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Paul (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 12/12/2011
1 out of 5 stars

Just some feedback on my experience. Sat afternoon my cat who is a year and a half, showed me he was having trouble peeing. I started researching on the net, was seeing the prices involved in catheters, etc... Seemed 800.00 was a common number, and that frequently the number moved into the thousands as the operation was needed again and again. I called a 24/7 vet here in LA but they would not quote any sort of general price range for the procedure, till I came in and paid 125.00 for an exam. I think they know if they say a large number over the phone that they will scare away business. But if you are there and have already committed to 125.00 and your pet's big eyes are staring at you in front of them they can make more of a sale. But I just don't have that type of money. I love the little guy, but I don't have insurance for myself. So, I thought I'd try the apple cider vinegar since there seemed nothing to lose. He didn't like it much. It didn't seem to do anything as fas as I can tell except make him unhappy. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible on Sunday otherwise, he wanted to be with me and so I kept him near me most of the day. He became increasingly lethargic. Lots of tears. I knew I was making a rational choice but emotionally it was tough. Critters die... Cycle of life... Sometimes you have to let them go. I took him to bed with me at midnight and noticed around 3AM he had left the bed. At 4:30AM I went to check on him and he was dead on the floor in the living room.

He had a good life with me and he was a good little buddy for 15 months. He had playmates with neighbor kitties, good food, and a person who loved him. He knew it. It was a very affectionate and close bond. I know it sounds terrible and heartless to some, but is it less heartless than numerous operations with strange people in strange places. He had a day and a half of increasing discomfort and I imagine was in a great deal of pain at the end- but every surgery would have left him in pain for a while too. It is easy to be frightened of death and I think we take it too far. There are times to let loved ones go. But I am also sharing my experience as a word of caution to those who are attached to their pets. The ACV might or might not work. Just be aware of that if you choose that course. My cat was fine on Friday evening and dead on Monday before sun up.

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Replied By Shavano (Santa Fe, Nm) on 03/11/2012

this website is fantastic for some things and horrifying for others. People who cannot afford to take a sick pet to the vet SHOULD NOT HAVE PETS!!! Letting a poor sick kitten (15 months old) die a painful death when it could have been a simple uti, and probably would have cost less than $100, is disgusting!!! It is NOT the "circle of life."
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Replied By Astrid (Stroudsburg, Pa) on 03/21/2012

"this website is fantastic for some things and horrifying for others. People who cannot afford to take a sick pet to the vet SHOULD NOT HAVE PETS!!! "

Pleeeease! Yes, only rich people should have everything? We're not talking about a $100 vet bill here. I currently owe my vet over a thousand dollars. Last spring I took my sick cat to the vet for a UTI and he wanted $700 up front for a catheter. I did not have this and turned to herbal remedies (including cranberry and ACV) and he improved. He's still with me and recovered but is sick again now. This is a chronic problem for him. Do people like you know how many animals are put down in shelters? Why shouldn't low income people be able to take these unwanted pets in and give them good homes as well as the wealthy? I have four cats and three of them have had very few, if any, health problems and I have given them good lives without tons of money. I also tried to get health insurance for the one cat who has chronic UTI problems and was turned down due to the "pre-existing condition" clause so the one cat that needs the help the most is the one that gets turned away from ASPCA insurance which is an organization that claims to care the most about pets but ends up basically being all about business.

I've had some success with ACV but have to dillute it in water in a dropper and then give the cat another dropper (or two) of water right after to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. It's more successful giving it to him this way as cats generally don't like the taste of it (understandably).

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Replied By Alex (All Places Cats Are, Texas) on 08/06/2012

My heart goes out to Paul in Los Angeles who lost his kitten after making the incredibly difficult decision to try a home ACV remedy when forced, by finances, to forego veterinary treatment. I have very restricted finances (SSI) and have great compassion for his predicament, and for his bravery in writing to this forum. Here is info I found out in my situation:

Urinary problems in cats have very different causes: inactivity, stress, less frequent feeding, bacteria, fungus, parasites, viruses, stones or urethral plugs (crystals or other material), and most often the cause is "idiopathic" (no traceable cause). Typically, when a cat is stressed the muscles around the urinary tract tighten; fear keeps them less mobile; they urinate less; toxins/debris concentrate in the urine, breed bacteria, irritate and inflame the bladder lining and urethra and cause a UTI. The extra attention and frequent small feedings of wet food required to treat it with the ACV may be all a stressed cat needs. It relaxes, receives more fluids in smaller more acidic feedings, and urinates. A few good streams of urine might relieve the problem. To paraphrase Dr. Earl Mindell, MD, ACV is considered "a system tonic. It can discourage and inhibit the growth of bacteria and PREVENT urinary infections", but it is not an antibiotic; by creating more acidic urine it can PREVENT the formation of urethral obstructions, but would take much time to dissolve one. Female cats, due to their very short urethra, are not generally put in a life threatening situation from UTIs or urethral obstructions, but male cats have only hours once a complete obstruction is formed. With complete blackage the kidneys are no longer able to remove toxins from the blood and maintain proper fluids and electrolytes in the body. If the obstruction is not relieved, the cat will eventually lose consciousness and die. Death comes often from heart failure due to electrolyte imbalance, but the suffering prior to death is great.

My cat, Xander, showed no pain or stress. I took him to the vet to find out what kind of problem the blood in his urine was and if it was treatable at home - cost $60 (2AM Emergency Vet) He was completely blocked. Death from the blockage was imminent. Had I not taken him in it would have meant a quiet (he was always quiet) but excruciating death in hours.

IF YOUR MALE CAT HAS UTI TROUBLE there is no time to try home remedies, take him to the vet. It will cost you an office visit. If it is treatable, you can use ACV, or get antibiotics/antifungals (fish antibiotics /fungals - ask your vet to help you with amounts), or just about anything else online, BUT if it is an obstruction you will need to choose between euthanasia or surgery (which often does not have a terrific outcome). You will suffer - the loss of your pet, or the loss of money, but your beloved pet will be spared further suffering and go to whatever lay ahead as quietly as his little cat feet used to bring him to you. (and you will know that you did absolutely everything that you could)

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