[RSteyn]

I've been through urinary tract obstruction woes with one cat. $1800 sounds steep, even if it includes emergency care.

If you do have the surgery performed (and yes, the cat will die if the obstruction stays in place--I lost one to this problem 35 years ago before much could be done for them) YOU MUST change the cat's diet.

Elsewhere, I have ranted about the dire effect dry food can have in inducing diabetes, but dry food also is a bad idea with a cat inclined to plug (and once they plug, forever after you must watch them for signs of straining, or bloody urine, because they are likely to plug again). Go to a low carbohydrate, canned food. Not all are wildly expensive. Cats just are not inclined to drink enough water if fed dry food.

[rintense]

My cat has been on dry food his entire life. It was the kind of dry food he was eating that was the difference- and his weight. He went from Science Diet WD to CD to now MD. He is thriving with no other health issues whatsoever. And he hates canned food! But loves carmel popcorn. Screwball.

This is my boy: