Best Circumstances for Cat Neutering: When & Why

1. He misled you, but the issue复发 wasn't a surprise, as I had already anticipated the necessary steps to address it.

2. It was evident that your cat's cystitis was mild, a mere case of a light infection. A few days of antibiotics could have resolved it effectively. Many cats with such mild cases find that once the inflammation is treated, they may not experience a recurrence for up to half a year or even a year. Such a doctor truly is a master. They unnecessarily subjected your cat to a reconstructive surgery when a simple antibiotic treatment would have sufficed. Typically, cats with a mild urethritis that doesn't require reconstruction tend to recover quite normally after the procedure.

3. Although the cystitis was mild, the urethral damage was severe, yet the postoperative results were promising.

Some cats undergo catheterization where the doctor forcefully clears the urethra, leading to irreversible damage. In some cases, the urethra even ruptures, and these cats cannot be cured with medication or adjustments. In such cases, reconstructive surgery is necessary. There are also instances where cats have a completely blocked urethra, and no other methods can help them urinate. Reconstructive surgery can be a lifesaver in these situations. Cats with excessive stone crystals that frequently cause blockages are also advised to consider reconstruction.

Reconstruction can lead to a quick recurrence because the bladder has already become enlarged. The reconstruction merely widens the urethra, so it has little to do with treating cystitis. This surgery is essentially a waste of time.

Generally, cats with recurrent urethritis and urinary blockages rarely have a healthy bladder. Therefore, postreconstruction, most will eventually experience a recurrence.

What are the potential complications of reconstruction?

It's best to choose a doctor with extensive experience, as I've seen at least a hundred cats undergo reconstruction surgery.

The potential complications include:

1. Postreconstruction, the wound may grow excessively, leading to the urethra becoming blocked again, necessitating a second reconstruction.

2. The inflammation may be difficult to control, keeping the cat in the hospital indefinitely and delaying wound healing.

If your cat can recover normally for a period after reconstruction, it indicates that the surgeon's skills and postoperative care are quite refined. However, even with reconstruction, recurrence is inevitable. The root cause of the problem isn't the urethra; it's the bladder, and the source of sterile cystitis is diet.

Longterm exposure to harmful substances in food can irritate the bladder wall, causing it to thicken and develop crystals, which can lead to infections. These bladder growths and crystals can then fall and cause urethral blockages.

At a deeper level, there are only two underlying causes:

1. Male cats often have smaller penises compared to dogs of the same size. Such small penises make it difficult for harmful substances to be expelled from the bladder, which is why most cases occur in male cats.

2. Longterm feeding of dry cat food, which, no matter how well it's marketed, is essentially a biscuit. Over time, even the best biscuits can cause bladder damage.

Cystitis is a chronic condition. Its initial symptoms may be minimal, but severe cases can lead to slow urination, dribbling, and if it progresses, it can cause urinary tract infections. Cats may exhibit frequent urination, incontinence, pain, and in some cases, sudden urethral blockage, leading to kidney failure and a host of complications. Therefore, the expensive surgery you undergo merely widens the urethra, offering minimal relief.