Cat Urinary Tract Infection – Causes

It is necessary to understand what the terms Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and Feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) mean. While UTI is an infection in the urinary passage, FLUTD is not a specific disease but a pattern of symptoms like bloody urine, straining to urinate, frequent urination and pain that has many causes. Lack of exercise and obesity in cats presents a higher risk of developing urinary problems. Some cats are too lazy to walk to the litter pan. Some others dislike sharing the litter pan with other cats. Such specific behaviors lead to a general unwillingness to urinate. Many times the litter pan is so dirty that a cat detests urination. If the bladder is not emptied regularly, it can lead to urinary tract infections in cats. It may also cause a host of other conditions that ultimately end up as making urination a painful experience.

There are many different causes of feline urinary infection. These include:

  • Bacterial and Viral Infections: Urine is usually sterile in the bladder. The outside opening through which urine is passed out is also the route through which bacteria or viruses enter and travel up to the bladder and infect the urine.
  • Bladder Stones: Improper diet that is high in mineral content leads to a situation where all minerals are not taken up by the digestive system. Mineral deposits gradually transform into crystals and later bind to form stones. The ensuing irritation often leads to inflammation and infection in the bladder. Cats that are fed kibble diets are more susceptible than those on canned or moist diets.
  • Allergy: Some foods and environmental allergens can affect the bladder wall mucosa that protects the bladder from substances in the urine. This can cause cystitis, inflammation of the bladder and ureters.
  • Idiopathic Cystitis: This is a recent observation and a very common type of urinary problem in cats. The cat has all the symptoms of a lower urinary tract disease but the tests, laboratory as well as imaging, do not reveal any known cause. Researchers are trying to find similarities between this condition and interstitial cystitis observed in humans (women) – a condition where there are hemorrhages in the bladder wall accompanied by excruciating pain. Similar hemorrhages are seen in cats. There is no known cause of interstitial cystitis in cats or humans.

Cats that drink a lot of water also urinate a lot. Lack of water intake is one of the primary causes of urinary tract infections in cats. A strong flow of urine is sufficient to eliminate pathogenic substances in the urine and also those clinging along the tract.

Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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August 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

Cat Urinary Tract Infection – Medication

Urinary tract infection is a name given to a group of symptoms that occur due to inflammation, irritation or obstruction of the urinary tract. It is usually related to the lower urinary tract that is comprised of the urinary bladder, urethra and penile urethra. Although the kidneys that produce urine are part of the urinary system, they are usually considered to be a part of another field of medicine and are dealt with separately.

Feline urinary infection can affect any of the organs along the urinary tract. Bladder infection and cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) are among the most common diseases of the lower feline urinary tract. Infection is mostly bacterial in nature but inflammation can occur without infection too. Treatment of the urinary tract infection in cats normally depends upon the underlying cause and the severity of the infection.

A simple infection is usually treated with an antibiotic course. A urinalysis is done to determine the bacterium that has caused the infection. This helps in choosing the correct antibiotic that should be administered to fight the harmful bacteria. Although the symptoms start to show some results in two days, it is recommended that the full course of antibiotics be completed. This is necessary to ensure complete removal of the bacteria and to avoid a recurrence of the disease. To be doubly sure that the infection has been totally eradicated, a urine sample is cultured again after five days of completing the treatment.

There is a strong correlation between bladder stones and urinary infection. Sometimes bladder stones form due to excessive mineral deposits in the urine, which leads to inflammation and eventually an infection of the bladder. Just as stones can also cause urinary infection, they can also be a result of urinary infection. Certain types of stones can only be removed through surgery while some can be dissolved by changing the diet of the cat.

Even when infection has been clearly identified and is being treated, a pet owner should be observant about signs of blood in the urine. Such a symptom can indicate the prevalence of a tumor in the bladder. Bladder tumors that grow in the neck of the bladder often get infected and blood in the urine is also a strong indication of a cancer that may be developing inside.

The matter of urinary tract infection does not end here. In cases where the immune system of the cat has been adversely affected, there are chances that the urinary infection may ascend into the kidneys. If a kidney infection is suspected, the antibiotic course may last for four to six weeks. If the results of urinalysis show a bladder infection, there is an alternative to prescription drugs. Alternative medicine is considered to be more effective than conventional drugs. You can choose between herbal antibiotics and homeopathic remedies, both of which are based on natural substances and devoid of side effects.

Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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August 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

Cat Urinary Tract Infection Home Remedy p2

Urinary tract infection in cats and dogs is a serious problem, often leading to serious repercussions if not treated in time. There is, however, a different approach to the entire matter of pet-UTI, as more and more veterinarians are adopting a holistic approach and using herbal and homeopathic bladder infection treatment for canines and cats to resist infection and correct imbalances in the body that allow bacteria to thrive.

When it comes to home remedies, you naturally want to know more about them in order to lend a helping hand to your cat to avoid the trauma of having to go through UTI.

You can help your pet in many ways by taking recourse to the following simple methods.

    Pain Relief: Among remedies in homeopathic bladder treatment for canines and cats, cantharis is used for pain relief. It is very useful for pets who are straining to urinate. Dosages of two to three pellets twice or thrice a day, which will be easily absorbed by the pet’s mucous membranes, will relieve pain.
    Control Infection: Cranberry juice, that is, pure cranberry juice and not formulations that contain synthetic elements, controls infection by stopping bacteria from adhering to the surface of the bladder and also acidifies the urine.
    Increase Body Strength: Vitamin C is a natural anti inflammatory and strengthens the lining of the bladder. Depending upon the weight of your pet, you can administer a dose of 250mg to 500mg twice a day. However, vitamin C is known to cause diarrhea and it is important to arrive at the correct dosage by trial and error so that you know how much your pet’s bowels can tolerate.
    Stick to Chemical Free Diet: Many commercial pet foods contain harmful chemical additives, preservatives, and artificial colors that weaken the pet’s immune system. Instead, home cooked food is the best to reduce the risk of body imbalances and minimize the chance of infection.
    Fluids: To ensure that your cat’s bladder is emptied regularly in order to flush out bacteria, it is imperative that your pet has sufficient quantity of fluids. However, you cannot force your pet to drink. The better way is to resort to moist foods and dipping dry foods in some water or chicken broth.
    Clean Water: Chemicals in some drinking waters make animals avoid drinking, which in turn, results in thickening of urine. Thickened urine hinders regular emptying of the bladder. This makes them more prone to developing UTI. Filtered water or spring water will go a long way in encouraging your pet to urinate and reduce the risk of urinary tract infection in cats and dogs.
    In addition, simple methods like providing your cat adequate opportunities to urinate will ensure that his bladder gets emptied at regular intervals; it will encourage your pet to urinate and that is an integral part of its health. Moreover, females that have been spayed early tend to develop loose tissue that lets urine pool around the urethra. The female urethra is small which makes it easier for bacteria to travel up to the bladder quickly. Wiping your cat’s bottom frequently will help in tackling this situation effectively.

    Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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    August 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

    Cat Urinary Tract Infections Symptoms

    The urinary system is an organ system that is comprised of the kidneys, two ureters, bladder and the urethra. This system manages the production, storage and elimination of urine in a mammal. The fluid status in the body determines the rate at which the kidney will need to function and the production of urine. The urine is passed through a pair of thick-walled tubes called ureters and reaches the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ, shaped like a balloon. It stores urine.

    The end point of the urinary tract is the urethra. It emerges from the end of the penis in males and between the clitoris and vagina in females. This is the part of the urinary tract system from where urine is eliminated from the body. In common parlance, the urinary tract is understood as the tract that extends from the urethra only up to the bladder and referred to as lower urinary tract. This is so because the ureters are rarely affected due to a urinary infection. The kidneys on the other hand can be affected due to causes other than urinary infection and are covered under a medical stream called nephropathy.

    Although urine contains a variety of liquids, salts and waste products, it is normally sterile and does not have bacteria in it. When bacteria get into the bladder or kidney and multiply in the urine, they cause urinary tract infections in cats. In cats urinary infections are not as common as they are in dogs. However, the incidence of urinary infection in cats is increasing. The most common form of feline urinary tract infection is cystitis, usually known as bladder infection.

    The most prominent symptoms of urinary infection in cats include:

    Frequent urination often out of the litter pan. This should not be confused with spraying that cats indulge in to mark territory.
    Discomfort or pain during urination.
    The cat strains to urinate but is unable to empty its bladder.
    Blood in urine, normally a sign of prevalence of bladder stones or tumor or severe urinary infection.
    Cloudy or foul smelling urine.
    Sometimes increased thirst.
    Feline urinary incontinence, an inability to hold urine or involuntary urination.
    These symptoms of feline urinary infection can surface accompanied or unaccompanied with inflammation. Bladder infections are highly localized and rarely produce any symptoms of infection. This means that there is no fever and no loss of appetite. Even the blood tests do not reveal any prevalence of infection.

    The urine in the bladder is sterile but the genital area from where the urine is expelled is usually abundantly filled with pathogenic bacteria. The urinary tract gets infected when bacteria from here travel upwards and are able to defeat the natural defenses of the urinary system like the forward urine flow, the bladder lining and inhospitable urine chemicals. The female urethra is much smaller than the male organ, which makes female cats more prone to urinary infections.

    Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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    August 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

    Cat Urinary Tract Infections – What To Use

    Abnormal cat behavior is usually associated with psychological stress as cats are highly emotional creatures that react to environmental changes very quickly. At the same time odd behaviors can also result from an underlying disorder or infection. For example, if your cat suddenly develops a dislike for her litter box and urinates at odd places, more likely than not it is the first sign of an infection in the lower urinary tract.

    High frequency and difficulty in urination are the most prominent signs of feline urinary infection. The cat feels the urge but is not able to empty the bladder and is able to pass out only small amounts at a time, usually accompanied with severe pain. It perceives the litter box to be the cause of discomfort and starts avoiding it.

    Urinary tract infections can also be caused by bladder stones that obstruct the urinary passage. This leads to feline urinary incontinence problems – a situation where the bladder is full but the obstruction does not let the urine pass easily. However, the urine somehow finds its way through the obstruction and leaks out involuntarily causing incontinence.

    As an owner there are three steps that you should take to rule out urinary tract infection in cats.

    Check the cat’s urine on the floor and look for signs of crystals or blood in it.
    Try to feel the bladder through the stomach. If the bladder is full, the pet is sure to shriek or flinch with pain.
    Get the pet evaluated from a veterinarian to be doubly sure.
    There can be other reasons behind the symptoms and a complete check up will reveal all and lead to a proper mode of treatment that should be followed. Urinary infections respond very well to antibiotics. However, if there is a prevalence of bladder stones, the veterinarian may suggest dietary modifications in the diet or surgery. You have another treatment option in herbs and herbal antibiotics. Alternative medicines like homeopathy also have some very effective remedies for urinary tract infection.

    Urinary tract infection in dogs is more common than in cats. Recurrence of bladder infection and stones is also seen more prevalent in dogs than in cats. Despite this, if your cat has once been diagnosed for infection in the lower urinary tract, it is advisable to take precautions with simple home care measures.

    • Make sure you feed your cat with a diet that is not conducive to formation of bladder stones. If struvite stones are of concern, the diet should promote formation of acidic urine.
    • Provide enough clean water at all times.
    • Put more than one litter box. If you have more than one cat in the house, put one extra litter box.
    • Feed small meals more frequently.
    • Get the cat’s urine examined on a regular basis.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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      August 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

      Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

      When all diagnostic procedures like urinalysis and imaging techniques fail in confirming a diagnosis in cats with urinary problems, the condition is termed as Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This condition is also known as Feline Interstitial Cystitis. It is in fact a diagnosis by exclusion of other conditions like presence of bladder stones. The symptoms that one generally observes in such cases are inappropriate urination without any urgency and increased frequency of urination. The result of the urinalysis is usually normal and the urine is sterile with occasional traces of blood. As no cause is evident, the symptoms are normally attributed to behavioral problems due to stress. However, it should be understood that it is a medical problem that falls under the general category of non-obstructive feline urinary tract infection.

      It also needs to be understood that no medical cues are obvious in such cases. Even when some symptoms and cues surface, they are subtle in nature and evade normal observation. To identify such issues you may check the hair in the area around the abdomen. If it has been chewed it is probably an attempt to relieve the pain that the cat is experiencing. Sometimes there are verbal indications of pain when the abdomen is palpated.

      A recent hypothesis suggests that Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease is caused by alterations in the interactions between the nerve supply, the protective layer that lines the bladder and the urine. The reason behind the explanation is supported by findings that reveal that certain nerves within the bladder can be stimulated by:

      The brain in response to stress
      By local causes within the bladder like inflammation or concentrated urine.
      Irrespective of what stimulates the bladder nerves, they release certain neurotransmitters that induce local pain and neurogenic (stimulated by nerve tissue) inflammation.

      Some defects in the protective layer that lines the inner walls of the bladder could also be the cause behind Idiopathic Interstitial Cystitis. The inner walls of the bladder are lined with a mucus layer that prevents bacteria and crystals from adhering to the bladder walls. Defect in this protective layer increases porosity, which allows noxious substances in the urine to cause bladder inflammation that leads to idiopathic feline urinary infection.

      A strong similarity is seen between interstitial cystitis in humans and a cat. This has led some veterinarians to believe that the therapies used to treat this bladder disorder in humans, may also be effective for treating idiopathic urinary tract infection in cats.

