The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Posted by Shawna (Cleveland, Oh) on 05/15/2018 ★★★★★
My cat, Hoss, was diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis over a year ago. This means that her cystitis is brought on by panic. And well, her panic episodes were brought on by anything. My husband & I tried everything the vet suggested; keeping our home as stress-free as possible, adjusting her diet to wet food, giving her syringes of water, etc. We even tried a few holistic medicines. None of these things helped her in the long run. It got to point where every month or so, she would have an episode of cystitis and we'd be back to square one. I wanted to be sure we tried everything before succumbing to the vet's suggestion of putting Hossy on feline prozac.
One night I must've used the right search phrase because I stumbled upon a couple of websites like yours, stating that ACV can help. We tried a diluted concoction via syringe but she detested it so much that it came back up right away.. I honestly couldn't blame her... the stuff is a bit vile tasting.We tried sneaking some into her wet food but she always knew...then it dawned on me that we could get it in pill form. Finding tablets instead of caplets was hard but we just break them up into smaller peices and give them to her each day. It has helped considerably, with both, her cystitis and also her demeanor has changed from being scared of everything to very relaxed. We honestly didn't think we'd ever see her old personality return but it has. It is a curious thing that ACV changed her pH and helped her neuroligically as well. This suggests that her brain pH was imbalanced. She is doing great now and I hope there will be a day when we don't have to give her ACV. I mostly wanted to tell you about the success I have had with pills since that isn't among your suggested ways of dosing cats. Might there be any good stories out there about pet owners only having to give ACV for limited periods of time?
Posted by Nickwilliams (California) on 11/28/2015 ★★★★★
Hello,
My male cat Samson has cystitis. He has been going to the vet off and on for a year now with occasional occurrences of cystitis. About a month ago, he started to have a more frequent occurrences so we took him in for a check up. The vet did the whole check up and helped him pass his stones ( cause I know my wife and I could not). They gave him a prescription of Orbax and Dasuquin which is just and anti-inflammatory and a joint health supplument for 120 dollars. My wife and I religiously gave him his dosages for 2 weeks then he had a major flare up. He was trying to pee running back and forth box to box (5 separate boxes). We would let him outside to be comfortable and try to pee out there and not much help.
One morning he and I had had enough. Started doing research online about home remedies for cats with cystitis (since these beautiful animals have been around since the Egyptian days). I came across this website and started to read these testimonials from all of these fellow cat lovers. So I had my wife call the vet to get him in to make sure it wasn't more than cystitis. It wasn't. He stayed all day and got shots and blood work.
Once he came home I started this regimen of Apple Cider Vinegar and I swear this stuff is amazing. I haven't given him his other medications only ACV for 6 days and he has made major improvements. He is peeing a lot more, not spending long in box, not going back and forth, not scratching then squatting, nothing like he was before. His eyes have cleared up and he is more energetic. He has made a 180° turnaround. He actually drinks more wate now. He doesn't seem to mind the taste. ACV is inexpensive, healthy, organic, non gmo, and has been around for thousands of years. I drink it for health and so does Samson, Coal, Stonie, and Dott. His siblings. I truly cannot express my gratitude for this website and this product. Saved my cats life from misery and pain.
His dosage is:
Am. ACV 1/8 teaspoon to 4 parts filter water..5ml
2 -3 hours later another .5ml
I repeat this all day. Feeding as normal.
This routine continues for big flare ups when I notice issues with urination. Then we reduce to just three times daily.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I tried to see just exactly *whose* post you were commenting on, but was unable to do so - it appears you are commenting on the title page, or from the many comments in this topic, ie 'you guys'.
Not trying to be difficult, but I wanted to address some mistakes in your post.
1) While raw apple cider vinegar is acidic - containing acetic and malic acides, it turns into an effective alkalizer once inside our body. This is because apples in their natural state are alkaline. Any food, including vinegar, undergoes oxidation when digested by your body. This oxidation process turns apple cider vinegar alkaline because that is it's natural state [ie apple] even though it contains malic acid and acetic acid.
2) A feline UTI - urinary tract *infection* - IS caused by bacteria. The key here for cats is that cats usually do not have bacterial UTIs - they have Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)/cystitis, often involving the struvite crystals that you mention.
3) This is not how it works. ACV does not lower the PH/make urine more acid - it makes it more akaline, or helps bring an acid PH more in the balanced range. And - not all urinary crystals are bicarbonate in composition - some are calcium oxalate, which do not dissolve in acetic acid/with an acid PH.
Bottom line: raw, unpasturized ACV has proven to help many pet owners keep their pets healthy. It may not be the answer to every problem, but it can provide great relief to some pets.
