Cats can contract a urinary infection much more frequently than their owners would like to imagine. Most often, vets will conclude that the condition is idiopathic in nature, which is simply another way of saying they have no idea what might have caused it. As a result, a common symptom of a cat's urinary tract infection, such as urinating outside the litter box, is generally (and erroneously) assigned to behavioral causes, like stress.
The reality is that a cat's urinary tract infection is more likely to be physiological rather than behavioral. The condition is one of a number of urinary problems, which can include obstruction in the urinary passage as well as bladder inflammation, more commonly known as FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease).
Your cat's urinary infection is as unpleasant and distressing to them as it would be to you. Like with humans, it is marked by a need to urinate, but no amount of straining to do so helps. If you learn the causes of the condition, and to follow simple rules of care, you can help ease your kitty's discomfort.
As a cat owner, you've probably noticed that your kitty usually does not spend a lot of time at the water bowl. This infrequent consumption of water is natural behavior for cats. They originated in arid, desert areas, and over time and through evolutionary changes learned to derive the necessary liquids to sustaining life from their food. The animals they preyed upon provided most of the fluids cats needed to maintain good health. There was little need to drink water from a separate source, and that instinct is still in operation today. Unfortunately, this reluctance to take in water is a major factor in the increased prevalence of cat's urinary infections.
A specific treatment of your cat's urinary infection will be made by your vet, based upon the results of a urinalysis, among other things. But you can help keep your cat from getting a UTI to begin with, saving the cost of a vet visit, by using an ounce of prevention.
1. water is the most important thing.
Be sure to wash your kitty's water bowl daily, using only clean, hot water. If using soap, be aware that it might contain harmful chemicals, so make certain to rinse the bowl completely to eliminate any residue.
If your cat eats a lot of dry food, try moistening it by adding a little bit of water. To really pique their interest, try adding chicken broth.
Give your cat plenty of opportunity to drink water. Place a number of bowls around the house, making them easy to find. Use bowls that are large enough that kitty can drink from them without her whiskers touching the sides.
Cats dig moving water, so consider buying a free flowing water drinking fountain. The fun interaction may encourage them to drink more often.
2. Do not serve your cat food that is high in magnesium; i.e., oily fish, heart, pork, or beef.
3. Select foods that are natural, rather than prescription diets. Buy organic when possible. consult your vet to be certain the food you give your cat will create the proper pH level in their urine.
4. Putting a tablespoon of vinegar in your cat's water once per day keeps the pH in the urine slightly acidic. This helps in preventing bladder stones, which are a common cause of cat's urinary infections.
When you follow these basic rules of health maintenance, you have done a great deal to ensure your cat lives a long, happy, and healthy life, untroubled by feline urinary tract infections.
The reality is that a cat's urinary tract infection is more likely to be physiological rather than behavioral. The condition is one of a number of urinary problems, which can include obstruction in the urinary passage as well as bladder inflammation, more commonly known as FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease).
Your cat's urinary infection is as unpleasant and distressing to them as it would be to you. Like with humans, it is marked by a need to urinate, but no amount of straining to do so helps. If you learn the causes of the condition, and to follow simple rules of care, you can help ease your kitty's discomfort.
As a cat owner, you've probably noticed that your kitty usually does not spend a lot of time at the water bowl. This infrequent consumption of water is natural behavior for cats. They originated in arid, desert areas, and over time and through evolutionary changes learned to derive the necessary liquids to sustaining life from their food. The animals they preyed upon provided most of the fluids cats needed to maintain good health. There was little need to drink water from a separate source, and that instinct is still in operation today. Unfortunately, this reluctance to take in water is a major factor in the increased prevalence of cat's urinary infections.
A specific treatment of your cat's urinary infection will be made by your vet, based upon the results of a urinalysis, among other things. But you can help keep your cat from getting a UTI to begin with, saving the cost of a vet visit, by using an ounce of prevention.
1. water is the most important thing.
Be sure to wash your kitty's water bowl daily, using only clean, hot water. If using soap, be aware that it might contain harmful chemicals, so make certain to rinse the bowl completely to eliminate any residue.
If your cat eats a lot of dry food, try moistening it by adding a little bit of water. To really pique their interest, try adding chicken broth.
Give your cat plenty of opportunity to drink water. Place a number of bowls around the house, making them easy to find. Use bowls that are large enough that kitty can drink from them without her whiskers touching the sides.
Cats dig moving water, so consider buying a free flowing water drinking fountain. The fun interaction may encourage them to drink more often.
2. Do not serve your cat food that is high in magnesium; i.e., oily fish, heart, pork, or beef.
3. Select foods that are natural, rather than prescription diets. Buy organic when possible. consult your vet to be certain the food you give your cat will create the proper pH level in their urine.
4. Putting a tablespoon of vinegar in your cat's water once per day keeps the pH in the urine slightly acidic. This helps in preventing bladder stones, which are a common cause of cat's urinary infections.
When you follow these basic rules of health maintenance, you have done a great deal to ensure your cat lives a long, happy, and healthy life, untroubled by feline urinary tract infections.
About the Author:
Author Susan Livingstone loves felines. When her felines get a urinary infection, everything stops until they get the relief they need. She wants to show you what works for her, because you love your kitty too. Make their litter box a happy place.Cat Urinary is where to start.
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