The most common symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats include straining to urinate, reduced amounts of urine, not urinating at all, pain or discomfort when urinating, passing urine tinged with blood and urinating around the house, outside of the litter box.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are not common in cats. Only 1-3% of cats with signs of urinary tract disease will have a urinary tract infection. Because they can resemble so many other conditions, UTIs need to be distinguished from other conditions, such as crystals in the urine.
Your vet will examine your cat and collect urine samples for testing and in some situations, a blood test will be required. Once a urinary tract infection has been identified, your veterinarian will advise you on the best form of treatment.
In some cases, your cat's UTI may go away by itself, but it's important to consult your veterinarian at the first sign of a UTI, as it can be painful, and potentially fatal in severe cases.
Boxes should be cleaned on a regular basis, at least twice weekly, but sometimes daily changes are necessary. Unclean litter boxes can make cats more susceptible to developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Crystals, stones, or debris can gradually build up in your cat's urethra - the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of your cat's body - or bladder. Some other common causes of lower urinary tract issues in cats include: Incontinence due to excessive water consumption or weak bladder. Spinal cord issues.
Cats may have a pretty predictable bathroom routine, but cats with a UTI might begin exhibiting unusual behavior relating to urination. They might be drinking a lot more water and trying to urinate frequently, but unable to pass more than a little bit of urine at a time.
Cats are prone to suffer from urinary tract infections that can worsen when urine becomes highly concentrated, so staying hydrated is vital for your feline friend. If you cat is suffering from such problems, you'll notice the following: He urinates more often than usual, and may miaow while he does so.
You already know that the food you feed your cat is extremely important to her overall health. But feeding the wrong food can contribute to the development of a urinary tract disease (FLUTD). With FLUTD, crystals or stones form within the urinary tract and cause irritation, pain and possibly blockage.
A dirty bowl or stale water can result in bacteria build-up, parasites and viruses that aren't healthy for your kitty. Bacteria-filled water can cause serious illness in our cats like urinary infections and GI issues.
Even if you choose a high-quality dry food, however, canned food and water remain your cat's most important weapons against urinary crystals or stones.
While your veterinarian can prescribe a specific diet, it's a common recommendation to feed more wet food for cats to support urinary tract health by boosting hydration,” explains Dr. Bernal.
The most common symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats include straining to urinate, reduced amounts of urine, not urinating at all, pain or discomfort when urinating, passing urine tinged with blood and urinating around the house, outside of the litter box.
The key is feeding as close to a cats' natural diet as possible- high protein, high moisture, and low carbohydrate, with a proper mineral ratio. Raw meat diets are the absolute healthiest way to feed your cat, and most holistic pet stores or progressive vets should be able to help you transition to raw.
Using an indoor litter box, emotional or environmental stress, multi-cat households or sudden changes to their everyday routine can also leave cats more vulnerable to urinary tract disease.
Because bacteria can change the pH of your cat's urine long before your cat starts showing outward symptoms, PrettyLitter can give you a heads up. If your cat is using PrettyLitter, the granules will turn blue to indicate that your cat may have a urinary tract infection or other health problem.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
Acting Sick: While many cats won't show any signs at all, some cats can become very sick with a UTI, especially if the infection spreads to the kidneys, or if mucus or debris block the urethra in male cats.
So, while dry cat food does not directly cause lower urinary tract or kidney problems in cats, without additional fluids it could create an increased risk of dehydration and speed progression of urinary tract issues in cats who may be already predisposed to developing them.
Another common sign of UTI in cats is increased thirst. Some cats may be thirstier than normal when they have a UTI, especially if they are urinating a lot more than usual.