Cats and Kidney Stones

~~Michelle

Expert Reply

Hi, Michelle,

If this is a behavior that has just recently started, you probably should take her to the veterinarian to rule out any type of urinary tract infection or kidney stones. Any type of litter box behavior changes warrant a trip to the vet to rule out more serious problems. If there are no health issues causing her accidents, then I would try the following:

• Clean your bed and bed clothes with a good enzymatic cleaner specially formulated to remove the smell of cat urine.
• Make sure the litter box is kept extremely clean and that you have a separate litter box for each cat in your household.
• If you've recently changed her litter, you may want to switch back.

You may also have to lock her in a small enclosed area of your house with her litter box for a week or two until she gets the idea of where her litter box is. You may have to experiment with different boxes of different depths and covered and uncovered. Cats can be very finicky about their boxes. She is still young enough to be retrained if she'd developed bad habits, so now is the time to get on top of this problem. Although you can retrain an older cat too, it is a bit more difficult. Hope this helps. Good luck!

~~Lori

Coloring Cat's Urine

I have two male cats and one female cat. We are a little concerned about one of the boys and want to know if there is anything we can give him to color his urine so we can estimate how much he is peeing. At the moment there is no way we can tell who is doing what.... Thanks in advance.

~~Lucy

Expert Reply

Hi, Lucy,

Male cats are prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney stones, so you are smart to keep a close eye on him. The problem can quickly become dangerous if the cat is unable to urinate.

Although I have heard of a powder you can add to your litter box and special litter you can purchase to test for these issues, I have never heard of anything you can give your cat over-the-counter to color the urine. I would also be reluctant to do this if he is already experiencing some kidney issues.

My advice is to go ahead and take him to the vet immediately. This can be a serious situation if he is experiencing problems. Also, you really need to have a separate littler box for each cat. I realize there is no guarantee if they mingle that they will not use one another's boxes, but you could at least separate him into a small room with his box and monitor him closely if you noticed any behavior changes.

There are also some special foods, one specifically from Hill's, that will help prevent the formation of stones and infections. Hope this helps. Let us know how the cat is doing.

~~Lori

Could Cat Food be the Problem?

I have two adult male cats, one black and one orange. Both are neutered and declawed. I mainly got them because all the cats I had when I was younger seemed to take care of themselves and never caused any problems.

At least twice a week, one of them vomits. It's usually food that comes up nearly whole, but sometimes it's just the color of the food. I've tried different brands, and my current brand is Purina Naturals & Minerals. So far they seem to hold down this brand the best.

In the past, my black cat had a bladder problem that led to urinating outside of the litter box. He received veterinary care for that and the problem went away. A year later, the orange cat developed the same bladder problem. Now just three months later it appears that one of the cats has the same problem again because I found another reddish-colored urine spot on my floor.

What I'd like to know is what could cause the non-stop puking and bladder problems? I'm not the best cat owner in the world; I pretty much do my own thing and they do theirs. Other than having those two problems they are actually great cats. They don't cause any problems. I just don't remember ever having these problems when I was younger.

~~ Mike

Expert Reply

Hi Mike,

It honestly sounds to me like your cats are having these problems due to the food they are eating. Even though you've tried different brands, your cats continue to throw up and develop crystals in their urine.

I think it would be beneficial to switch them to a canned diet for the time being. The extra moisture will help prevent the formation of crystals that can cause blockage in the urethra. This is probably the source behind the blood you're seeing in the urine puddle.

I'd also like you to consider a cat food that is high in organic content. I usually refrain from recommending any brand by name because you can never be sure that a brand will live up to its own hype, but I've been doing a lot of research on pet foods lately since the big recall last spring. Newman's Own Organic canned cat food appears to be able to verify the organic contents used in its formula, and it is has a higher percentage of organic ingredients than a lot of other cat foods labeled "organic". Newman's also doesn't use chemical preservatives. I do not believe it would be harmful to give this brand a try, even if it doesn't solve your cats' health problems. However, you may find that your cats are able to digest the food without throwing it back up.

Don't hesitate to discuss the situation and the food change with your vet. He/She may have some useful insights to share.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this change turns out to be a good one for you and the cats.

~~ Kelly

How to Prevent Death from Kidney Stones?

We recently lost a cat who had, among other things, kidney stones. We still have two other cats who are both eight years old, and don't want to go through this heartache again. Can you suggest anything we can do to prevent this from happening again?

Our cats eat only dry food, and they will not touch wet food ever! They do eat premium cat food, usually Iams. Should they be on a "urinary tract diet" type of food?

Thank you in advance for your time,

Pat, Bailey and Tiffy too!

Expert Reply

Hello Pat,

I'm sorry for your recent loss. Let me try to address your concerns about your other two cats.

The ideal urine pH for a cat is between 6.4 and 6.6. At this range, the digestive system is operating at full efficiency, lessening the chance for kidney stones to form.

Any well balanced cat food should be able to produce a urine pH in this optimum range for a healthy cat, however some felines do need to be placed on a prescription diet that is specially formulated to prevent crystal/stone formation. In addition to Iams, Hills also offers a line of prescription cat foods that address urinary tract problems and kidney disease.

I suggest you talk to your vet about your concerns regarding your remaining cats, and have them checked now for the presence of crystals in their urine. This may give you some peace of mind, as well as a baseline measurement of their current urinary tract health. Then your vet can advise you on whether or not your pets need the special diet.

Scientific Cat Litter manufactures a urinary health monitoring litter product that changes color when used, alerting you to any urinary tract imbalances. You might find this useful as well.

Thanks for your question~~Kelly

Senior Cat Has Kidney Stones

Hi,

My 12-year-old cat was recently diagnosed with kidney stones in both of his kidneys, but my vet is not sure what type of stones they are. We had him on a diet of C/D for a month, but the stones are still there.

We went today to a specialist who said he doesn't feel he should do surgery because it is very risky when located in the kidneys, but if he gets sick, to rush him in immediately. He is doing just fine otherwise, eating, drinking, going to the bathroom & playing.

I'm just worried. I hope the specialist made the right decision. He also said that the stones could just stay there, and the cat can still live for several years. Did you ever hear of this?

Thanks~~ Denise

Expert Reply

Hi Denise,

I'm sorry to hear your cat has stones, and I understand how worried you must feel about him. If it helps, I agree with the specialist's recommendations whole-heartedly.

Kidney stones are fairly common in senior cats, but as long as your cat isn't showing any adverse symptoms, it's better to let them alone. There's no telling how long he's already been living with them.

Surgery and anesthesia are far more risky at this age than the presence of stones, and if your cat is still able to urinate normally, then there must not be any significant blockage at this time. He's still eating and going about his normal routine, and these are good signs that he's not in any discomfort.

Do continue to keep an eye out for unusual behavior or symptoms. You know your cat better than anyone else, so you'll notice changes quicker. In the meantime, try to worry less even though it may be difficult. You've done everything you should to maintain you pet's health so far, and you also have professionals watching the situation. It sounds like you're both in good hands.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly