Cat Urinary Tract Infection

1) Cause

The main risk factors are:

• Stagnation and concentration of urine
• Physical irritation of the bladder wall due to cat bladder stones

2) Signs

Some or all of the following signs may occur:

• Cat spends a lot of time around litter box or other favorite toilet area
• May develop a sudden aversion to litter box and start peeing elsewhere - often in the bath or sink
• Straining to pee, but very little being produced each time (this may be mistaken for cat constipation)
• Offensive smelling, bloodstained urine
• Twitching tail
• Feline incontinence
• Scratching at the ground
• Looking stressed and anxious
• Increased thirst
• Listlessness, fever and vomiting

3) Treatment

Treatment will vary from case to case - your vet will decide what's the most appropriate for your kitty. Treatment often includes:

• Antibiotics
• Urine acidifiers - this helps to suppress bacterial growth
• Encouraging Kitty to pee more frequently

To prevent recurrence, the last point is important. Ideally, Kitty should empty his bladder at least three times a day. Regular bladder emptying gets rid of waste products and bacteria before they become a problem. It also flushes out the sand-like material in the cat urine that bladder stones are formed from. He should have easy access to a clean toilet and clean drinking water at all times. For advice on health insurance for your cat, click here.


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