Knowing When To Get Help

Posted on: 29 September 2015

Cats do a good job hiding their pain which is why many diseases can go undiagnosed. Fortunately, urinary tract infections are one disease that cats will have more difficulty hiding which will allow you to seek proper treatment. Below is an overview of feline urinary tract infections, symptoms you may notice, and how it's treated.

What is a Urinary Tract Infections in Cats?

Urinary tract infections are an infection that can effect the entire urinary tract, from the kidney, to the bladder, to the urethra.

The urinary tract, similar to how it's in humans, is a system of organs that processes and cleans urine before it gets eliminated from the body. When an infection occurs in the urinary tract, one or more of these organs becomes unable to properly perform its job and can result in pain and illness. This infection can result from poor nutrition, another illness, a tumor, or another blockage, such as a kidney stone.

What are the Symptoms?

There are a number of things you should be looking for in your cat's behaviors and actions if you suspect a urinary tract infection.

Frequent urination, urination in unusual spots, and blood in the urine are all signs of a urinary tract issue. Other symptoms may include obvious difficulty while urinating (straining or crying) and even no passage of urine at all. As these symptoms can be extremely distressing and painful for your cat, and because infections left untreated are dangerous, a urinary tract infection should not be taken lightly and should be handled by a veterinarian.

How is it Treated?

After a thorough evaluation, your cat's vet will be able to determine the cause of the issue and treat it accordingly.

For the majority of cases, your vet will recommend a diet change that increases the volume of liquid your cat is consuming. Your cat may be given an IV to help flush out the urinary tract, but you may also be advised to cut back on dry foods and only serve wet. If a blockage of the urethra is suspected, removal of the blockage will be top priority and will likely result in hospitalization until the situation is controlled.

If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, it's important to seek the help of a veterinarian. To learn more about UTI's in felines and how to properly treat and prevent them, consult with your cat's veterinarian.