Source: over 45 years PE [practical experience keeping all manner of pets healthy]
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Hello Critical Thinker - it appears this feedback is directed at me so I will respond.
You busted me - I AM lazy, so I WILL point you in the right direction as to the research [not just PE] done to substantiate my "claims" - follow the link and read the sources listed please:
I do agree with you that lack of information [knowing what your eyes are seeing in an ill pet] - and tardy action [waiting and seeing how bad it gets before bringing an ill pet to the vet] can result in heart ache and that is a shame. However for many shrewd readers the information contained on this site - feedback from a zillion years of PE - has both healed -and cured.
My cat is 7 yrs old and recently taken to the vet for a very expensive procedure about $1300.00 to insert a catheter and allow him to pee. It was successful but exactly 6 days later he couldn't pee again, luckily I started to research homeopathic remedies, I dipped his two front paws in Apple Cider Vinegar ( about 1/4 teaspoon) and a dash of water and held each paw in for about 1 minute, I did this twice. It was about 8:00pm when we did this and when I woke at 6:00am he peed, alot, Yes!
I will continue to dip his paws every few hours today. I did put a tiny bit in his wet food but he did not eat it. But he is miserable so he may not be eating because of this as well. I also removed his litter box completly, with all of his extra licking I think the litter is irritating the matter, I am only using puppy pads in a wide and low basket and he has stopped trying to pee in other areas ( a symptom of this affliction, not his normal behavior) I do use Organic, raw Apple Cider Vinegar with "The Mother" inside.
Posted by Stephanie (Cadillac) on 08/27/2015 ★★★★★
Thank you! In less than 24 hours from giving first dose of Apple Cider Vinegar in soft food my cat is better! Her belly was bloated, she was peeing on anything soft (including my bed), and would growl when you touched her belly. Today she is happy, pain free and her belly is soft! She used her litter box and is sitting in the sun cleaning herself! I thought she was a goner, with me working for the schools and my husband changing jobs did not have the money to take her for tests.
Gave her half and half of water and Apple Cider Vinegar yesterday twice and today again on her food and she is my Josie again. Thank you!!!!!
My cat Dao Ming was having a hard time peeing and has blood in his stool. I stopped feeding him grains and his stool became normal. However, he was still straining to pee and he looks a little weak and thinner. Last Saturday, I gave him Apple Cider Vinegar (1 cap ACV to 1 cap water) about 1 teaspoon in the evening. By Sunday, I saw him urinate a lot twice without straining but still not in his litter box. Today is Monday and I'm still giving him ACV 3x a day, 1 teaspoon.
My other cat died this June because of urethral blockage even if I gave him ACV. (The vet gave him so many antibiotics too.) I think it's because it was a little late and I keep feeding him kibble. Cats can't thrive on kibble.
I feed Dao Ming chicken meat, gizzard, liver (most of the time raw) and sweet potato. Sometimes, squash instead of sweet potato. I also give him fish, sometimes cooked, sometimes raw. He is getting stronger and playing more with me.
Posted by Terry Schneider (Alberta, Canada) on 09/01/2015 ★★★★★
I have read ALL the comments on ACV which I agree 100%. Organic and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is the best for breaking down crystals and dissolving them (this can be purchased at the health food store). Its always better to add a few drops of "concentrated cranberry juice 100% pure" (can get this at a health food store also) to the moist cat food. Another good ingredient to Always add to your cats moist food daily is "Pure Pumpkin" (about a teaspoon, can be purchased at Walmart, but make sure its "PURE"), this gives extra moisture to the moist cat food, this was recommended to be by my cats vet. Your cat will urinate more and keep the unitary tract healthy.
My tabby Meko is experiencing UTI right now, so tonight I have started him on... Apple Cider Vinegar (5 drops) 100% Pure Concentrated Cranberry Juice (5 drops) and a teaspoon of PURE Pumpkin in his moist food, along with about 3 tablespoons of water (mix well, should be a little runny in texture). I will continue to do this 3 times a day for 7-10 days depending on how he is doing.
A good idea is to add about 7-10 drops of ACV to the water they drink daily. Mix the ACV in the water so they cant tell you have added it. Its not at all harmful on cats that drink ACV on a daily basis, it keeps their urinary tract from getting crystals.
I hope the above information is helpful to everyone...and remember "Pure Pumpkin" is always a good thing to add to your cats moist food on a daily basis...Your cat should have 1 moist serving a day (recommended by vet).
