What To Do If You Suspect A Flutd
If your cat is having trouble urinating and displaying other signs of FLUTD, take her to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet will give her a physical exam and collect urine samples. Blood work, x-rays, and abdominal ultrasound may also be recommended for diagnosis.
Most cases of FLUTD improve without medical treatment, but the symptoms can recur. Though they may not be life-threatening to your cat, they can be uncomfortable, so treatment can improve her overall quality of life. While treatment of FLUTD depends on the underlying cause, it is always beneficial to increase your cats water intake. Maintaining a healthy weight, feeding her canned food and encouraging her to use her litter box can also help. However, certain conditions simply cannot be treated at home. Bacterial cystitis should be treated with antibiotics, while stones must be surgically removed.
Its always best to be safe. A simple phone call to your vet when you first notice any of the above symptoms can help diagnose a problem much sooner and save your cat a longer period of discomfort. Its also important to monitor your cat after being diagnosed with FLUTD during treatment to ensure that the problem doesnt reoccur as cats are good at hiding their pain.
How Do You Treat Your Cat When It Has A Urinary Tract Infection
If you notice one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, it is best to act without delay and take your cat to the vet. Only a bacteriological analysis of the urine can detect the presence of urinary tract infections. To carry out this examination, the veterinarian will take a urine sample from the bladder or by catheter. When the result is positive, other examinations are often necessary to know the precise location of the infection in the urinary tract . Thanks to the precise identification of the germs, the veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate antibiotics for your cat. Indeed, not all bacteria are sensitive to the same treatment.
It is very important to administer the prescribed treatment to your pet by following the recommendations of the animal health professional. As in humans, antibiotics can promote bacterial resistance when the treatment is not taken all the way through or for too long. Monitor your pets behaviour throughout treatment . If it is effective, your cat should gradually regain its alertness, go to the toilet without pain and regain its appetite. Pay close attention to the colour of your cats urine and its behaviour. If you dont see any improvement, dont hesitate to take your cat to see him again.
How To Tell If Your Cat Has A Uti
Feline urinary tract infection is not as common in cats as other urinary tract issues, but it does not mean that cats never develop UTI. Cats do develop UTI, which may become quite painful for them if not treated timely. Therefore, it is advised that you always stay vigilant of the signs of sickness in cats.
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Are Some Cats More Susceptible To Uti
Yes, some cats are predisposed to urinary tract infections.
Cats suffering from other urinary tract issues such as bladder stones are more prone to developing UTI and its recurrence. Therefore, if your cat has bladder stones, you should get them removed surgically or dissolved with medication and restore bladder health.
Similarly, senior catsespecially female catsand diabetic cats are more susceptible to feline urinary tract infections.
Treatment For Urinary Tract Problems In Cats
There are different ways that urinary tract problems in cats can be treated. Urinary problems in cats treatment options depend on what caused the condition in the first place. When the underlying causes are treated, symptoms of FLUTD may improve, and the risk of recurrence may also be greatly reduced.
One particular problem often faced with FLUTD in cats is the fact that in as many as 64% of cases, the condition is classified as idiopathic. This means that no actual physical cause can be identified. It becomes harder to initiate an effective treatment protocol to help address any underlying root causes.
Antibiotics are often used when an infection is suspected to be present. The possibility of infection can be confirmed by testing the cats urine. Urinary acidifiers may also be administered to the cat. Another possible medical option may include fluid therapy.
You may also be advised to increase the cats intake of water and to make appropriate dietary changes, depending on the cats existing diet.
In more serious cases, surgical procedures may be used to remove stones. Surgery may also be used when congenital abnormalities are present. There is also a surgical procedure that can be used to assist in removing an obstruction or blockage within the cats urethra. This may help to relieve symptoms associated with urinary problems in cats.
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The Causes Of Urinary Tract Problems In Cats
FLUTD is an acronym for feline lower urinary tract disease and is one of the most common urinary problems in cats.
The pain comes from the lower urethra and the bladder. There is a number of potential causes for urinary problems in cats to develop. As a cat owner, be cautious about these issues that your feline friends may develop.
Understand what may cause urinary problems in cats. This can help you better understand how to reduce the risk of your cat developing problems with their urinary tract.
Some of the common causes of urinary tract problems in cats include:
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.
