What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti In A Cat
The symptoms of cat UTI are:
- Bloody Urine. This is a urinary issue that should be evaluated by a DVM. It is a common symptom of a UTI, but it is not a telltale symptom. Bloody urine can be caused by bladder stones and
- Frequent Urination. Frequent urination is a common symptom of a UTI, especially when accompanied by small amounts of urine. These two together are a sign that cat owners should seek veterinary care immediately as clinical symptoms could continue to worsen.
- Peeing Outside the Litter Box. When a cat urinates outside of the litter box, it might be trying to tell you something. The cat may be doing this because it feels the litter box is dirty or because the bacterial infection in the bladder increases the urgency with which the cat needs to urinate, and they may not make it in time to the litter box.
- Painful Urination. One of the more obvious symptoms of a urinary tract infection is painful urination. Cats will sometimes whimper or make noise when urinating due to pain incurred while peeing. This is caused by crystals or stones that block the urinary tract that is brought on by a UTI.
Factors That Put Cats At Higher Risk For Utis
Older female cats are the most at risk for UTIs, though any cat can develop an infection. Cats prone to bladder stones or with diabetes mellitus can also be more likely to get UTIs. Other potential risk factors include not having enough litter boxes or stress, such as from a recent move or a change in the household, like a new baby, cat or dog.
Causes Of Urinary Tract Issues In Cats
A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have worked their way into the urethra . Most UTIs are caused by bacteria and typically affect the urethra and bladder. Left untreated, they can spread to the kidneys, causing a serious infection called pyelonephritis.
UTIs are not especially common in cats, but other urinary tract issues occur often. Your cat’s trouble urinating can have a number of possible causes, some of which can be painful. Urinary conditions can block the flow of urine or inflame parts of the urinary tract. If you’ve been on the hunt for information online, you may have heard about feline lower urinary tract disease , which is a catch-all term for a variety of possible culprits, including UTIs and the following conditions:
- Urinary stones, which develop in the bladder from microscopic crystals
- Urethral obstruction, possibly caused by crystalized minerals in the urine, an injury, a tumor, or an abnormality your cat has had since birth
- Feline idiopathic cystitis , which is inflammation of a cat’s bladder with an unknown cause. This is a common diagnosis in cats less than 10 years old. A veterinarian may diagnose the condition after ruling out other conditions.
Some cats are predisposed to problems of the lower urinary tract, especially cats older than 10 years and those with kidney disease or diabetes.
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Increase Your Cat’s Fluid Intake
If your cat takes in more fluids this will mean that their bladder is less irritated and will reduce the risk of Cystitis coming back. There are various ways to do this but by far the most effective, if your cat is currently on a dry diet, is to change over to a wet food. Any dietary change should always be done gradually as this can be a significant stress trigger for your cat. Changing from dry food to wet food represents a major change for your cat, so add the smallest amount of the wet to the dry pellets/biscuits at each meal while reducing the dry at the same time. Once your cat is happy with a mix, increase the amount of new food slightly. Keep doing this for as long as it takes to transfer entirely to wet food. A complete change from dry to wet food may take up to two weeks or more. Your cat may be reluctant to eat even the smallest amount of the new food to start with, but perseverance should pay off and the benefit to their bladder health will outweigh any initial resistance.
If your cat really wont take to the new food, your vet may recommend a dry diet with added ingredients specifically designed to manage Cystitis. You should also make sure your cat has access to plenty of fresh water as well as other liquids that are safe for your cat.
My Cat Has A Uti What Can I Do To Make Her As Comfortable As Possible
If your cat is recovering from a painful UTI, there is a lot you can do to boost her morale, like giving her extra treats, love, and affection. However, be sure to refrain from petting her stomach area as it may still be sensitive. If possible, dont pick up your cat as this may apply force to her abdomen. If you live in a household with young children, talk to them about what their cat is experiencing so that they know to be as gentle as possible, too.
Try to make your home a stress-free environment, giving your cat space and time to heal. If you live in a household with numerous animals, set aside a room in your home, preferably one with a window, where your kitty can rest undisrupted. Give her plenty of clean water, and dont forget to monitor her litter box usage while keeping her litter box as clean as can be.
