Thursday, April 9, 2009

Urinary problems of cats

By Cheryl L. True

Cats are well-known for urinary issues -- spraying, marking, urinary tract infections and urethral obstructions. These events may happen once or multiple times. It may be a singular event or related events.

Before concluding that your cat is bad or upset about something, always rule out the possibility of a medical problem. Urinary obstructions are responsible for a wide variety of behavioral signs and can be fatal in 72 hours or less if untreated, so a veterinary exam is most important.

A common question for veterinarians is what to do when a litter box-trained cat suddenly starts urinating and/or defecating outside of the litter box. Urinating outside of the box is the most common complaint. This is a question without a quick, easy answer.

Many factors have to be examined to accurately answer this question. First and foremost: is this a medical problem or a behavioral one? An examination of your cat and a lab analysis of the urine by your vet will help determine the proper course of action.

What are the signs seen with a urinary tract infection? Urinary problems are commonly seen in dogs and cats. Symptoms can range from "obviously sick" to very few signs seen, depending on the length and severity of infection. Being familiar with possible warning signs could help save your pet's life.

Another problem is FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease). This common condition was previously known as FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome). Symptoms are straining to urinate, urinating in odd (non litter box) places or bloody urine. This condition may be life-threatening so it's wise to see your veterinarian immediately before any urethral blockage occurs.

Pyelonephritis, in simple terms, means kidney infection. Urinary tract infections are classified as "upper" or "lower". An infection of the kidneys is an upper urinary tract infection; an infection of the bladder and urethra is a lower urinary tract infection.

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