticed he'd been trying to use the litter tray but couldn't go and was licking himself a lot then trying again.

I took him to the vet this morning and she said he had a 'very full bladder and a very sore willy'. She said he's of an age (8) where males cats get crystals in their urine so he'd have to be sedated and the urine drained by catheter.

She phoned me at lunchtime and said they would keep him overnight as he still had the catheter and I can phone in the morning to see how he is.

He will be fine PIDGAS, I promise!!! He is in the right place and it's best to get him sorted.....

Just make sure you spoil him rotten when you get him home tomorrow

My cat who is only 1 1/2 had this a few weeks back. Apparently it is quite common in neutered males. He had a few complications and had to be operated on but he is now making great progress and is recovering nicely.

Your cat is in the best place. The vets and veterinary nurses were brilliant with my cat. Its best he stays in as they can make sure he is weeing OK on his own. This wasn't done with my cat at first which is why it lead to complications.
He'll probably be given a special diet that helps dissolve any crystals in the bladder.
It's horrible having them at the vets but it really is the best place for him.

Thanks Rainbowgirl and endlessnameless. I'm sure he'll be fine. I'll update tomorrow.

Get well soon PIDGAS` cat.
XXX

Thank you MsWalker!

Hope he meakes a speedy recovery Pidgas ((HUG))

Thank you WaiteLover!

You will get used to it after a while,our cat gets tested every few months but hes on a special diet and hes right as rain.

He's in the best place - they'll take good care of him

Wishing puss a speedy recovery and hope you get a good nights sleep PIDGAS.

Do you feed him dry food and if so do you mind me asking which one? My neutered Tom Mr Tux had idiopathic cystitis (no crystals though) recently and my vet said the dry food exacerbates it. His urine ph was high, this can cause crystals too. A few days later another poster on here's moggy had the same and he was feeding the same food I had used, its a popular food but I did wonder.
Tux is fine now, your mog will be too

Hi pixieboots. I feed him on dried food. He's an 11kg Maine Coon so would need a lot of tinned food! I don't like feeding tinned as it is mostly just water. The food I use is Pets at Home own brand. Previously I fed them (I have two MCs) on Hills.

TY StressMonkey - I'm still up as you can see! I promised myself an early night too!

I know - it is hard isn't it? You know they are in good hands but the worry doesn't stop.

With the food - Royal Canin does a Maine Coon specific food, and also does a Persian food which is designed for urinary health (Persians are prone to crystals also apparently)

Wonder if thats made by go-cat? He's a big boy, don't fancy your food bills if he goes on a prescription diet They're a lovely looking breed though. Fingers crossed for your mog that he gets out tomorrow, cuddle up to your other pal and you'll soon nod off

My cat also suffers with crystals in his urine and just finished his course of antibiotics. Your cat will be fine at the vets overnight. My daughter is a vet nurse and she often does night duty and fusses over all her patients.

My cat has to eat Hills C/D food now and he and the other cats adore it. I couldn't believe my oldest cat walked past some fish I had saved for him, to eat the biscuits. Though how long I can afford to let the others eat it, as it is very expensive. I just bought some online and it was a very fast free delivery and they gave 10% discount. Has anyone tried the Hill's C/D pouches?

Yes its difficult for me to keep the other Tom away from his Hills (Tux was on S/D) it was a supermeat type and wasn't keen, I felt a bit guilty after all the sad looks at mealtimes Another problem I had was Betty only eats dry so He would keep trying to get at hers as he likes it. What site did you get the Hills from Mirage?

The diets prescribed depend on whether the urine is acidic or alkaline so I'm a bit wary about the general purpose urinary foods as they can make the problem worse if you get the wrong one. Royal Canin do one suitable for both, prescription only though so i don't think you can get it online

The site I used was http://medicanimal.authsecure.com/in...871956d8a5afcc

The Hills cat food is here:
http://www.medicanimal.com/Cats-Urin...duct_info.html

The 10% discount code on the first order is: NC4312

I placed my order for a couple of 5kg bags late Saturday and it was here Tuesday morning.

They will also dispense perscriptions from your vet.

We have been using the pouches this week and he loves them,it makes a nice change from the cd dry food.

Thanks Mirage, thats great

Thanks. I think I might give them a try then. Well I won't personally try them, but you know what I mean.

I was worried he would get bored eating nothing but dry biscuits in the 2 flavours. We did try a tin of the C/D food, that my daughter got from work, but he isn't a lover of tinned food of any variety. I wondered if it was perhaps he could taste the tin?

I'll be looking into that although I think my insurance pays 25% towards a prescription diet for 90 days. It will still cost more though as I'll need to feed both cats on it as they can't really be fed separately!

Mirage, presumably as your daughter is a vet nurse she would be able to say if the foods you mention are right for the condition?

I'll ask my vet although they have a vested interest in supplying the food!

Anyway, I've phoned the vet this morning and he is fine and ready to come home this afternoon as soon as I've finished work.

Yay - excellent news!!! Bet he can't wait to see you too

I am glad he is fine Pidgas and come home give him a lot of TLC

I never knew Vet Nurses worked nights

That's great news PIDGAS