The 5 Signs of a Urinary Tract Disease in Cats
Almost all urinary tract diseases in cats are associated with irregularities in urination behavior.
For this reason cats who suddenly fail to follow their normal litter box routines should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
One caveat to this generally premise is failure to keep their litter boxes clean.
Dirty litter boxes are not appealing to most cats and they will tend to do their business elsewhere.
Now to the 5 common signs of a urinary tract disease in cats; they are: Urinating Like Crazy (polyuria) - Frequent urination of normal amounts of urine is often a sign of kidney disease.
A cat compensates for a high urine output by drinking large amounts of water (polydipsia).
You may notice the increased drinking first.
Diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism are among the other causes of excessive thirst and urination.
No urination (anuria) - This refers to a cat that is unable to produce any urine.
If a cat cannot urinate, deadly toxins will increase in their system.
This could be the result of a urinary blockage (commonly caused by kidney stones) or severe kidney failure.
Pain During Urination (dysuria) - This is characterized by discomfort during urination with long-drawn-out periods of squatting and straining; failure to pass urine after many tries; and passage of mucus, blood clots, or bloody urine.
The cat may spend an unusual amount of time licking at the urogenital area.
Pain and swelling within the lower abdomen suggest an overdistended bladder.
Cats will sometimes urinate in curious locations, rejecting the litter box.
Bathtubs, sinks and shoes are common targets of their urine misdirection.
Blood in the Urine (hematuria) - When accompanied by painful urination, blood in the first urine flow indicates a problem in the urethra or bladder.
Uniformly bloody urine without pain suggests kidney disease.
Inability to Control Urination (urinary incontinence) - This is characterized by loss of control over the process or eliminating urine or by inappropriate urination - often the result of neurological disease or old age.
The cat may void frequently, and/or dribble and urinate in unusual places.
Because of overlapping symptoms and the possibility of more than one problem at a time, it is difficult to make an exact diagnosis based on the symptoms alone.
Physical urinary incontinence should be distinguished from behavioral urination elimination problems.
Your veterinarian or even cat behaviorists are good choices for confirming this possibility.
What should be the next course of action? A trip to your local veterinarian should be your first step.
Once the cause has been determined your vet will suggest the proper course of action.
You should ask your vet whether a homeopathic natural remedy might be an effective alternative treatment.
The most effective homeopathic formulas contain cantharis and uva ursi.
Cantharis maintains a healthy urine flow and soothes the bladder while uva ursi maintains normal pH levels of the urinary tract and is known as a urinary tonic.
For this reason cats who suddenly fail to follow their normal litter box routines should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
One caveat to this generally premise is failure to keep their litter boxes clean.
Dirty litter boxes are not appealing to most cats and they will tend to do their business elsewhere.
Now to the 5 common signs of a urinary tract disease in cats; they are: Urinating Like Crazy (polyuria) - Frequent urination of normal amounts of urine is often a sign of kidney disease.
A cat compensates for a high urine output by drinking large amounts of water (polydipsia).
You may notice the increased drinking first.
Diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism are among the other causes of excessive thirst and urination.
No urination (anuria) - This refers to a cat that is unable to produce any urine.
If a cat cannot urinate, deadly toxins will increase in their system.
This could be the result of a urinary blockage (commonly caused by kidney stones) or severe kidney failure.
Pain During Urination (dysuria) - This is characterized by discomfort during urination with long-drawn-out periods of squatting and straining; failure to pass urine after many tries; and passage of mucus, blood clots, or bloody urine.
The cat may spend an unusual amount of time licking at the urogenital area.
Pain and swelling within the lower abdomen suggest an overdistended bladder.
Cats will sometimes urinate in curious locations, rejecting the litter box.
Bathtubs, sinks and shoes are common targets of their urine misdirection.
Blood in the Urine (hematuria) - When accompanied by painful urination, blood in the first urine flow indicates a problem in the urethra or bladder.
Uniformly bloody urine without pain suggests kidney disease.
Inability to Control Urination (urinary incontinence) - This is characterized by loss of control over the process or eliminating urine or by inappropriate urination - often the result of neurological disease or old age.
The cat may void frequently, and/or dribble and urinate in unusual places.
Because of overlapping symptoms and the possibility of more than one problem at a time, it is difficult to make an exact diagnosis based on the symptoms alone.
Physical urinary incontinence should be distinguished from behavioral urination elimination problems.
Your veterinarian or even cat behaviorists are good choices for confirming this possibility.
What should be the next course of action? A trip to your local veterinarian should be your first step.
Once the cause has been determined your vet will suggest the proper course of action.
You should ask your vet whether a homeopathic natural remedy might be an effective alternative treatment.
The most effective homeopathic formulas contain cantharis and uva ursi.
Cantharis maintains a healthy urine flow and soothes the bladder while uva ursi maintains normal pH levels of the urinary tract and is known as a urinary tonic.
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