Emma Jones
Is your cat constantly trying to urinate, but almost nothing comes out? Often there is an inflammation of the urinary bladder or a bladder stone behind this symptom. Now a visit to the vet is called for, who can usually help your velvet paw to get rid of this unpleasant disease quickly. If left untreated, the infection and/or obstruction of the urethra can be life-threatening for your animal.
How do cats get bladder infections?
The causes of a bladder infection, also called cystitis, differ in cats and humans. If you feel the familiar burning sensation when you go to the toilet, bacteria that have penetrated the urethra and bladder usually play an important role.
Bacteria are less likely to be the trigger in cats. These animals often get a urinary tract infection when the salts dissolved in the urine form crystals and clump together into fine granules or larger stones. Urinary gravel and stones injure the mucous membranes in the bladder with their sharp edges, so that inflammation can develop and bacteria can settle in.
Most commonly, crystals in the urine form when a cat:
- drinks too little
- gets a feed rich in minerals
- not moving enough
- is constantly stressed
- has a metabolic disease such as diabetes mellitus
Older age and being overweight can also promote cystitis caused by pebbles.
Causes of non-infectious cystitis:
- Malformations of the urinary tract
- Tumor in the bladder or urethra
- bladder stones
- Urinary concretions, i.e. crystalline deposits of the urinary tract
Non-infectious bladder infections in cats are rare. These are usually caused by bladder stones that irritate the mucous membrane of the bladder and lead to inflammation. When dogs’ immune systems are compromised due to another underlying condition, such as diabetes mellitus, there is a chance for naturally occurring bacteria in the urinary tract to multiply and result in cystitis. Typical symptoms of cystitis are increased urination, an unpleasant odor in the urine, or blood in the urine.
Bladder infection in your cat: You can observe these symptoms
You can recognize urinary tract infections in house cats if your cat:
- visits the litter box more often than usual
- only passes small and tiny amounts of urine, even though she is pushing hard
- meowing or writhing when urinating from pain
- suddenly becomes unclean and urinates
- frequently cleans themselves in the genital area
If you look closely at your cat’s urine, you may notice reddish or brownish discoloration and/or a stronger odor than usual. If you are fundamentally unsure whether it is a bladder infection, the only solution is to go to the vet. You can save your house tiger the stressful visit to the local doctor if you use the online vet team at Dr. go to feeding bowl. The experienced veterinarians will clarify possible causes with you and give you recommendations for further treatment – quickly and easily.
What can you do if your cat has a bladder infection?
If you look closely at your cat’s urine, you may notice reddish or brownish discoloration and/or a stronger odor than usual.
The veterinarian will first examine your cat thoroughly and then check the urine. He can then order further measures to check the function of the urinary tract and kidneys and to rule out malformations in these organs. Cats naturally have a narrow urethra. Using imaging tests such as an ultrasound or X-ray, the vet can determine if your cat’s urethra is blocked by a crystal or stone.
If the diagnosis of acute cystitis has been confirmed, the sick velvet paw receives various medications. This usually includes:
- Antibiotics to fight the inflammation
- Painkillers to improve general sensation and reduce swelling in inflamed tissue
- antispasmodic medication to reduce the urge to urinate
As a rule, the symptoms improve within a few days with such treatment. You can support the healing process by offering your velvet paw a warm, quiet place to sleep.
Drinking a lot also helps the kitty flush the pathogens and urine deposits out of the bladder. It is best to enrich the drinking water with a little chicken broth or lactose-free cat milk to arouse their interest in the liquid.
In addition, make sure that the litter box is as dry and clean as possible by cleaning it several times a day. In this way, you prevent the excreted germs from multiplying there.