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Cat Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
The vet will suggest the best course of treatment for your feline friend. Depending on the signs exhibited by your cat, the vet may perform a urinalysis. If the vet suspects a urinary tract infection in your cat, the vet will prescribe a common antibiotic to ease your kittys pain, even before getting the results of urinalysis from the lab.
If the culprit is some bacteria, the vet will prescribe the specific cat urinary tract infection antibiotics. You will have to give it to your cat as instructed by the vet. Otherwise, you will only be killing some bacteria, leaving others to grow and multiply. Only your vet could tell how long you will have to give antibiotics to your cat.
Never leave the antibiotic treatment in the middle, even if your cat seems to be perfectly finenot showing any signs of UTI. Unfinished antibiotic rounds give bacteria a chance to return with more strength, developing antibiotic resistance.
How Long Does It Take For A Uti To Go Away In A Cat
If you suspect your cat has a UTI, schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. They can help determine if your cat’s symptoms are being caused by a UTI or FLUTD. Once UTI treatment begins, symptoms usually start improving after a few days.
Cleaning litter boxes may not be the most glamorous part of cat ownership, but your knowledge of your cat’s litter box routine is a helpful tool in catching urinary tract or bladder issues early.
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Why Is My Cat Peeing On Herself
There are many behavioural reasons why cats may begin to urinate inappropriately. Frustration, stress, or anxiety can sometimes cause a cat to change their urinating habits. Any change in their routine, such as a new person in the household or moving house, can lead to changes in urination.06.08.2019
Dont Ignore The Problem
Its important to address urinary tract disorders in cats because of the other health consequences of stress-related disease. If the problem is ignored in male cats, due to their anatomy a potentially lethal blockage can occur. Because idiopathic cystitis can cause crystals, the narrow urethra of male cats can get blocked by crystals being lodged in the tube. If this problem is not addressed, it can become deadly to the cat.
This is a multi-systemic disorder in which the urinary system is just one aspect that is affected, explains Dr. Gal. These cats have gastrointestinal and behavior problems as well.
The stress causes numerous problems, so to have a happy, healthy cat, be sure to address possible behavioral or environmental stressors.
If you have any questions or concerns about a possible urinary tract infection in your cat, contact your local veterinarian.
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What Are Cat Uti Symptoms
UTIs happen when bacteria travels through the urethra into the bladder, where it grows and reproduces to cause an infection. Certain behaviors and signs may indicate your cat has a UTI:
- Straining to urinate. One of the first symptoms you’ll likely notice is your cat struggling to release urine in the litter box. Not only is it painful, but it can also be dangerous because they’re not ridding themselves of toxins.
- Frequent trips to the litter box. Since they’re not releasing much urine at once, you’ll see your cat repeatedly making trips to their litter box.
- Painful urination and licking of genitals. The pain and struggle to urinate is sometimes so severe that your cat will lick their genital area to soothe the irritation. Unfortunately, this worsens the problem as the area becomes raw and urination becomes even more painful. When the problem gets to this point, your cat may cry out in pain.
- Bloody, discolored or unusual smelling urine. Discolored or blood-tinged urine is an extremely common symptom of UTIs, especially in female cats. Urine with an abnormal smell can also be a sign, though you may not be able to tell depending on the type of litter in your cat’s box.
- Relieving themselves outside the litter box. While urinating in another area doesn’t always indicate a UTI, take notice of it if your cat is showing other signs of infection.
Warning Signs Of Urinary Tract Infections
Because you live with your favorite feline, you are the perfect person to notice changes in behavior. You know your cat’s normal litter box habits better than anyone. Possible signs of a UTI include:
- More frequent visits to the litter box and/or more frequent attempts to urinate during a visit
- Straining to urinate
- Crying out, whining, or loud meows
- Inappropriate urination
- More frequent licking of the genitals
- Especially strong urine odor
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Cranberries For Cats Uti
Cranberries are famous for being a good treatment for UTI in humans but can cranberries alleviate the pains of urinary tract infection in cats?
Fortunately, yes. Cranberries are acidic, and therefore, help lower the pH of a cats urine which is not only good treatment for UTI but also stops the recurrence of UTI in cats.
Instead of giving your cat cranberry juice, it is advised that you add some powdered cranberry pills to their food as juice would be loaded with sugar.
