Looking for advice for FICS

I adopted Baby 3 years ago and since the beginning he had problems peeing outside of his litter box when he was stressed but I thought nothing about it as he was previously a stray and had exhibited that behavior in the shelter. I recently got back from a trip abroad and when I got back he was being louder than normal and peeing more. Again I thought it was just his stress response and proceeded as normal. However, the day after I got back be began straining to pee and had blood in his urine. I immediately rushed him to the vet where they told me he has FICs.

They recommended that I put him on a prescription diet and sent me home with samples and gabepentin for him.
They also recommended the feliway diffuser for him.

Here are my main questions and concerns

  1. Is feliway the brand that people would recommend or is there another one that I should check out?
  2. Do the diffusers actually help or are they more of a placebo for the humans?
  3. Other than the anxiety meds, adding extra water bowls, extra litter boxes, is there anything else I can do to help him?
    Baby is just that, my baby and I want to make him feel as comfortable and healthy as I can, and I am looking for any advice that people have that has helped their fur child and their own worries with this diagnosis.

TL;DR
Cat was peeing blood, brought him to emergency vet, he
was diagnosed with fics. Looking for any advice or stories from others.

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u/ChemicalBurnsz — 11 hours ago

Pretty boy has been diagnosed with FIC - trying to make him more comfortable

All the necessary info first
- not a minor
- posting from USA
- brought him to emergency vet, bringing him to my primary soon.
- male cat, approx. 6 years old, neutered, name is baby
- I’ve got money saved for situations like this but I’m not in a position to be spending 1000s of dollars.

TL;DR
Cat was peeing blood, brought him to emergency vet, he was diagnosed with fics. Looking for any advice or stories from others.

I adopted Baby 3 years ago and at the beginning he had problems peeing outside of his litter box when he was stressed but I thought nothing about it as he was previously a stray and had exhibited that behavior in the shelter. I recently got back from a trip abroad and when I got back he was being louder than normal and peeing more. Again I thought it was just his stress response and proceeded as normal. However, the day after I got back be began straining to pee and had blood in his urine. I immediately rushed him to the vet where they told me he has FICs.

They recommended that I put him on a prescription diet and sent me home with samples and gabepentin for him. They also recommended the feliway diffuser for him.

Here are my main questions and concerns

  1. Is feliway the brand that people would recommend or is there another one that I should check out?
  2. Do the diffusers actually help or are they more of a placebo for the humans?
  3. Other than the anxiety meds, adding extra water bowls, extra litter boxes, is there anything else I can do to help him?

Baby is just that, my baby and I want to make him feel as comfortable and healthy as I can, and I am looking for any advice that people have that has helped their fur child and their own worries with this diagnosis.

u/ChemicalBurnsz — 11 hours ago

Was counting meds to make sure I had enough for my trip abroad and found this lil guy. There always seems to be at least one in each bottle.

u/ChemicalBurnsz — 1 month ago
▲ 5 r/trees

Can’t see well so I’m stuck on the bean bag. Give me music recommendations or ideas of what I can do while I recover!

u/ChemicalBurnsz — 1 month ago