What are the symptoms of a bladder infection in a cat?
Besides frequent urination, other symptoms of a bladder infection include cloudy or foul-smelling urine, blood in the urine, urinating outside the litter box, painful urination and excessive licking around the genital area. Bladder infections are painful; they require veterinary treatment.
What are the most common urinary tract problems in cats?
Stones, crystals or debris accumulation in the bladder or urethra. Urethral plug (accumulation of debris from urine) Bladder inflammation or infection. Incontinence from excessive water drinking or weak bladder. Injury to, or tumor in, the urinary tract. Stress. Spinal cord problems. Congenital abnormality.
What causes a male cat’s urethra to be blocked?
A male cat’s urethra can also become blocked by small urinary stones or by urethral plugs: a mixture of cells that are used to line the bladder, mucus and crystals formed from minerals in the urine.
When to call the vet for a cat urinary tract infection?
An obstruction of the urethra is a medical emergency and you should call your vet right away. Occasionally, the inside of a cat’s lower urinary tract will get irritated without an infection or stones being present. Sometimes it can be a symptom of stress or a reaction to a change in diet.
Can a male cat get an urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection in a female cat may seem like a minor issue, though annoying and needing treatment. But in male cats, a urinary tract problem can easily become life-threatening due to the narrowness of their urethra, which can easily become blocked.
How does a UTI affect a cat’s bladder?
A UTI affects the cat’s urinary (peeing) system. This includes the bladder (organ that holds pee) and urethra (tube that pee comes out of). This bacterial infection can lead to symptoms like: A UTI develops when bacteria enter the urinary tract, pass through the urethra, and reach the bladder.
When to take your cat to the vet for an urinary problem?
Urine may contain blood and your cat may be vomiting. Urinary Tract Infection or there is something blocking the urinary tract such as a bladder stone. If your cat is acting normally (behavior, appetite) then see a veterinarian. If male cat and behavior is not normal then seek emergency care to check for blockage. Injury to the bladder.
What does it mean when a male cat has an urinary blockage?
Urinary blockage is a painful and life-threatening condition that typically affects male cats. If your male cat has urinary blockage, it means their urethra — the tube that drains urine from the bladder to the penis and out of the body — is blocked by inflammatory material.
Major signs of feline lower urinary tract disease include:
- Straining to urinate.
- Urinating small amounts.
- Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate.
- Crying out while urinating.
- Excessive licking of the genital area.
- Urinating outside the litter box.
- Blood in the urine.
When does a cat have an urinary tract infection?
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Cats get UTIs when there is a bacterial infection in their bladder or urethra. Your vet will need a urine sample to diagnose this condition.
What to do if your cat has a bladder infection?
One key to treating FLUTD is to determine the root cause, which may include bladder stones, urinary tract blockage, infection or cancer. If the cause of these symptoms cannot be determined, the cat is considered to have bladder inflammation (cystitis).
Why does my cat have a sore bladder?
When your cat’s bladder is inflamed or infected, she has cystitis, one of the conditions of feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD. It’s often hard to pin down the cause of cystitis in a cat, though sometimes bacteria around her bottom may move into her urethra and travel to her bladder, causing infection.
Do you have to take your cat to the vet for a UTI?
Answer: They sure can be. Just as it happens in humans, UTI’s can burn and be painful. Cats as other animals, tend to use their tongues to try to alleviate any pain. They may think there’s something down there irritating. Please have your cat see the vet. And bring a urine sample if you can.
When to take your cat to the vet for a bladder infection?
These infections are often also referred to as cystitis or urinary tract infections (UTI). If you see signs of an infection in your cat, then you must get to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for bladder infections in cats.
Can a cat have an urinary tract infection?
Common signs of a cat with a urinary tract infection are: A urinary tract infection in a female cat may seem like a minor issue, though annoying and needing treatment. But in male cats, a urinary tract problem can easily become life-threatening due to the narrowness of their urethra, which can easily become blocked.
Is it difficult to diagnose bladder problems in cats?
Problems in the urinary system are difficult to miss in felines, but these issues can be difficult to diagnose and manage due to the complicated causes that may be present.
Can a cat with a bladder stone have a UTI?
Cats who have bladder stones are prone to recurrent UTIs, pointing out the importance of getting a complete diagnosis whenever there are signs of disease in the urinary tract. Bladder stones must be removed or dissolved in order to restore bladder health (see handout “Bladder Stones in Cats” for further information).