Urinary Tract Infections in Cats
When your cat catches a urinary tract infection, usually the lower urinary tract is affected. If the bladder and urethra are problematic, symptoms such as frequent trips to the toilet, discolored urine, and frequent grooming appear. Here you will learn about the types of urinary tract diseases, how they are treated, and whether there are home remedies for them.
Most Common Urinary Tract Diseases & Symptoms
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)
FLUTD affects the lower urinary tract of cats and is summarized under one term, as it is a complex of diseases with various causes and risk factors. Approximately 1% of cats suffer from FLUTD. The reasons for FLUTD are diverse, with stress often being a contributing factor.
If urinary stones or sand made of struvite or calcium oxalate form, they can block the urethra or bladder outlet, preventing urine from passing through properly. This is due to an imbalance of salts that are normally excreted easily. Small stones and crystalline bodies can still pass through the urethra. However, if there is too little fluid to dissolve the salts, larger stones accumulate and can lead to a complete blockage in severe cases. The stones formed are called urinary stones (urolithiasis).
If urinary stones or bacteria are present in the bladder and cause pain in the bladder wall, it is referred to as a bladder inflammation (cystitis). In most cases, FLUTD occurs in the form of a bladder inflammation without blockage of the urinary tract.
Symptoms of FLUTD include:
- frequent urination
- long trips to the toilet
- visible pain during urination, indicated by meowing
- increased grooming, especially in the genital area
- frequent scratching in the litter box
- bloody or heavily colored urine
- sensitivity to touch
- urinating outside the litter box
- straining to urinate, which is sometimes confused with constipation
Diseases of the Upper Urinary Tract in Cats: Kidney Stones
In addition to the lower urinary tract, the upper urinary tract in cats can also become diseased. When the ureters become blocked, it is usually due to kidney stones. Composed of calcium and oxalate, the stones are often discovered by chance, as many cats show no symptoms. If the stones do not move, they cause no problems, and cats are simply monitored. If the mood changes and the stones move into the ureters, treatment is initiated. If action is taken too late and the stones block the upper urinary tract, it can lead to acute kidney failure because waste products can no longer be excreted.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Erkrankungen der oberen Harnwege sind komplex und eine Behandlung dauert mitunter länger.
Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Cats: Surgery or Medication?
If you suspect urinary stones, a bladder inflammation, or kidney stones, you should seek veterinary advice immediately. If there is a blockage of the urethra and urine retention, it can have serious consequences for your cat. During diagnosis, the urinary stones are examined more closely and it is determined what material they are made of. Struvite stones, for example, can be prevented through diet. If a blockage is already present, the veterinarian will place a catheter under sedation or anesthesia to ensure urine flow and maintain kidney function.
If the upper urinary tract is affected, often a major procedure is necessary, as the access points are complex. Flushes and medications have partial success - if that fails, surgery becomes necessary. In just less than half of all cases, however, the kidney and ureter stones return after about a year.
As a means of choice, a medication or surgery is followed by a suitable special food to prevent urinary or bladder stones in the future.
Treating Urinary Tract Infections with Homeopathy?
With the use of homeopathic remedies, unlike classical medications, no exact effect can be predicted, and there is no evidence of actual effectiveness. What is relied upon are the experiences of other pet owners, which veterinarians can refer to.
Homeopathy can be used as a supportive measure to alleviate symptoms. Supportive means that these remedies are not prescribed as the sole therapy but rather alongside medications. The homeopathic remedies Belladonna and Cantharis can help in the first case to reduce bloody urine and in the second case to reduce the number of trips to the toilet. It is important to know that a urinary tract infection in cats should never be treated on your own. Home remedies or homeopathic remedies do not replace a visit to a veterinary practice nor do they compete in their effectiveness with medications - they merely accompany the alleviation of symptoms.
Homöopathie als natürliche Kraft bei Harnwegsinfektionen? Bei einigen Erkrankungen werden diese Mittel zur Unterstützung eingesetzt, eine direkte Wirkung ist jedoch nicht bestätigt.
Preventing Urinary Tract Infections: Housing, Nutrition, and Water Intake
In addition to nutrition, there are several factors in housing to consider in order to prevent common diseases like FLUTD. If cats suffer from stress, urinary tract infections often recur, creating a kind of cycle. The goal here is to reduce stress and ensure a cat-friendly environment where your furry friend has places to retreat, a relaxed atmosphere, and sufficient opportunities for activity. Stress factors for cats include multi-cat households with conflicts, moving, new pets or humans in the household, and unclean litter boxes. Even if you yourself suffer from stress, you can transfer this to your cat.
When it comes to your cat's water balance, adequate fluid intake is important for the solution of salts. Cats that drink little are at a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections. To →increase fluid intake, one option is the feeding of wet food, and another is to set up water fountains. Cats prefer to drink
- from flowing water
- not where they eat.
A fountain placed far from the food provides good conditions for water intake.
Our wet food range shines with various consistencies and supports in a delicious way to balance your cat's water intake. We avoid grains and sugars as well as artificial colors and flavorings in every case. Natural, tasty, and species-appropriate.
Entdecke jetzt unsere Nassfutter-Konsistenzen!
In terms of nutrition, affected cats can be supported and healthy cats can be prevented. Dry food contains less moisture and cats that only receive such food have, under certain conditions, a less favorable fluid balance than cats fed wet food. Dry food is ideal for →dental cleaning and for snacking in between, but with pure feeding it can favor stone formation due to lower water intake.
Eine gesunde Ernährung ist das A&O - ob bereits erkrankte oder gesunde Katze: Die Flüssigkeitszufuhr und Zusammensetzung des Futters ist wichtig.
If the urinary stones are struvite stones, they can be prevented with a special food. →The Pets Deli VET Anti-Struvit Wet Food is suitable as a supportive measure in the treatment of urinary stones. The special formula is characterized by a reduced content of stone-forming substances - meaning less protein, magnesium & phosphorus. The special amino acid DL-Methionine supports the very important acidification of the urine. The selected addition of fenugreek can stimulate urine excretion. Has your furry friend had kidney problems in the past? →The Pets Deli VET Liver and Kidney Fit comes with reduced phosphorus and protein content, which is important for the affected organ.
Our wet food range shines with various consistencies and supports in a delicious way to balance your cat's water intake. We avoid grains and sugars as well as artificial colors and flavorings in every case. Natural, tasty, and species-appropriate.
