Feline Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections can be very dangerous or even fatal to cats if they are not treated quickly. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections will help you get your feline the help he or she needs right away.

Your feline may exhibit one or more symptoms when he or she has a urinary tract infection. One symptom of a cat bladder infection may be urinating outside the litter box. Instead, your kitty may urinate in a corner or in a cool place, such as a tiled floor, a sink, or a bathtub. In addition, your kitty may display excessive thirst, inactivity or lethargy, and licking his or her bladder/genital area excessively. Smelly urine, crying during urination, blood in the urine, straining to urinate, frequent urination of small amounts, and/or irritation or redness in the bladder area are other symptoms of feline bladder infection.

Several factors may lead to or cause a urinary tract infection in cats. For instance, stress, diet, environmental factors, age, gender, and kidney stones can all lead to bladder infections. Stress presents itself to cats in the form of changes, such as changes to your kitty's diet or environment - moving to a new home, getting a new pet, a new person moving into the household, and so forth. Additionally, while female cats may get urinary tract infections, male cats are at increased risk for getting them. As felines get older, their risk also increases.

If you see your cat exhibit any of the signs and symptoms of feline urinary tract infections, take him or her to the vet immediately. If your regular vet is not available, such as at night, on a weekend, or on a holiday, take your kitty to the animal hospital or vet emergency room to be checked. Your vet will need to conduct a urinalysis in order to test for a urinary tract infection. A urinalysis requires a clean urine sample. Your vet will most likely use a catheter to get the cleanest urine sample possible from your cat.

Once your vet has confirmed that your cat has a bladder infection, he or she will give your feline some antibiotics in order to treat it. If your kitty also has crystals or stones in his or her bladder or kidneys, other treatments may be necessary, such as changes in diet or surgical removal of the stones.

If you have a feline, it is important that you keep an eye on his or her litter box habits so that you can recognize signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Early and quick treatment is essential to avoid damage to the urinary tract and possible death.

Sources:

Mar Vista Animal Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infections:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/urinary_tract_infection.html

Paw Prints & Purrs Inc.: Bladder Stones (Uroliths) in Cats:
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/uroliths.html

Suite 101: Cat Urinary Tract Infection:
http://cat-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/cat_urinary_tract_infection