      Signs of idiopathic feline lower tract urinary disease normally vanish regardless of treatment. However, these infections are prone to recur frequently. Treatment modalities are thus focused on the prevention of subsequent recurrence of symptoms. Many diets that profess formulations meant for ‘urinary health’ may be able to prevent the formation of bladder stones. However, there is no evidence that these so called special diets have ever reduced the incidence of idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson,
      PetAlive.com

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      August 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

      Cat Urinary Problems – Behavior or Medical?

      Inappropriate urinary behavior in cats is normally associated with medical disorders like feline urinary infection. However, it is also true that many times it is a behavioral problem rather than a medical one. It is only after ruling out medical causes after complete blood and urine tests that one can unequivocally state the real cause of inappropriate urinary behavior.

      What we consider as abnormal may actually be appropriate when seen from the cat’s perspective. Owners train and expect their cat to always urinate in the litter box but cats, especially feral cats, are prone to mark their territory by spraying. This could be as frequent as 6 to 10 times a day. When a cat is urinating to mark territory, it does so in a standing position with its tail in an erect position so that the urine hits a vertical surface. Some cats will do the same on carpets or beds as well but the difference is that this type of urination makes a spray (linear) pattern and does not form a pool.

      Spraying is a behavioral urinary problem. It is also important to note that sometimes cats will urinate in a normal pool forming manner on high spots or a doorway to mark territory. This typical inconsistency makes it difficult to understand whether it is driven by natural cat behavior or a medical problem.

      If there is a medical condition that is causing the problem, a cat is likely to spend more time in the litter pan without showing any substantial evidence of having actually passed any urine. Actually the cat may be straining to urinate but is probably unable to pass urine. This leads to a situation where the cat starts urinating small amounts at odd places. The straining effort is sometimes mistaken for the posture it uses for spraying to mark territory.

      In most cases, feline urinary incontinence is caused due to stones that irritate the bladder lining. Unless any one of the above behaviors is clearly evident and noticed by owners, it is very hard to figure out the exact reason behind cat urinary problems. Blood in the urine is however a clear indicator of urinary tract infection in cats.

      Prevalence of a medical condition can be confirmed with a urinalysis, complete blood count and chemistry panel. If obtaining a clean sample of urine is difficult, it is withdrawn directly from the bladder with the aid of a syringe. If the laboratory tests do not throw a clear picture, it is advisable to go for a recheck before sorting out the various behavioral causes behind cat urinary problems.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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      August 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

      Food for Feline Urinary Tract Health

      It is a great fallacy that what is good for humans is sure to be good for our pets. Nutritional requirements are determined by the evolutionary processes and are not dependent on what is convenient to pet owners.

      Most of the research that links diet to feline and canine urinary health suggests that diet can have an adverse effect on urine pH. Diet also plays an important role in determining urine volume and specific gravity. Less common medical disorders like feline urinary tract infection are now being noticed increasingly in companion cats, leading to a fair amount of frustration among cat owners. The development of this situation is now being attributed to the faulty choice of cat food.

      Cats are obligate carnivores. They have evolved in such a manner that they derive most of their requirement of fluids from the moisture content of their prey (which contain nearly 65% to 75% of water). The natural diet of a cat gives them a very small amount of carbohydrates and the main source of carbohydrates is the one that is stored in the liver and other organs of the prey. This hardly comprises any significant percentage of the total weight of the prey. However, one look at the label of some of the cat foods available in the market will reveal to you that commercial dry foods sometimes contain as much as 45% of carbohydrates.

      The three common types of cat foods available in the market are dry, moist or wet (canned). Dry foods frequently use cheap sources of calories like wheat, rice and corn to give them a semblance of a structure. Cereals are primarily a source of carbohydrates, a nutritional component that does not suit the constitution of cats. The cat liver is not very efficient at metabolizing carbohydrates and is more efficient in processing proteins and fats. Over consumption of carbohydrates often leads to storage, obesity and other clinical disorders.

      Although the absence of moisture in dry cat foods can be addressed by adding water, they can still disturb urine pH, which is one of the leading causes behind feline urinary infection. Although all brands of commercial cat foods profess that their formulations meet the necessary nutritional requirements of a cat, most of them fail to recognize that even a slight deficiency can be detrimental to overall health, especially when the commercial food is being taken on regular basis. Moreover, the preservatives that are used to increase shelf life can interfere in the metabolic process and the elimination of wastes. Free flow of urine is extremely necessary to avoid urinary infection and bladder stones.

      Commercial foods, whether dry, moist or wet are driven by motives like convenience and cost. Therefore, there is a tendency to compromise on the quality. The natural nutritional requirement of a cat can easily be met if you provide your cat with food that is as close to the original as possible. This would mean a significantly larger proportion of animal protein and fat as compared to grains and cereals. It also essential to provide enough water content in the diet to avoid urinary tract infection in cats.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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      August 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

      Cat UTI Treatments

      Lower urinary tract infections in cats may be obstructive or non-obstructive.

