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From: bs@faron.UUCP (Robert D. Silverman)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Re: Some cat questions...
Message-ID: <380@faron.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 12-Nov-85 09:53:21 EST
Article-I.D.: faron.380
Posted: Tue Nov 12 09:53:21 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Nov-85 03:59:51 EST
References: <670@astrovax.UUCP> <678@hou2g.UUCP> <193@circadia.UUCP> <461@cylixd.UUCP>
Organization: The MITRE Coporation, Bedford, MA
Lines: 51

> >> With males, I feel it's especially important to get them
> >> neutered early--6 to 7 months is best. ...[Scott Berry]
> >
> >You are just asking for Feline Urinary Syndrome if you have
> >it done this early.  Make sure the cat is fully mature before
> >you have it done.  [David Messer]
> 
> Our two male cats were neutered early.  They have each had one bout of
> Feline Urinary Syndrome (FUS).  Our vet told us that we could 
> substantially reduce the risk of recurrent attacks by putting them on a
> diet of canned cat food instead of dry.  He said that the risk would be
> somewhat reduced simply by avoiding fish-flavored dry cat foods.  We
> put them on a no-fish dry-food diet three years ago, and neither cat
> has had a recurrence.  (If they do, we may decide to go with the canned
> cat food, but that stuff is expensive!)
> 
> 		charli

I have a neutered male cat who was neutered at 8 months (and he is a large
cat and was large then). He had his first FUS attack in January, had the
urine crystals cleaned out and had another attack 1 month later. He then
had a urethostomy (complete removal of the penis). The difficulty is that
the urethra in the male is narrower than in the female and can cause urinary
blockage if any crystals form.  The urethra in the male makes a sharp turn at
the base of the penis and it is there where crystals tend to collect. If 
a male cat is castrated too soon (i.e. when he is too small) it can cause
a narrowing of the urethra and exacerbate any potential problems. The exact
age at which a male cat should be castrated depends on the SIZE of the cat,
not how old he is. My vet favors waiting until he is at least 8 months old.

Well since then he has had 2 more episodes and has been put on a special
prescription diet (S/D for those of you who know what it is). My vet says
that some male cats have a metabolism that produces urine which is fairly
basic and it causes crystals to form. His current diet is designed to acidify
his urine so hopefully no more crystals will form. He has never eaten dry
cat food (he HATES the stuff). The problem with dry food is that it doesn't
contain enough moisture. Cats don't need very much water and it's impossible
to get them to drink it when they don't want to. One thing my vet has me to
is to sprinkle a little salt on his food to get him to drink more water.

FUS is dangerous but treatable if caught in time. If untreated the cat will
die in about 3 days from uremia (internal poisoning of the bloodstream from
the urine which he can't get rid of). The treatment generally consists of
immediate insertion of a catheter to allow the urine to flow, lots of 
fluids, antibiotics to prevent infection, and relaxation of the urethra by
muscle relaxing drugs followed by removal of the crystals. 
 
It is very easy to detect because you can actually feel when the bladder
is distended.

Bob Silverman   (they call me Mr. 9)