What are the most common urinary problems in cats?
The most common urinary problems in cats include bladder stones, bladder or urinary blockages, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or something called feline lower urinary tract disease.
What are the signs of urinary problems in cats?
Signs of urinary problems in cats can include frequently going in the box, urinating outside of the box, blood in the urine, licking their genital area, or straining in the litter box. Sometimes they may squat, and nothing comes out, or they may even vocalize while they're in the box.
How can I tell if my cat's urinary problem is an emergency?
If your cat is posturing to urinate or going into the box and no urine is being produced, or just a tiny amount of urine is coming out, that is an emergency. It means your cat is experiencing a urinary blockage. This is an emergency because, as you can see in my picture of a cat's urinary system here, for males, if they have a mucus plug in their bladder that is trying to come out of their urethra, it commonly gets stuck at the curve here and prevents any additional urine from coming out.
For females, this does not happen because their urethra is straight. You will know your cat is experiencing an emergency if no urine is produced.
How can I prevent urinary problems in my cat?
Urinary problems in cats can be reduced by increasing water intake, whether that is using a fountain for water in your home or primarily using canned food. If your cat frequently experiences urinary issues, you can use cat urinary diets.
We commonly recommend Purina cat urinary diets, called UR, but it is prescriptive. We would definitely want to see your cat here before prescribing anything.
Can urinary problems in cats become chronic?
Cat urinary problems can become chronic. When a male cat experiences urinary obstruction once, it makes them more likely to experience it again. Maintenance, keeping low stress, and keeping them on the urinary diets we discussed can be very beneficial.
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