Posted by Natalie (Marietta, Ga) on 06/11/2015 ★★★★★
I just want to thank everyone who took the time to post information for other pet owners like me to see. I love both of my cats as if they were my children so when there in pain I cant be worried enough and I work as a Vet Tech and even after getting the doc to help treat my baby and after finishing his meds, like some of you my cat continued to have blood in urine and spend lots of his time straining in litterpan like he had the urgency to go. I had a very hard time giving him the apple cider vinegar but once it got through his system he was like nothing had ever happened and seemed to feel relief as Im sure this all was painful. I donno what caused it to happen, I think stress had something to do with it, but it has not came back and after the first day dosing him with the ACV, there also was no more blood in his urine. Thank you All again. As my fur kid thanks you too!!
Posted by Judib (Chippewa Falls, Wi) on 02/15/2018 ★★★★★
I am soooo grateful for all the helpful advice I've found on this website. My cat has had repeated episodes of interstitial cystitis and I can't afford any more trips to the vet for this problem. Happily, I found a natural solution here at earthclinic.com. I tried giving Rascal (yes, he is! ) diluted doses of apple cider vinegar in his wet food, but he has a delicate stomach and always vomited afterwards. When I put a 1/4 tsp of ACV in 3 cups of drinking water, he took one sniff and walked away. Absolutely would NOT come near it! But, to my amazement, in my searches I discovered that ACV comes in capsules! I bought the high-potency version and began mixing about 1/3 of a capsule's powder into his daily wet food. I also read that organic cold-pressed coconut oil is good for a cat's digestive system, so I started adding 1/4 tsp of that to his wet food as well. I think this combination is going to be the cure! So far, so good. Rascal is urinating normally and has had no more episodes of vomiting. Many thanks to each of you who has contributed advice and helped me care for my beloved Rascal cat!
Posted by Roxanne (Santa Fe, Nm) on 06/15/2017 ★★★★★
After a week of bloody peeing, 3-4 times per hour, and several days after antibiotics from the vet not yet working, and new "prescription" food that gave him diarrhea, we saw incredible improvement after one day of treating our cat with organic apple cider vinegar, following directions on your post. We mixed water and vinegar and dipped his paws in it so he licked them off. We also mixed 1/2 tsp vinegar with 1/2 cup water and the liquid from one can of tuna. He lapped it up. Also added tsp of vinegar/water mixture to his food. Incredible improvement within hours. No more blood in urine, and he's now peeing once every 3-4 hours instead of 3-4 times per hour! Thank you so much for this information!
Posted by Rachel D (Las Vegas) on 01/10/2016 ★★★☆☆
WORKED TEMPORARILY
I took my cat stewy into the vet after a night of him crying and saw blood in his pee in odd spots in the house. They looked at him gave him antibiotics and said he prob has a uti. I could not afford them to do more tests. It was nearly 200 dollars for that visit. Now we got home and a week later he was peeing blood again. So I tried apple cider vinegar and in a week he was better again.
This morning crying non stop and he peed blood again. I had been putting it in his food switched over a week ago to wet food and pouring a tablespoon in his food and they eat it all always. I have tried to do a syringe and put it in his mouth and he spits it out and drools all over his face. I can not afford to take him back to the vet. Any suggestions to fix him would be greatly appreciated.
My little guy finnigan is suffering from a uti. he is a year and half. It's been close to a week now. All he does is laying in a box with a blanket. The only time he gets up is when I feed him. Then he runs to the liter box or bath tub and tries peeing for 10-15 mins. with maybe a trickle of pee. which is now bloody. I've change his food for dry to wet. I have small bowl of water all over the house where he used to like to visit. I'm a single mom of 3 teenagers and can't afford 500 or more for a trip to the vet. It kills me to watch him be like this and I feel helpless. I've been looking online for days and days for what to do, when to take him, even looking up the humane society here to see what they can do to help. I came across this site and after reading all over these comments I am going try the acv. I need my cuddle buddy back. I'm praying this helps. thank you for sharing your stories and giving me some relief that I can help my buddy.
I am so so happy I stumbled across this site. My male cat Hades who is one year old had just recently begun peeing blood. I was of course worried and usually have emergency vet money saved, however we had just used this money on his sister and hadn't had a chance to replenish the funds, nor had either of us gotten paid yet so we were desperate to try to find a home remedy. We decided to try ACV and if he didn't improve we'd rush to a vet regardless of the cost. One day in and he's stopped peeing blood, his urine is it's normal clear colour and his bladder no longer feels hardened.
