Urinary tract infections and other urinary problems are relatively common in cats. The most frequent urinary issue is cystitis, which can be either idiopathic or bacterial. What are the causes of these urinary problems? How can they be prevented? We'll explain everything!
Cats are not big drinkers, therefore they frequently suffer from urinary tract infections and even other related problems. Furthermore, it is known that certain factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and stress can contribute to urinary tract infections in cats .
What is a urinary tract infection?
This is the most common cause of lower urinary tract dysfunction in cats. It results from the presence of bacteria in the bladder, or from the presence of crystals or bladder stones that prevent urine from being properly eliminated. It is a painful condition with a high risk of recurrence.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections in cats are fairly easy to recognize:
Your cat seems to be having difficulty urinating (stranguria): the cat goes to the litter box but produces little or no urine. If your cat is not producing any urine, you must consult a veterinarian urgently!
-your cat is in pain when urinating: you hear him "crying" when he goes to his litter box, this means that it is painful for him;
-Your cat is becoming unclean: it no longer pees in its litter box but on other surfaces, this is a sign that something is wrong;
-If your cat's urine is pinkish: this color is due to the presence of blood in the urine (hematuria). This is a sign of significant inflammation or the presence of a stone.
If you observe any of the symptoms above, you should definitely consult your veterinarian. Urinary tract infections in cats can worsen. Furthermore, it is essential to identify the cause of the infection in order to provide the cat with the appropriate treatment.
What are the causes of urinary tract infections in cats?
There are different types of urinary tract infections in cats :
- Urinary tract infections can be caused by the presence of stones or crystals in the bladder. These small stones are difficult to pass. There are several types of crystals: struvite (caused by weakly acidic urine) and calcium oxalate (which form due to excessively acidic urine) are the most common. Crystals are microscopic, unlike stones. They accumulate into a kind of fine sand that irritates the urinary tract.
- A bacterium can also cause a urinary tract infection (this is called bacterial cystitis). This is less common and usually results from another condition such as diabetes;
- Some infections are called idiopathic cystitis (their origin is not fully understood). Stress is thought to be the cause. In this case, the cat's urine appears normal, but it is unable to pass it.
How to treat it?
As we've already mentioned, a urinary tract infection must be treated quickly to prevent the cat's condition from worsening. This also helps prevent the development of bad habits (such as inappropriate elimination). To effectively treat a urinary tract infection, the veterinarian will need to determine the type of infection. To do this, they will perform a series of tests:- a urine analysis (ECBU - cyto-bacteriological examination of urine)
- a radio
- an ultrasound (to check for the presence of urinary stones)
- a blood test (to check the condition of the kidneys)
In the event that the cat is unable to urinate at all (anuria) due to an obstruction, the veterinarian will insert a catheter in order to avoid damaging the animal's kidneys.
If the examination reveals the presence of bacteria, your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotic treatment.
If tests reveal the presence of bladder stones, surgery will be required to remove them.
In the case of idiopathic cystitis, measures will need to be taken to reduce the cat's stress and anxiety: environmental enrichment, or even the diffusion of pheromones.
Tips to avoid recurrence:
A few simple measures can prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.
First, make sure your cat has easy and safe access to the litter box. Enrich its environment to prevent boredom and excessive sedentary behavior.
If your cat is anxious, you can give it a natural treatment for anxiety, such as Relax BF Petfood tablets for example.
Regarding diet, you can choose wet food to increase your cat's hydration. There are also dry foods designed to promote healthy urinary tract function, such as BF Petfood's Sterilized Control kibble . These are specifically formulated to stabilize urine pH and prevent the formation of struvite deposits.
Avoid low-quality foods, as poor-quality protein puts a lot of strain on your cat's kidneys. Foods containing cranberry are also a good idea for maintaining healthy urinary tract function in your cat.
Finally, you can offer your cat a water fountain to encourage it to drink more.
We hope that thanks to this article you will be able to recognize a urinary tract infection and, even better, how to avoid it.
If you have any advice, feel free to share it in the comments!
