As with humans, bladder infections are an unpleasant matter for cats: in addition to severe pain when urinating, the disease often also results in a loss of control when going to the toilet. The animal then no longer knows when it really needs to go - and visits the litter box more often or no longer makes it there in time. The totality of the symptoms that can occur with a bladder infection is much more complex. Since quick action is required in the event of an illness, read below what bladder problems mean in cats, how you can recognize a bladder infection, where it may come from and what the treatment looks like.
Bladder problems and FLUTD: your cat’s urinary system
The urinary bladder is part of your cat's urinary system. Urine is transported from the kidneys via the ureter into the bladder, where it collects until the cat empties its bladder via the urethra when going to the toilet. If a cat suffers from a bladder infection, known in technical jargon as cystitis , it will have problems urinating. The various types of bladder infection and other diseases that arise in the area of the bladder and urethra and all manifest themselves with similar symptoms are summarized under the term FLUTD . FLUTD stands for Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease , which translated means disease of the lower urinary tract of a cat.
Typical symptoms of cystitis in cats
A particularly symptomatic symptom of cystitis in cats is a change in urination behavior . The following symptoms may indicate that your cat is suffering from a bladder infection or another form of FLUTD: Changes in urination
- severe pain, expressed by sounds such as painful meowing
- noticeably more frequent visits to the toilet
- small mishaps like droplets outside the toilet
- enormous effort when urinating, reduced urine flow (drop by drop)
- Blood in urine
- unpleasant smell of excretions
Changes in behavior and character
- increased licking in the genital and abdominal area
- Cat withdraws or reacts aggressively to advances
- Cat sleeps a lot
- hunched posture
- bowed head
- unnatural positioning of the hind legs
If the cystitis is already very advanced, it can also happen that your velvet paw no urine at all In this case, particularly quick action is required: Find immediately a veterinarian to prevent anything worse from happening and to quickly relieve the cat of its suffering.
In principle, you should contact your trusted veterinarian as soon as one or more of the symptoms mentioned above occur and you suspect that something is wrong with your pet. A bladder infection can be treated without any major problems, especially in the early stages. However, cats cannot cure the disease on their own and a Displacement can pose an immense threat to animal health and cause serious secondary diseases. Therefore, take your concerns seriously and consult a veterinarian as soon as you notice changes in your cat's urination, posture or behavior.
Potential causes of cystitis
There are many different causes behind a bladder infection in cats. Often, a combination of several factors leads to cats developing cystitis. The classic triggers can be divided into three subgroups: diet and deficiencies, previous illnesses and medications, and abnormalities in the urine.
Nutrition and deficiencies
- unbalanced diet, e.g.
- only with dry food containing magnesium
- overeating and obesity
- Lack of exercise
- Lack of fluids
Previous illnesses and medications
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperthyroidism
- Renal insufficiency
- Bacterial diseases
- Tumors and polyps
- weakened immune system, e.g. due to chronic illness
Abnormalities in urine
- Urinary stones
- especially struvite stones
- Urinary gravel
- altered pH value of urine (e.g. due to incorrect feed)
But stress can also cause cats to feel unwell and have health problems such as bladder infections. This can be triggered by, for example, a move, a new animal or human roommate, separation from the owner, even if only temporarily, or other types of changes. For sensitive cats, a change in food or a drastic change in the weather is enough to feel stress and react with physical limitations. Different types of cystitis and their treatment Depending on what is behind the disease, a distinction is made between different types of cystitis in cats: In addition to bacteria and urinary stones, inflammatory plugs can also trigger an inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract - but a clear cause is not always identifiable.
Different forms of cystitis and their treatment
Depending on what is behind the disease, a distinction is made between different types of cystitis in cats: In addition to bacteria and urinary stones, inflammatory plugs can also be the trigger for inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract - but a clear cause cannot always be identified.
Bacterial cystitis in cats
Bacterial cystitis can occur when fecal bacteria from a cat's intestines enter the urethra and then through the urethra into the bladder. If the bacteria manage to settle there and multiply, this manifests itself in the form of changes in urine output, severe pain, a strong smell, etc.
If a cat has a pre-existing condition that affects the composition of the urine, such as diabetes or chronic renal failure , the risk of developing a bacterial infection of the bladder is particularly high. Diabetes mellitus, for example, causes an increased sugar concentration in the cat's urine. This allows invading bacteria to multiply more quickly - they practically feel at home. But viruses and fungi can also cause bacterial cystitis.
Cats are generally more susceptible to the bacterial form of cystitis than tomcats. There are anatomical reasons for this: the distance between the urethral opening and the anus is smaller in female animals, so potential bacteria have a shorter path to travel.
Cystitis with urinary stones
The most common cause of cystitis in cats is urinary stones. unbalanced diet , water shortage , lack of exercise, a urinary tract infection, bacteria or predisposition The pH value of the urine changes. Salt and mineral deposits initially form small urinary crystals. Over time, the individual crystals combine to form urinary grit and later urinary stones. A distinction is generally made between Struvite stones and calcium oxalate stones . While struvite stones indicate an increased intake of magnesium, phosphorus and protein as well as an increased pH value of the urine, oxalate stones are caused by a high calcium and vitamin D content in the feed in over-acidic urine.
Crystals, urinary stones, etc. cause irritation in the bladder - the result is the typical symptoms of FLUTD. However, if the stones get into the urethra because they are flushed out of the bladder when urinating, a blockage of the urinary tract can occur within a very short time, which is life-threatening for the cat. Tomcats are considered to be particularly at risk here , as the urethra is much narrower in males than in females. In addition to urinary stones, inflammatory plugs can also block the urethra.
Idiopathic cystitis
If neither bacteria nor bladder stones are to blame for the cystitis, it is called idiopathic cystitis. In this case, stress is often the underlying cause. Instead of medication, your cat needs care and affection after such a diagnosis. Try to identify and eliminate the stress factors.
Diagnosing and treating cystitis in cats
As soon as you notice symptoms in your pet that make you suspect FLUTD, you should immediately consult a vet . If a bladder infection is left untreated, the condition of your four-legged friend can quickly worsen: If the cause is bacterial, for example, it can lead to extremely painful pyelonephritis. Urinary stones can block the urethra, causing urinary retention, which is not only extremely unpleasant, but can even be life-threatening.
Antibiotic for bacterial inflammation
If it is bacterial cystitis , the vet can easily determine this using a urine sample . The test shows whether and, if so, what type of bacteria are present. Depending on the findings, treatment with antibiotics is usually then carried out - depending on the intensity of the pain, a medication to relieve the pain may also be prescribed. If pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure are identified, a change to a special diet can help to adjust the nutrient supply to the cat's needs.
Feed change for struvite stones
Urinary crystals, urinary grit and bladder stones as well as inflammatory plugs can be detected using ultrasound or X-ray images . If the deposits are too large to be expelled naturally with urine, surgery may be necessary. After the urinary stones have been removed, the main thing for you as the owner is prophylaxis. Changing the food is often the first step towards long-term improvement in the case of struvite stones. With a reduced magnesium content, KATTOVIT Urinary cat food is ideal for furry friends with a history of urinary stones. While DL-methionine and calcium sulfate slightly reduce the pH value of the urine to restore the acid-base balance, the minerals and vitamins it contains provide your house cat with everything a cat's heart desires - taste experience included.
Love and care as a miracle cure
In addition to the measures that the veterinarian initiates, a sick cat needs one thing above all else: to feel good. A hygienic litter box or even several litter boxes, lots of petting, warmth, plenty of drinking and a cozy place to retreat to increase the feel-good factor and hopefully also have a positive effect on the cat's health.
