Ronan was sick :(

Several weeks ago, Ronan starting `spotting` in the washroom (ie. leaving small drops of urine) which is usually a sign of urinary tract issues.  I was worried We had him checked out a few days before I had to leave town again (visiting family over Thanksgiving) and Dr. Kent took a urine sample just to be sure.  When we got home Ronan peed bloody urine all over the bathroom floor.  Awww... I felt so badly for him.

Results came in two days later (just in time, too, because I was about to leave town for the weekend). As suspected, there was definitely something amiss, but it wasn`t what I had suspected... Ronan had urine crystals!  :(  Poor little guy.  This was really surprising for me to discover, because he`s still so young and I`m very careful about what I feed the kittens.  They are on a Hill`s Science Diet recommended by the Vet, and the might get one small treat every other week.  What could he possibly have reacted to?

Unfortunately, i don't have a clear answer on that.  All we could do was switch his food to something designed to help eliminate and prevent crystals, and be vigilant towards it occuring in the future.  Ronan was not pleased.  He likes his T/D food because the kibble is large and fun to play with.  Plus, I started giving him some cranberry juice as a supplement to help flush out any crystals that are left.  He's not stoked on the cranberry - it's way too sour for him -but he doesn't mind it when i mix it in with his new wet food (which, of course, he loves).

Here is a video from the Vet Clinic...
** WARNING:  IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH ABOUT MEDICAL PROCEDURES, DO NOT WATCH**