Hammy

Two-year-old cat, Hammy, needed emergency treatment at PDSA for a blocked bladder.

Shannon Brady (27, a Shift Supervisor from Nottingham) found Hammy as a stray over a year ago. Once Shannon was sure Hammy was a stray, and didn't have an Owner waiting for him, she decided to adopt him and welcome him into her family.

She said: “I truly feel he found me at the right time as we both needed each other. He’s got so much personality and I just love him to bits.”

All was well in the Brady household until Shannon noticed that Hammy wasn’t his usual self.

“I noticed a change in his behaviour as he wasn’t acting his usual playful self. Then, I noticed he was squatting for a while, attempting to go to the toilet, but nothing was coming out. His eyes were watering, so I knew he wasn’t comfortable. I love him and can’t bear the thought of him being in any pain. I cried because he is practically my child.”

Shannon contacted her local PDSA Pet Hospital in Nottingham and Hammy was booked in for an emergency appointment with the out-of-hours vet team.

PDSA Veterinary Surgeon Team Leader, Cecile Swann, said: “On examination, Hammy had a large, painful bladder that showed he was having problems peeing, which can quickly become life-threatening. He was immediately given medication including a strong pain killer to ease his discomfort and was placed on a fluid drip to help stabilise him and to support his kidneys.”

Upon hearing the diagnosis of a blocked bladder, Shannon was extremely worried as her previous cat, Sage, passed away from kidney failure which can also develop if a blocked bladder is not swiftly treated. But with Hammy now in PDSA's care, Shannon was confident that he was in the best hands.

Cecile added: “As Hammy was not able to pee, he had to be anaesthetised to pass a urinary catheter to remove the blockage and drain the urine from his bladder. “His bladder was flushed to clear any debris, and the catheter was left in place to continue draining urine. Hammy was then returned to the ward for observations and continued pain relief and close monitoring overnight.

“Hammy initially responded well, so his urinary catheter was removed in the hope that he would continue to urinate on his own. However, the inflammation caused by the initial blockage meant that he started to struggle to pee again, so we made the decision to place another urinary catheter to help keep him comfortable until things settled.

Hammy was hospitalised for a further two days with his urinary catheter and continued his medication, intravenous fluid therapy and observations. Hammy ended up staying at the Pet Hospital for four days and three nights in total. The vet team at Nottingham worked tirelessly to help Hammy and make him feel better.

Thankfully, he started to recover well and was discharged with medication to continue at home.

“I haven’t a clue what I would’ve done if PDSA didn’t exist. I just truly appreciate the level of care and understanding from everyone at PDSA. There’s no way I could afford over £900 for his care. I can’t imagine my life without him, and I don’t want to.”

Cecile said: “Blocked bladders are most common in neutered male cats like Hammy, particularly if they are also overweight, and many owners are surprised to learn that it can be caused by stress. After your cat has had this condition once, they are at higher risk of it happening again. To help prevent this, we recommend making some specific changes to your cat’s lifestyle and diet.”

Hammy is back home and recovering well with Shannon and her family. Since coming back home, Shannon has taken the advice of the Pet Hospital team and increased the number of available cat litter trays, included a water fountain to encourage Hammy to drink fresh water and bought a plug-in pheromone diffuser to help keep him calm and happy.

“He’s back to his usual playful, affectionate and lively self. And thankfully, he’s passing urine normally and eating as usual. He’s doing fantastic and I’m very relieved as I presumed the worst at first. I’m so grateful to have him back home where he belongs, and I thank PDSA for that.”

Total cost of Hammy’s treatment: £909.32

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity. Through our network of over 40 Pet Hospitals and associated clinics and our Pet Care scheme, we save the lives of poorly pets who would otherwise be left untreated.

Every year, we treat over 430,000 pets. Without us, emergency cases like Hammy's would be left untreated and many pets could lose their lives or be separated from families who love them.

We wouldn’t be here for cats like Hammy without your support. Please consider donating today.

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