Feline Urinary Tract Infection

Although all cats are susceptible, male cats are far more likely to experience a feline urinary tract infection than female cats. These infections are easy to identify when you know which symptoms to look for.

Symptoms can vary in intensity from animal to animal, but they generally include at least one of the following:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive grooming and licking of the genital area
• Crying out while grooming genital area
• Blood in the urine
• Refusal to use the litter box; urinating all over the house

Urinary tract problems in male cats may be related to a blockage. This is an emergency situation, and you should take your cat to the vet immediately. If the urinary tract is obstructed, coma and death can occur within 24 hours. Symptoms of an obstruction include all of the above symptoms and some of the following as well:

• Straining to urinate with nothing coming out
• Pain, discomfort
• Howling
• Depression
• Refusal to eat or drink
• Vomiting
• Coma

Upon further examination, gentle palpitation of the abdomen reveals a hard ball. This is your cat's full bladder.

There are several reasons why your cat might get a urinary tract infection. Some of the causes can be controlled while others cannot. Here are some of the main causes of feline urinary tract infections:

• Bacteria
• Viral infections
• Tumors
• Other underlying diseases such as Feline Kidney Failure
• Injury or trauma
• Bladder stones
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Foods high in magnesium

In some cases there is just no identifiable cause.

Your vet will examine your cat carefully. He will check the abdomen for signs that the bladder is full, and he may try to force some urine out to see if the cat's urethra is blocked. If there does seem to be a blockage, the vet may do a fine needle aspiration of the bladder by inserting a thin needle into the extended bladder and removing some of the urine.

The urine will be checked for the following:

• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Crystals
• Bacteria
• Concentration
• Acidity
• Alkalinity

All of these tests and results will help the veterinarian diagnose the type of urinary tract disorder that your cat has. He will then determine which treatment plan will be most beneficial.

There are several ways that your cat might be treated, depending on the diagnosis.

• If there are crystals found in the urine, they will be studied to find out which type they are. Usually crystals are a sign of too many minerals in the cat's diet, and you will be advised to make dietary changes. Your vet will suggest certain foods to keep the crystals from forming in the future.
• If the problem is due to bacteria, your vet will probably prescribe antibiotics. Always make sure that you give your cat all of the medicine prescribed on the schedule that the vet recommends. Otherwise the antibiotic loses its effect.
• Your vet may want to run further tests to see if the problem is caused by some abnormality or a tumor of some sort. If these tests show this type of problem, the vet may want to do surgery to correct it.
• If there is an obstruction, your vet will give your cat anesthesia and put a catheter in place to remove the obstruction and clear the bladder. He will want to keep your pet for a day or two to make sure that the problem is totally resolved.

Many cats that have had a feline urinary tract infection will have at least one other incidence in their lifetime. You can reduce the risk to your cat by following these guidelines:

• Provide plenty of fresh, clean water for your pet at all times.
• Ask your vet which food he recommends as being least likely to cause urinary tract problems.
• Try to make your home a stress free environment for your cat.
• Allow your cat to eat freely throughout the day. This is thought to keep its urine more acidic and help prevent obstructions.
• Provide a clean, fresh litter box.

You won't be able to protect your cat completely, but following these simple guidelines will help you cut the risks significantly.

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