Do You Know If Your Cat Has A Feline Bladder Infection?
Has your cat ever been blindsided by a feline bladder infection? Don’t let this happen to your kitty.This article will answer your questions about cat bladder infection.
Your Cat’s Urinary Tract
The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are constantly filtering waste products out of your cat’s blood. These waste products are carried out of the kidneys into the bladder by the ureters, tubes that run between your cat’s kidneys and his bladder.
The bladder is a muscular little bag that holds the urine until it leaves the body. The urine passes out of the body through the urethra.
This system usually works with no problems, but sometimes trouble arises in the form of a bladder infection.
Cat Bladder Infection Symptoms
Under normal conditions, bacteria aren’t found in your cats bladder because it’s a sterile environment. However, if bacteria find a way in, they can cause a bladder infection in your cat.
- Symptoms of a feline bladder infection include:
- Urinating outside the litter box
- Straining to urinate or having trouble passing urine
- Crying out in pain when trying to urinate
- Bloody urine
- Drinking a lot of water
Inflammation in the bladder is what causes these symptoms, not the infection itself.It’s possible for your cat to have a bladder infection with no inflammation if he’s being given anti-inflamatory drugs like cortisone.
Be aware that if your cat can’t urinate at all, this is a blockage, which is a veterinary emergency. Get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
How Your Vet Treats Cat Bladder Infection
Your vet will probably prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection. Tests ordered may include a urinalysis to check for white blood cells and crystals in the urine, and a urine culture to identify which bacteria is causing the problem. The results of the urine culture can help determine which is the best antibiotic to use.
Tips For Preventing Cat Urinary Problems
There are several ways to prevent your cat from getting a bladder infection in the first place.
First, try to feed your cat canned food.If you feed your cat only dry food, you may be shocked to find out he’s more susceptible to bladder infection. Cats are meant to get most of their water from their food, and moisture levels are much too low in dry cat food.
Second, your cat must have access to lots of pure, clean water at all times.With all the concerns about drinking water, you’ll want to give your cat filtered water to drink.
Natural Remedies For Pets Can Prevent Cat Bladder Infection
People have been using herbal and homeopathic remedies for bladder problems for centuries.Cat owners are curious to know if these remedies will work on cats too.
The answer is yes.Find a remedy that has been produced especially for companion animals, not humans. The remedy should include the herbs uva ursi and barberry, along with the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris. These ingredients have a proven track record for treating bladder problems.
You’ll also want to find a remedy that’s safe enough to give your cat every day to prevent cat urinary problems. It needs to be easy to administer, too.Pilling a cat is challenging at best, and most people don’t want to do it every day. Be sure you purchase your remedies only from a company with a good reputation that stands behind its products.
Now it’s time for you to put these tips into action so your cat won’t suffer from feline bladder infection.