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Amtrak’s Battle with FLUTD: A Journey to Recovery

When we first rescued Amtrak in June 2024, he seemed like a picture of health—a happy, playful four-year-old cat ready to find his forever home. But shortly after his arrival, he started having difficulty urinating. The vet confirmed he had Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), a serious condition that can be life-threatening for male cats if left untreated.


His condition had progressed to a complete urinary blockage, requiring an emergency urinary catheter to relieve the obstruction. Subcutaneous fluids and pain medications became part of his daily routine as we worked to stabilize him.



Despite our best efforts, Amtrak continued to struggle. His bladder had to be manually expressed as he was unable to urinate on his own. Finally, after weeks of back-and-forth improvements and setbacks, Amtrak underwent a perineal urethrostomy—a major surgery that shortens the urethra to prevent future blockages.


The road to recovery was slow. For weeks, Amtrak stayed in our treatment room, closely monitored by our team. Just when we thought he was getting better, the scar tissue from the surgery made it hard for him to urinate again. We decided to go ahead with a revision surgery.


He has been a trooper through all of this. Although we can tell he’s uncomfortable, he’s on a pain management regimine and he still lights up whenever he sees a volunteer come to sit with him. He even starts chirping when his previous foster comes to visit. His recovery involved multiple vet visits and the dedicated efforts of volunteers transporting him to and from appointments.



For the first time in months, we’re optimistic that his medical journey has finally come to an end. Amtrak is now one step closer to living the normal, happy life every cat deserves.


Amtrak’s story is a testament to the resilience of animals and the power of community support. The unwavering commitment of fosters, volunteers, and donors ensures cats like Amtrak get a second chance at life. He wasn’t ready to give up, so neither were we.


These surgeries were made possible through the dedicated support of Paw Print Club members, whose monthly donations ensure we can provide essential medical care for cats like Amtrak who need extensive treatment. Without their support, we wouldn't be able to save cats facing serious medical conditions. Join Paw Print Club today to help us continue providing lifesaving care to cats in need.

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