      Obstructive infections are caused when crystals comprised of minerals bind together. These minerals are those that are not absorbed by the digestive system. Small crystalline stones form in the urethral passage and prevent the free flow of urine. Since the urine is being produced by the kidneys it accumulates in the bladder due to the blockage. An accumulation of urine causes numerous symptoms that include feline urinary incontinence.

      The treatment of obstructive infections depends largely upon the status of the disease.

      Some types of stones are amenable to medical dissolution. In such cases, medication or special diets help in clearing the occlusion.
      Where medical dissolution is not possible, an effort is made to flush out the stone with diuretics and by increasing the intake of fluids. Antibiotics are administered for treating the accompanying UTI.
      Major obstructions may require catheterization, which involves inserting a catheter through the urethra for dislodging the stone and emptying the bladder. The catheter may be left in place for several days for better results.
      Sometimes the obstruction can be life threatening. In such cases the stones may need to be removed surgically.
      Male cats that are prone to recurrent bladder stones and the consequent blockage may require surgical enlargement of the urethra.
      Non-obstructive urinary tract infection in cats can be caused due to various reasons and the treatment modalities are also different for each.

      A small bladder can be one of the reasons for Non-obstructive urinary tract infection. Though seen in a small minority of cats, it is characterized by an urge to urinate with very little or no urine actually passing out. The treatment principles in such a case are similar to those used for obtrusive infections, albeit without the need to remove the obstruction.

      Sometimes, the cause of a urinary infection can be unknown (idiopathic). Idiopathic Interstitial Cystitis is the most common type of urinary tract infection in dogs and cats. It is generally believed that it is a reaction of the immune system that causes painful inflammatory lesions in the bladder. Cats with idiopathic UTI are normally wrongly diagnosed as having behavioral problems since the urinalysis usually does not reflect any infection. The treatment in such instances is done by increasing fluid intake. There are suggestions that antidepressants may relieve bladder inflammation and the pain associated with the condition. There is no authentic data to support this at this stage.

      The veterinary use of some other therapies approved for humans is still not fully verified and only supported by anecdotal evidence. Normally non-obstructive lower urinary tract infection in cats tends to remit and recur on its own in most of the cats regardless of medical intervention.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson,
      PetAlive.com

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      August 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

      Cat Urinary Tract Health – Maintenance

      Feline urinary infection occurs much more frequently than cat owners would like to believe. Most of the time, the condition is idiopathic in nature, meaning that the infection has no known cause. And therefore symptoms like urinating out of the litter pan are usually assigned to behavioral causes like stress.

      In fact, urinary tract infection in cats is more likely to be physiological in nature. It is part of a number of urinary problems including obstruction in the urinary passage and bladder inflammation commonly known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. It can be extremely painful to the cat as it strains to urinate but is unable to. Cat owners can be of great help if they know the reasons behind the condition and make sure that they follow some basic rules of caring for the pet.

      To understand your pet better, you must understand that there is a natural reason why cats do not consume a lot of water. The evolution factor plays an important role in how animals meet their needs for maintaining life. Cats originated in desert areas and derived most of their requirement of water from food. The prey they hunted gave them enough water to sustain life. And this is the manner in which cats developed a natural aversion to drinking water separately on their own. Lack of water intake is, therefore, one of the major reasons behind the increased incidence of feline urinary tract infection.

      While specific treatment depends upon the lab reports of urinalysis and other imaging investigations, you can try to prevent the condition by keeping the health of your cat’s urinary tract in proper condition.

      1. Water is of utmost importance
        • Mix extra water if you are feeding your cat with dry cat food.
        • You may want to add other fluids like chicken broth.
        • Keep more water bowls around the house.
        • Use bigger water bowls so that the cat’s whiskers do not touch the sides.
        • If you can, try a free flowing water drinking fountain. Cats find this attractive and curiosity may
          encourage them to drink water.
        • Wash water bowls with clean water daily./li>
        • If you are using detergents make sure there is no residue as the chemical in it can be harmful.
      2. Avoid feeding foods that have high magnesium content like pork, beef, heart and oily fish.
      3. Prefer natural foods over prescription diets. Consult your veterinarian as to what you should feed so that the urine that is produced has the correct pH level.
      4. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to water daily. Vinegar will keep the urine pH slightly acidic and prevent formation of bladder stones, which often lead to urinary infections.

      Courtesy of Tess Thompson, PetAlive.com

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      August 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment 

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