Be careful while giving cranberry to your cat. You should always check the pH of your cats urine before giving her cranberries. Only give them if they have UTI, and their urine is alkaline. Otherwise, acidic cranberries would exacerbate the situation.
Finding The Best Spot For The Litter Box
Although some cats will use the litter box regardless of where you place it, just so that they can somehow reach it, other cats will balk at using an inappropriately positioned box. Choosing a good place for the litter box means that there will be less chance that you will find wet spots on the rug or worse behind the sofa. Cats are clean animals and will use their box if it is convenient and accessible.
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What Can I Do At Home To Prevent Future Occurrences Of Flutd
Depending on the underlying cause for FLUTD, the clinical signs may never, or only occasionally, reoccur. However, recurrence is more common with FIC. To help reduce the chances of recurrence:
- Feed small meals on a frequent basis.
- Consult with your veterinarian about the best diet for your cat. Many commercial diets are acceptable, but some urinary conditions respond better to specialized diets. Canned food may be preferred.
- Provide clean, fresh water at all times.
- Provide an adequate number of litter boxes with the type of litter that the cat prefer
- Keep litter boxes in quiet, safe areas of the house.
- Keep litter boxes clean they should be scooped twice a day and the litter changed weekly .
- Minimize major changes in routine.
What Are The Most Common Cat Uti Symptoms
How can you tell if your cat has a UTI? Be forewarned: Sometimes, cats will not display any signs, even if they have a UTI. However, some common clinical signs that could indicate a UTI include:
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Seeking Help From A Veterinarian
Are There Home Remedies For Cat Urinary Tract Infections
Home remedies for cat urinary tract infections do exist, but these are more for treating symptoms and irritation, not the infection itself.
There are some home remedies to treat lower urinary tract irritation, but actual urinary tract infections typically require antibiotics, Dr. Bonk said.
Home remedies are super helpful but should be paired with antibiotics , since thats the only thing that will treat the infection.
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Causes Of Feline Urinary Tract Disease
Since there are multiple causes and contributing factors associated with FLUTD it can be a tricky condition to diagnose and treat. Crystals, stones or debris can gradually build up in your cat’s urethra – the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of your cats body – or bladder.
Other causes of lower urinary tract issues in cats include:
- Incontinence due to excessive water consumption or weak bladder
- Spinal cord issues
- Urethral plug caused by the accumulation of debris from urine
- Bladder infection, inflammation, urinary tract infection
- Injury or tumor in the urinary tract
- Congenital abnormalities
- Emotional or environmental stressors
Overweight, middle-aged cats who have little to no access to outdoors, eat a dry food diet or do not get enough physical activity are more susceptible to urinary tract issues, although cats of any age can get the condition. Male cats are also more prone to urinary diseases since their narrower urethras are more likely to become blocked.
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.
If your kitty is diagnosed with FLUTD it is essential to determine the underlying cause. FLUTD symptoms can be caused by serious underlying health issues such as bladder stones, infections, cancer or a blockage.
Why Did My Cat Get A Uti
In the animal kingdom, male cats are more likely to contract UTIs than females are, seeing as they have longer and more narrow urethras. There are many reasons why your cat could contract a bladder infection or UTI:
- Theyre overweight
- They dont get enough exercise
- They dont drink enough water
- They strictly eat dry food
- They dont always have access to a clean litter box
- They live in a household with multiple cats or animals
- They are feeling stressed
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How Are Cat Utis Diagnosed
If you suspect your feline friend might be suffering from a UTI, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible. While there, your vet will collect a urine sample, usually by inserting a needle into the bladder and removing urine with a syringe . Thankfully, this is a quick and relatively painless process, so it should be easy to keep even the fussiest cats calm during the procedure.
Urine is collected in order to test it, which is called a urinalysis. The veterinary staff will analyze your cats urine under a microscope, looking for blood, bacteria, inflammatory cells, crystals, or any other abnormalities. The urine will also be tested on a strip that can detect any inflammation, sugar, how concentrated the urine is, as well as several other parameters. These tests will often determine if your cat has a UTI or another urinary problem. In some cases, a urine culture and sensitivity, where urine is sent off to a laboratory to see if bacteria grow in it and if so, what antibiotics the bacteria are sensitive to, may be ordered. In other cases, x-rays , bloodwork, and abdominal ultrasound may be recommended.