What are the most common urinary problems in cats?
Urinary problems in cats are something we see quite frequently. It's very rare to see a urinary tract infection caused by bacteria in younger cats. We can see those in older cats over the age of around 10. But in anything young, 3, 4, or 5, very rarely do we see bacteria. Typically, we see feline lower urinary tract issues simply due to inflammation, feline cystitis, which is inflammation of the bladder without an active infection.
We also see crystals in the urine, and sometimes we can see bladder stones that come from the pH of the urine being too high, allowing ammonia to form. It saturates out of the urine to form these crystals, which eventually form stones.
What causes urinary problems in cats?
A lot of times, we don't know. Stress can be one. Cats are very easily stressed, but don't show outward signs. One of the things that can be a result of stress is frequent urinary issues. They might have blood in their urine without an infection, which is cystitis, or they might have feline lower urinary tract disease, which is inflammation of the bladder, crystals, stones, and mucus produced by the bladder. A lot of times, for reasons we don't know, stress can play a role.
Are certain breeds or ages more prone to urinary issues?
I would say no. I see it across all breeds of cats, all ages of cats. We can see more issues in males than females simply because male cats have a very small urethra compared to female cats, which are a little bit wider. If a cat is going to block where they can't urinate, it's going to be a boy cat over a girl cat 90% of the time.
Boy cats will block when they get mucus, a stone, a plug of crystals, or a blockage in their tiny urethra. It doesn't take much at all. That's why it's very important to monitor your pet's urination habits and make sure they're going to the bathroom regularly, not going overly frequently with nothing coming out.
What are some signs of urination problems in cats?
Cats straining to urinate where they go to the litter box, posturing and pushing with nothing coming out, or there might be little drips but not a full stream. It's important that they have a full stream when they pee. They can go to the litter box many times, and these mechanical litter boxes, like the Litter-Robot, are very popular. They have sensors and motions to detect when your pet goes in. It also has a scale, so it can detect which pet is in there. If they're relatively close to the same weight, like one's 2.3 pounds and one's 2.4, it may not detect it. If you have a 10-pound cat and a 15-pound cat, it can detect that. You can monitor on your phone who's going in and out of the litter box more. You might see blood in the urine, see them avoiding the litter box and peeing elsewhere in the house, or notice excessive grooming or licking in the genital area.
How can I tell if my cat's urinary problem is an emergency?
If they have not peed in 24 hours, they need to see a veterinarian. Period. End of sentence. Seek care right away.
How does a veterinarian diagnose urinary problems in cats?
During a physical exam, we can determine how full the bladder is. If the bladder is very full, very hard, and very painful, we know we have an emergency with a blockage. We will collect a urine sample and try to decompress the bladder, pulling some urine out for their comfort and to help their bladder.
We will also run blood work to see how their electrolytes and kidneys are handling it because a blockage can throw their electrolytes off and cause acute kidney failure if they can't pee. We also look at the urine under the microscope to see if we have bacteria, red cells, white cells, and any crystals.
How are urinary blockages treated in cats?
Typically, in cats, once their blood work is done and it's safe to anesthetize them, we will sedate them and pass a catheter up the urethra to push the blockage back into the bladder. It's a case-by-case situation. Sometimes they stay in the hospital for a couple of days if their kidneys are abnormal, they're dehydrated, or they don't feel well. Sometimes it's 12 to 24 hours if they're doing well and it was a simple blockage.
If your cat's potassium is elevated, we will not do surgery right away. We will not decompress or catheterize the bladder immediately. If your pet's potassium is elevated, we have to get it down before we sedate your pet, or it will cause an arrhythmia in the heart, which could be fatal. In some cases, your pet may need to be transferred to another location, or passing a catheter will be delayed until we can stabilize your pet.
Can stress impact my pet's urinary health?
Absolutely. Stress can. Cats are very sensitive creatures. We often see many urinary issues after the holidays because people have had guests over, gone to boarding, or brought new pets into the house. If you get a new pet, another cat or another dog, it can be stressful for your cat. Cats are very sensitive. You just have to watch them and make sure they're doing well. If we have pets that are recurrently blocking due to stressful situations, we might recommend an anti-anxiety medicine like Prozac.
Can urinary problems become chronic in cats?
Yes, they can. That's where prescription urinary food, like medicine in a bag, can help treat your pet if they stay specifically on that diet and don't eat anything else. It can help with chronic urinary problems and prevent frequent visits. There are over-the-counter versions and prescription versions. The over-the-counter versions are rarely enough to control chronic cystitis or cystitis in cats.
Typically, you have to go to the prescription variety. It's urinary so by Royal Canin, CD multi by Hill's Science Diet, or UR by Purina. They come in dry and canned, and cats can be picky. With canned, they come in a pate variety or with chunks and sauce, in different flavors. There are many out there for your pets to try. Those three companies will have a guarantee with their food. If your pet won't eat it, we have to change it for some reason, you can bring it back to us if you purchased it from us. If you purchased it elsewhere, you’d have to contact them about their policy.
What are the best ways to monitor your cat's urinary health over time?
The best way is to get one of the litter boxes that monitors when pets go in and out. Some can be quite expensive, but there are inexpensive options on Amazon. Also, clean your litter box daily.
Are there specific litter types that help identify urinary issues early?
There are some litters out there that can turn colors. I'm not very familiar with them. I think paying attention to your pet's activity in the home and cleaning the litter box daily to every other day is just as good as using these fancy litters that might change color.
Can a urinary infection resolve on its own, or does it always need treatment?
If it's a true infection with bacteria, no, it needs antibiotics. It will not go away. If it's inflammatory, possibly it could go away if we get whatever is causing the inflammation or stress down. But a lot of times, those pets will need anti-inflammatory medication to help with that.
If my cat has recurring urinary problems, what should I do?
Talk to your veterinarian. If it's a boy cat that's constantly blocking despite trying dietary changes, there's a surgery that can help reduce the chances of blockage. If it's recurrent, talk to your veterinarian about diets and anxiety medicines like Prozac. There are many options out there.
Male cats are more likely to experience a blockage because they have a very tiny short urethra that doesn't take much to block. Tiny sand particles easily block their urethra. Feline idiopathic cystitis or FIC is an inflammation of the bladder without an infection present. I've already talked about this, and it's managed a lot of times through diet with the prescription urinary diets or sometimes with anti-anxiety medications.
When should I take my cat to the vet for urinary problems?
If you see them going more frequently in and out of the litter box for more than 24 hours, see blood in the urine, or if they have not urinated at all in 24 hours, please give us a call.
You’re never alone in caring for your pet’s health. At Catawba Heights Animal Hospital, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Call (704) 827-0616 or email [email protected] to connect with us today.