I have never imagined that I would resort to this BUT after 2 vet visits and same problem recurring systemically, I decided to give ACV a go. I used a dropper as my finicky Ragdoll would not eat or drink anything tainted with ACV. I used 1/4 ts to 1 water ratio and gave it to her 3 times daily for a week. Doesn't work overnight so patience is needed! I also mixed my own probiotic in her food. After treating her for a week she is back to her old self, no longer hiding in the corners and as playful as ever! She has started to use her box after 3 days into treatment. When sick she peed literally everywhere. I had purchased pads where she could go to bathroom on. This was helpful because I could see the size and color of her urine.
I am all for natural medicine for humans, now I know I can seek alternatives for my beloved pets as well! Thank you all for sharing your experiences! While skeptical at first, I am a believer! I'm extremely grateful!
Teddy, my 5 year old cat has been battling cystitis for a little over a month now. I took him to the vet right before Christmas and they gave him an antibiotic and some special cat food for him to eat.He would not touch the cat food.I tried everything to get the stubborn fool to eat the food, that's supposed to support urinary health, and he would not touch it. I tried wet food of the same brand and he refused it. I even tried a can of tuna and he just said no. This cat will not eat wet food, and will not eat any other brand of cat food except on specific brand that I have been feeding him since he was a kitten. I gave him the antibiotic and he seemed fine, until tonight. The little bugger peed on my laptop case! I tried not to be mad at him, because I know he can't help it, especially if his cystitis is back, but come on, Teddy!!
I read another post on this website about giving him apple cider vinegar in wet cat food to aid in relief from cystitis. He will not eat wet cat food so I bought a baby medicine dropper, and "forced" him to take it, like he did his antibiotics a month ago. He's mad at me, now hiding under the dining room table, but the ACV should help him right? I gave him a 50/50 mix of ACV and water, according to the dropper it was .5ml. Is this enough to help him if I give it to him twice a day?
I also read that pumpkin is good for cats. I knew that it was good for dogs. I make homemade dog treats for my dogs all the time and the pumpkin actually saved my 9 year old beagle from a horribly painful looking hemorrhoid! What's a good way to get a cat who does not like wet cat food to eat the pumpkin?
I use D-Ribose for energy for humans, and all other mammals.
Since it converts 92% into A.T.P., the very molecule our bodies burn for energy why fool around. This gets by the lactic acid barrier that might be a problem, but is easily bypassed with ribose.
Look up potassium iodine/iodide, Lugol's 2% Solution (Amazon) and any cystitis, including Fibrocystic Breast Disease or PCOS and Lugol's reverses all of them...BOOM! GONE
Posted by Ginny (Durban, South Africa) on 10/16/2015 ★★★★★
I can't tell you how grateful I am for your advice. Mischief was in agony but in one day he was so much better thanks to Apple Cider Vinegar.
I made parsley tea (recommended by homeopathic vet), a few drops of Rescue Remedy and a little ACV. Mischief did not mind me squirting it into his mouth. He is now off conventional "vet recommended" dry food and I give him cooked chicken and livers and once a week fish. None of my animals will take raw food. I add in a bit of coconut oil. No more dry food as this all started when his teeth hurt him also from eating this poison. Thank you so very much.
Hi, I've read comments about this remedy. I'd like to try it; can you give me specific dosages and how often? My male cat is about 10-12 pounds and is 4 years old.
If your cat is having a hard time urinating DO NOT WAIT! TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VETERINARY ASAP!
Cats can get blocked and apple cider vinegar is not going to work fast enough to save its life. A cat can die in 24 hrs after becoming blocked.
I had a cat that became blocked and had not shown any signs of it before I saw a little blood on the back side and when I did I took him to the vets and was told he would have died within 4 hrs.
Posted by Susan (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) on 12/21/2009 ★★★★★
On a long weekend my female cat 8 years old started to live in the litter tray, but it was always dry. She'd wander around looking anxious and meowing, then go back and try again, but nothing happened. I didnt know what to do, as the emergency clinic charges a fortune just for walking in the door. I somehow found this site, and after reading what everyone said about apple cider vinegar, thought I might as well try it, as I couldnt leave her in distress all weekend. I found in my fridge a bottle of organic ACV, which was at least four years old. I already had a syringe, so put half a teaspoon of it in there with a teaspoon of filtered water and gave it to her. In less than 10 minutes, she was walking around the apartment instead of hiding under the bed, and the meowing had stopped. That night I heard her scratching around in the litter tray again, and couldnt believe the long pee she did. I gave her some more today, and she seems absolutely normal again, even playing. Thank God for this site, and thank you to everyone for the information. She was an abandoned kitten, almost starved when found, I feel like she had had enough misery in her life without this. Thanks.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I have no good answer for you except to take your cat to the vet and get a work up; he may be suffering from crystals in his bladder, and chances are he needs more lab work to pin point the issue. ACV works for some UTI's but it doesn't appear to be the cure for your boy at this point in time. Can you work with a rescue group to help afford the vet care your boy needs?
