Worried About Cat Urinary Problems?

Cat urinary problems or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, FLUTD for short, are quite common problems. It’s not unusual for you to notice your cat behaving a little strangely. For instance you might notice your cat using its litter tray more often, straining to urinate but not being able to pass anything, little spots of blood in their urine, you may even notice little drops of urine around the house or a strong smell of cat urine odor.

Both male and female cats can suffer from cat urinary problems but male cats have a higher risk of blockages in the urethra which can be life threatening if untreated. So keep a look out for these symptoms especially in your male cat and visit the Vet as soon as possible, as it is often difficult for you to know whether or not there is a blockage or just an infection.

What causes cat urinary problems?

Infection in the bladder which travels down the urethra and causes inflammation is the most common cause of Cat urinary problems also known as cat cystitis. Female cats are more susceptible to this than male cats as they have a shorter urethra. The other cause is the build up of crystals in the urine or even bladder stones. When the urine becomes concentrated, crystals start to form, and if they are not passed from the body they can clump together and cause a blockage.

Cats need plenty of water by tillwee flickr.com

Cats need plenty of water by tillwee flickr.com

How can you prevent Cat Urinary Problems?

When we first had Mo our cat, she suffered from Urinary problems all the time. It was very upsetting to see her so distressed and finding blood spots everywhere was also not very nice. At the time we were feeding her only wet food and we noticed that even though we provided fresh water and milk for her she just wouldn’t drink. So we started to feed her more dry food and less wet food. Straight away she started to drink more and her urinary problems stopped almost immediately. She has never looked back since, and as a result is a much more happy cat.

So the first thing to make sure is that as part of your regular cat care your cat always has access to fresh water and that they actually drink it, especially if they are an indoor cat and so doesn’t even get the odd drink from a puddle or water bucket.

Making sure that the food you feed your cat is well balanced is also important, as some nutrients can cause the urine to be more alkaline which causes crystals to form. There are even some cat foods specially formulated for cats with urinary problems.

Treatment of FLUTD

Like humans who suffer from urinary problems drinking plenty of water and taking cranberry extract is also beneficial for a cat with a similar problem. Your vet may also give your cat antibiotics even though bacteria is rare in the condition but some contain anti inflammatory and or pain relieving properties.

In cases of a blockage the first thing your vet will do is to remove it. Depending on the severity of the blockage, your cat may or may not have to be sedated. Your cat will then have to be monitored by the vet to make sure than a normal flow of urine is produced and that blockage doesn’t reoccur, this may mean that your cat will have to stay at the surgery for a while.

Disclaimer: Please remember that we are not vets and pass this information onto you so that you may be more aware of the problems your cats may suffer. Always visit your vet if you suspect that your cat is unwell.