u/Axonschwann

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some advice and hear from anyone who has been through a similar situation with their cat. I'm trying to make the best possible decision for my girl and feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The situation:
My cat Jana is 11 years old. Recent imaging revealed:

A stone stuck in her ureter, in a proximal position (close to the kidney)
Additional stones in both kidneys
A persistent urinary tract infection that hasn't cleared despite several rounds of antibiotics

Her current vet team suspects the infection may be embedded in the tissue itself, which would make it very hard to treat without stronger antibiotics (which they're hesitant to use). They've told me that open surgery is too risky given her realistic chances of improvement, so they've essentially ruled it out.
Symptoms-wise, she's actually doing okay day-to-day. She eats well, plays, and seems comfortable. The main issue is that she often urinates outside her litter box (usually in the shower). She's on a urinary prescription diet.
What I've explored so far:
I reached out to a specialist (Dr. Elodie Darnis in France) about laser lithotripsy, but the response I got was that endoscopic laser access for proximal ureteral stones in cats is technically very limited and rarely feasible. Instead, the specialist mentioned that the realistic options in specialized centers are:

Ureteral stent placement
SUB device (Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass)
Possibly a pyelovesical reimplantation

They also confirmed what I suspected — the chronic UTI is likely being fueled by the stones acting as a bacterial reservoir, so controlling the infection without addressing the stones is going to be an uphill battle.
My questions for the community:

Has anyone had a cat go through a SUB device placement? What was recovery like? How is your cat doing now (quality of life, long-term maintenance, complications)?
Any experience with ureteral stents in cats specifically? I've read they can have more complication rates in cats than dogs.
For those who faced a similar "no surgery possible locally" verdict — did seeking a second opinion at a specialized referral center change the outcome?
Any thoughts on managing the chronic UTI alongside this? Anyone successfully cleared a tissue-embedded infection in a cat?
If you've been through this — knowing what you know now, would you do it again? Or did you choose palliative/comfort care instead?

I want to do right by Jana. She's still got a lot of life and personality in her, but I also don't want to put her through something traumatic if the prognosis is poor. Any honest experiences — good or bad — would mean a lot.
Thanks so much in advance. ❤️

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some advice and hear from anyone who has been through a similar situation with their cat. I'm trying to make the best possible decision for my girl and feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The situation:
My cat Jana is 11 years old. Recent imaging revealed:

A stone stuck in her ureter, in a proximal position (close to the kidney)
Additional stones in both kidneys
A persistent urinary tract infection that hasn't cleared despite several rounds of antibiotics

Her current vet team suspects the infection may be embedded in the tissue itself, which would make it very hard to treat without stronger antibiotics (which they're hesitant to use). They've told me that open surgery is too risky given her realistic chances of improvement, so they've essentially ruled it out.
Symptoms-wise, she's actually doing okay day-to-day. She eats well, plays, and seems comfortable. The main issue is that she often urinates outside her litter box (usually in the shower). She's on a urinary prescription diet.
What I've explored so far:
I reached out to a specialist (Dr. Elodie Darnis in France) about laser lithotripsy, but the response I got was that endoscopic laser access for proximal ureteral stones in cats is technically very limited and rarely feasible. Instead, the specialist mentioned that the realistic options in specialized centers are:

Ureteral stent placement
SUB device (Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass)
Possibly a pyelovesical reimplantation

They also confirmed what I suspected — the chronic UTI is likely being fueled by the stones acting as a bacterial reservoir, so controlling the infection without addressing the stones is going to be an uphill battle.
My questions for the community:

Has anyone had a cat go through a SUB device placement? What was recovery like? How is your cat doing now (quality of life, long-term maintenance, complications)?
Any experience with ureteral stents in cats specifically? I've read they can have more complication rates in cats than dogs.
For those who faced a similar "no surgery possible locally" verdict — did seeking a second opinion at a specialized referral center change the outcome?
Any thoughts on managing the chronic UTI alongside this? Anyone successfully cleared a tissue-embedded infection in a cat?
If you've been through this — knowing what you know now, would you do it again? Or did you choose palliative/comfort care instead?

I want to do right by Jana. She's still got a lot of life and personality in her, but I also don't want to put her through something traumatic if the prognosis is poor. Any honest experiences — good or bad — would mean a lot.
Thanks so much in advance. ❤️