One of my cats had this problem and I found it stopped when I changed from clay litter. I use corn litter, (like World's Best) or pine litter. The clay and sand litters have dust that I read contributes to cystitis and actual urinary blockage. Also I give fresh water in a large stainless bowl daily and no dry food. There are many natural products available to help also with the infection.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Deuce is crying out because he is in fact in pain. You should take him to a vet to rule out urinary crystals or stones. You can try giving him ACV to hold you over until you can get into the vet; I would dilute it 50/50 with water and then dip his paw in the solution to get him to drink it up, and I would do this once an hour until he appears to get better. Again, I would see the vet if this were my cat to rule out stones or crystals. If Deuce cannot pee at all you are dealing with an emergency and he should see the vet STAT.
Hi there, I was just reading over your post about using apple cider vinegar for a UTI, and I noticed a mistake.
In the description of how it works, you have stated that "when the vinegar enters the body, it creates an alkaline environment that kills. However there are three issues with that statement.
1) Vinegar is comprised of Acetic Acid, and is of course, a very acidic compound. Thus when you put it into the body, it creates an "acidic" environment by lowering the Ph.
2) This does not affect "bacteria" as stated, as a feline UTI is not caused by a bacterial infection. It is instead caused by bicarbonate cystic crystals, which physically obstruct urine flow.
3) Lastly, this means that in truth, the vinegar is working to lower the urine Ph, which in turn causes the the bicarbonate obstruction to dissolve. Its essentially the same as if you were to throw a "Tums" into a cup of vinegar water, it would dissolve at a much higher rate than it would in just plain. This is because the blockage in the urinary tract is comprised of highly "basic" components.
Source: I am a 3rd year medical student, this is very simple to me.
Not trying to be difficult, and I appreciate what you guys are doing, I'm 100% organic myself, as well as my family and pets. Thanks again :)
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."
Posted 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)
In case you had not read this, one should never give ACV straight internally to a pet. ACV must always be diluted with at least 50% water.
Many Earth Clinic readers report success diluting apple cider vinegar with water (50/50) and applying it topically to the scruff of the neck of a cat or a dog using a cotton ball. Hope this helps.
For internal bleeding use a quarter tsp. turmeric on his tongue till the bleeding has stopped. After bad accidents, for example, a glass of warm milk with a tbsp. turmeric works well to stop the bleeding , that is, for humans as well as animals in different proportions, of course. It also does more than that internally. I use it for a cat that has upper resp. and it is very helpful.
Otherwise you can also use homeopathic PHOSPORUS 30C which will do the same, except turmeric has multiple action. Or use both. Keep up the apple cider vgr. nevertheless but add honey. If you can get the very slim syringes, it will help. Unheated honey kept separate in a dish of very warm water, put into syringe and it will give energy and kill bacteria.
Read the info on "catinfo.org" on wet vs. dry food. She says switch to canned food, even Friskies is better than dry food. The vet also suggests ways to get more fluid into your kitty's diet. Main problem is not enough water, cats have low thirst drive. I am going to try the tuna water, etc. for my kitty girl who is having problems. I have been adding ACV to her canned food for a couple of weeks and her pee pee balls are still too little and too many. I also saw something online that is a "natural" remedy for "UTI's" for somewhere around $30 but I don't remember what it was called and that's what I am looking for now, which is why I ran into your post. Hope this helps. (If I find it, I will come back and post it, but won't be able to tell you if it works or not. Yet.)
I have a beautiful cat who is my baby. I have taken her to the vet twice before for urinary tract infections. She has been put on medications, has become stressed due to the travel. Now it is the third time in as many years she is having this problem. I love her & don't want to do anything to contribute to the problem. I have heard apple ciders is helpful. Is there any other advice you lovely people could offer?
When my cat had urinary problems ie unable to urinate he was in and out of vet having catheter etc... I started him on cranberry powder and also I used purslane which reduces inflammation in the urethra .... I didn't use S/D food recommended by vet after researching ingredients.... He has not had any problems for 4 years... also used homeopathics which worked well....
Our cat had this and we changed his food. It is called A taste of the Wild. It is expensive but cheaper than a vet bill. He hasn't had any trouble now for 6 years. Until your cats system normalizes with the new food, a company called Effective pet Wellness can help you with cystitis and building his system back up after the harsh antibiotics. (needs probiotics and pre biotics to balance and replace his gut flora) And PetAlive has a UTI Cystitis natural product for 36.95. I am a vet Tech. I hope this helps.
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