Cat Urine Issues
Cat urinary tract infections and other urinary medical problems
Urinary issues in cats is the number one reason cats end up in shelters or abandoned on the streets. Sometimes this problem is medical, other times it is behavioral.
Cats can have urinary problems just like people and to be perfectly frank, it stinks. Cat urine issues literally stink, not just for the nose but also because it can be a tough problem to deal with. Cats are very sensitive creatures they, may decide to stop using the litter box because they were accidentally interrupted while “going,” this would be a behavioral problem, or they may stop using the litter box because of an infection and in the kitty mind they think “that box made it painful for me to pee,” this would be a medical problem. Either way the problem needs to be treated and kitty needs to start using the box again.
Symptoms - Signs of a cat urinary tract infection include but are not limited to; urinating outside of the box, urinating in sinks or bathtubs, crying in the litter box, frequent urination in tiny amounts, straining to urinate (may be confused with constipation), bloody urine, and some cats will lick themselves. If your cat is straining without producing urine your cat could be blocked, this is a medical emergency and without prompt veterinary care your cat will die from a build up of toxins.
Diagnosis – In order to properly diagnosis your cat's urine problem the veterinarian needs to collect a urine sample. This is done one of two ways, the cat needs to urinate in a litter box that has a special non-absorbable litter in it or the veterinarian will do a procedure called a cystocentesis. Many cats will not urinate while staying in the hospital, many times they will hold it all day and all night, in these cases it is recommended to perform the cystocentesis. A cystocentesis is a procedure where the veterinarian will insert a needle through the abdomen and into the bladder. This sounds extreme but it is routinely done and most cats allow it without sedation. When the urine is collected a urinalysis is performed to rule out infection, crystals, or behavioral problem. If your cat seems to be drinking more and urinating more the veterinarian may want to do a blood work up to rule out kidney disease or diabetes. These are both very serious illnesses and the possibility should not be ignored. X-rays and/or an ultrasound may also be recommended to rule out bladder stones or crystals, it also gives the doctor a good look at the bladder wall and other body organs. If stones are present surgery maybe the best option.
Treatment options – If the urinalysis shows a bladder infection the cat is given antibiotics and possibly medication to relieve pain and discomfort. If the urinalysis showed that your cat has crystals, the treatment is going to be a little more complicated. The type of crystal is determined during the urinalysis, the veterinarian prescribes a special diet the cat must remain on (and receive nothing else) for at least 6 – 8 weeks, most veterinarians will recommend prescription diet Hills s/d. This diet will change the pH of the urine dissolving the crystals, the cat will then be placed on a maintenance diet that will prevent future crystals from forming, many veterinarians will recommend prescription diet Hills c/d. Many times when a cat is diagnosed with crystals the veterinarian will also dispense antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and a medication to relieve pain and discomfort.
Additional Information – Follow up visits are needed to track the progress of the dissolving crystals, repeat urinalysis and/or x-rays are sometimes recommended. Many cats will have relapses of these problems. A good way to prevent this is to get your cat to drink more water. Flavor the water with juice from tuna or salmon (change water daily if you try this) or try a pet drinking fountain that features running water, most cats love fresh running water. If your cat has been urinating in the house the areas will have to cleaned and a odor neutralizer used to help prevent kitty from returning to these areas. A product called Feliway may also help de-stress your cat.
Related Articles: Cat Urinary Problems, Cat Litter Box Issues, and Cats With Behavior Problems
References: Alleice Summers, MS, DVM (2002). Common Diseases of Companion Animals, 325-336.