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Recovery And Management Of Illness
If a medical cause for the issue is identified, many feline lower urinary tract diseases can be managed with the help of your veterinarian. This underlines how important it is to see your vet as soon as an issue is noticed.After the initial consultation, your vet may advise you to change some aspects of your cat’s lifestyle to help maintain their urinary health. Overweight cats are more at risk of stones as they drink and urinate less frequently, so your vet may suggest that you help them lose weight and increase the amount of activity they do.Supporting your cat’s urinary health through diet
What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections In Cats
A urinary tract infection or cystitis can have many causes. However, the symptoms of the different urinary tract infections are more or less the same. How do you know if your cat has cystitis? A cats urinary problems manifest themselves in the following way :
- Difficulty in urinating: the cat grinds or meows in pain when he goes to relieve himself in the litter box. It may try to urinate without expelling anything.
- Sudden uncleanliness: the cat is no longer clean and relieves himself anywhere in the house.
- Abnormal behaviour: the cat tends to isolate himself, constantly licks his genitals, is not very active or on the contrary very agitated.
- Worrying urine: blood can sometimes be detected in the urine, and the urine often emits an ammonia smell.
- The cat drinks more.
- A tense and painful abdomen.
- When the infection is very widespread, some cats refuse to eat.
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Urinary Tract Infections In Cats
While cats often have urinary tract issues, our kitty companions are more prone to urinary tract disease than infections. Cats that do develop urinary tract infections are typically 10 years of age or older and often suffer from endocrine diseases, including hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus.
If your feline companion is displaying symptoms of a urinary tract infection and is diagnosed with cystitis, your veterinarian will prescribe and antibacterial to help battle your cats UTI.
The most common symptoms of urinary tract infection in cats include reduced amounts of urine, straining to urinate, pain or discomfort when urinating, not urinating at all, urinating around the house , and passing urine tinged with blood .
These symptoms may be caused by a urinary tract infection, but there are also numerous feline lower urinary tract diseases that may cause your cat to display the symptoms of UTI listed above.
Urinary Tract Infection In Cats: Symptoms Causes And Treatment
Very rare in wild animals, urinary tract infections are unfortunately common in domestic animals, including cats. Very restrictive for our companions, urinary tract infections such as cystitis can be dangerous if they are not treated quickly. How do you know if your cat has a urinary tract infection? What are the causes of infections? How can they be treated? We give you all the keys to spot the first signs of an infection and act accordingly.
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Signs Of Urinary Tract Infections In Cats
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Urinary tract infections in cats are one of the leading reasons why cat moms and dads rush their feline family members to the vet. Urinary disease is excruciatingly painful, and it can lead to several other serious health issues.
And while we all want to keep our cats healthy, we have a big problem.
Cats are notoriously good at hiding their pain. They face illnesses and injuries with stoic strength, and that can leave us humans grasping for straws when things suddenly go wrong. The best way to help your cat is to recognize the early signs that theyre in pain.
Are Some Cats Predisposed To Utis
Older female cats, and cats with diabetes mellitus , develop UTIs more commonly than the general population. Cats who have bladder stones are prone to recurrent UTIs, pointing out the importance of getting a complete diagnosis whenever there are signs of disease in the urinary tract. Bladder stones must be removed or dissolved in order to restore bladder health .
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Cats Can Get Urinary Tract Infections
Your cat has started to display some odd behavior lately. Your previously house-trained cat is now urinating in your bathtub or on your bed. Also, your cat strains as if constipated, just sitting there in the litter box waiting and repeatedly scratching.
Not all owners can recognize these key signs of a urinary tract infection . Having worked at a veterinary hospital, I have come across many cats that were thought by their owners to be constipated, or worse, just simply displaying behavioral issues.
Cats that pee in the bathtub or on the bed are doing so for a very specific reason: their trip to the litter box has turned unpleasant. Your cat has tried to urinate in the litter box, but it turned out to be too painful, and therefore, he has started associating the litter box with something negative. To a cat, avoidance is the best solution, so he will try any other place to see if it will, in any way, ease the discomfort.
Another common sign of UTI in a cat is insistently licking the genital area. Cats tend to lick their wounds, so licking their genital area is the way they try to “heal” the burning sensation they are feeling.
If you have happened to find some occult blood around the home, it is very likely coming from the cat. Blood may appear as normal red drops, or it may have a pinkish tint if it is mixed with the urine.
How Do Cats Get Urinary Tract Infections
Cats get urinary tract infections when bacteria winds up in their bladder, and a common source of bacteria is an unclean litter box.
Cats normally get UTIs from a dirty litter box, Dr. Bonk said. Bacteria on feces can travel up the urethra when a cat squats to urinate.
