I Gotta Pee…
As far too many cat parents know, urinary tract disease in cats is something that occurs fairly often. Typical signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) include blood in the urine, straining or inability to urinate or urinating in unusual/undesirable locations. Your kitty may experience these signs when inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) occurs.
The most dangerous complication of FLUTD is urinary obstruction, which occurs mainly in male cats. A small plug of mucus, urinary crystals, or even tiny stones can cause an obstruction leading to a partial or complete inability to urinate. Cats that experience this problem often spend a lot of time in the litter box straining, which many owners may confuse with constipation. It is safest to take a cat that is straining to the vet for evaluation. When urinary obstruction occurs, it is a true emergency, as toxins will build up and lead to kidney damage or even death. With prompt veterinary attention, these cats can literally be pulled back from the brink of death to go on and lead happy lives.
Treating FLUTD can be challenging as there are many things that can cause FLUTD including urinary tract infection, bladder stones, bladder cancer, and bladder trauma. Finding the cause is not always simple. Older cats may have underlying disease that has led to infection or stone formation, but in young cats often no cause is found, even with extensive testing. You might be surprised to learn that when signs of FLUTD are present in young cats, only around 5% of them are actually found to have a urinary tract infection. When a cause is identified, your veterinarian can prescribe a specific treatment. When no cause is found, there are many interventions that may help. Encouraging fluid intake is always an important component of treating urinary tract disease. Adding water to the food, feeding canned foods, and supplying a drinking fountain are all helpful in getting a cat to drink more water. Providing a mentally stimulating environment to help relieve anxiety can be very helpful in addressing this problem as well. Contributed by Sue Delaney, D.V.M