Question:
Just as an update:
After being at the emergency vet clinic for 48 hours, we picked Enki up and brought him home. The total bill -- just over $900. We're sending in the claim form and we're really hoping we'll be reimbursed partially (the maximum claim is $750). On the advice of the vets at the emergency hospital, I took Enki to work with me Tuesday so I could monitor him closely. There are animal health technicians on staff, as well as a vet clinic affiliated with the emergency animal hospital just next door.
All day Tuesday he seemed relaxed (probably due in part to his prescription of valium -- lucky cat), but Shari, an animal tech, gave me bad news just before I left work. Enki's bladder was full and hard. He hadn't peed since 10am.
It took all my strength to hold back the tears. Nik and I had decided our financial limit was going to be $1000 for him: we've had him for less than a month and we hadn't dreamed that we would be faced with this problem with so young a cat. I ran him to the vet clinic next door, where Nik met me. As soon as he came in I started to cry like a baby. A vet saw us rather quickly, and we explained the situation as we gave her his medical file. Our option -- euthanasia if he was blocked again and needed a catheter again. She was very understanding, and took him into another room to see if she could express his bladder. Seconds felt like hours, as I paced in the little examination room waiting.
She came back with a smile! She was able to easily express his bladder. She thought perhaps the stress of the day (being at work and not at home), as well as the *fear* of pain, made him hold it in all day.
Phew.
Two days later, he seems very happy. I'm still very nervous, and I check his bladder every hour or so. He's eating a lot of pH control Waltham's canned, with 1/4 cup or so of water mixed in. I follow him into the bathroom and spy on him when he goes. As long as he co-operates with the pills and the diet, I think he might actually make it. And we won't be forced to make a decision that will break our hearts.
His next hurdle -- he needs to be neutered. He was scheduled earlier this week to be fixed, but of course we had to cancel the appointment. He's starting to hunt Manik down and he's trying to mount her. Uh oh. Let's hope he doesn't start spraying!
happy to still have a third cat,
GC


Answer:
That is good news gc! Lets Hope your kitty stays on the road to health


Answer:
That's good to hear! I hope it continues...


Answer:
I'm so glad that he is doing okay. It is a very good sign that he is eating too...especially eating prescription food. Cats don't usually find that appetizing. You are doing such a good job with him...hopefully you won't have to deal with this again! BTW, what kind of crystals did he have?


Answer:
Good news! Glad to hear he is doing much better.


Answer:
aw,,I hope and pray he pulls through everything and will live a ful,, happy, healthy life from here on out,,,,good job


Answer:
He sounds like he is doing better, any updates greencolander?


Answer:
Hi Clearjade - no news is good news, I guess. He's still co-operating about his pills, he's eating fine, and we're still spying on him in the litterbox. Yay!


Answer:
Trust me, you will be able to hear him step into the litter box in the middle of the night from anywhere in the house after this.
I am a master litter box spyer.


Answer:
That is encouraging news, greencolander