While both male and female cats can get UTIs, females are more prone to infection.
UTIs are more common in females than males due to the size of the urethra, Dr. Bonk said.
Certain chronic illnesses can make your cat more susceptible, too.
Cats with diabetes and those prone to urinary crystals and stones are more likely to develop UTIs, Dr. Bonk said.
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Home Remedies For A Cat Uti And The Risks
If you believe your cat may be suffering from a urinary illness, there are measures you can take from home. However, you should always consult a veterinary professional before using home remedies for a cat UTI.While certain home remedies may be effective in treating mild infections, theres always a chance that the problem is more severe than you think. By consulting with your vet, you can be sure that youre on the right course of treatment for your cat.
Symptoms Diagnosis And Treatment
Common signs of a cat with a urinary tract infection are:
- Persistent straining in the litter box
- More frequent trips to urinate, but urine often limited to just a few drops
- Inappropriate urination in other areas
- Crying while straining
- Licking the genital area
- Bloody urine
A urinary tract infection in a female cat may seem like a minor issue, though annoying and needing treatment. But in male cats, a urinary tract problem can easily become life-threatening due to the narrowness of their urethra, which can easily become blocked. A urinary blockage can turn out to be deadly if veterinary attention is not sought immediately. A cat with a urinary blockage will produce no urine and become poisoned by a buildup of toxins.
Vomiting, nausea, lethargy, and loss of appetite in a male cat should never be ignored. A male cat urinating a few drops is slightly better off than one not producing any urine at all, but still requires immediate intervention.
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Whats The Treatment For Cat Urinary Tract Infections
Treatment for cat urinary tract infections requires antibiotics to fully clear out the bacteria in your pets bladder.
Most UTIs will respond to antibiotics, Dr. Bonk said. Your veterinarian may do a urine culture in order to determine the best antibiotic to use.
If your cat developed stones or crystals, you might need to have them removed .
Occasionally, urinary stones may need to be removed surgically, Dr. Bonk said.
How To Prevent Urinary Tract Problems In Cats
There are different types of urinary problems in cats prevention options available.
One of the most important strategies is to ensure the cat remains at a weight that is considered healthy for them. This can be done by ensuring the cat eats a balanced diet by buying the right foods for them. The cat should also get enough exercise to avoid weight gain.
Make sure your cat has enough fresh water to drink. It is important for cats to stay hydrated. Too little can lead to an increased risk for urinary tract problems.
Stress can contribute to FLUTD in your cat, so it is important to keep your cats stress to a minimum. Look out for signs that your cat may be stressed. These signs may include:
- Digestive problems,
- excessively scratching and grooming themselves,
- isolating themselves from you and the rest of their general environment.
When these signs become present, take appropriate steps to help reduce stress in your cat. Make sure the cat has water available and litter boxes in fixed locations. Provide your cat with a scratching pad and offer the cat a couple of hiding places. You should also play with your cat and remember that cats often like to be loved and to cuddle.
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What About Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection In Cats
Many cat owners stress about the cost of seeking veterinary treatment when their cat is ill. You might be tempted to search cat urinary tract infection home remedies and want to attempt to treat your cats urinary tract infection at home.
This is not a good idea.
There are no home remedies that can resolve a bacterial urinary tract infection or address a serious urinary blockage. Cat urinary tract infection treatment and recovery will be easier if you seek help early.
Urinary Tract Infection In Cats
Written bySmall Door’s medical experts
Bacterial urinary tract infections are a fairly common condition among cats. While UTIs are usually relatively easy to diagnose and cure, they can develop into a more serious condition if left untreated. Urinary tract infections can occur in both young and old cats.
In This Article
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When To See A Vet
These at-home treatments and remedies may be effective for clearing up minor infections, but more serious infections need to be treated by a professional animal doctor.
If your cat is experiencing mild or moderate symptoms, you can try these remedies to relieve their symptoms. If their symptoms show no sign of improvement in a few days, talk to a veterinarian. If your cat seems to be in pain or is unable to pass urine, see a vet immediately. This could be a sign of urethral obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated within 24 to 48 hours.
A vet may be able to prescribe antibiotics to target the harmful bacteria. Be sure to give your cat the full dose of prescribed antibiotics to prevent the UTI from returning or becoming resistant to treatment.
Even if youre pursuing professional treatment, these remedies can be effectively used alongside antibiotics to strengthen the bladder and balance your cats pH levels. Some can also be used as a daily supplement to prevent the UTI from coming back.