Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat shows signs of a urinary condition. After a physical exam, a urinalysis is completed to find the origin of the condition. An abdomen X-ray or ultrasound can also confirm presence of stones or crystals. A urine culture may also be recommended to find out if there is an infection and what would be the best treatment.
Once the diagnosis is done, your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate treatment. A urinary infection can be treated with the proper antibiotics, depending on the test results.
If there are stones or crystals, they can be dealt with using a veterinary diet that will have a mineral content and ingredients to promote the dissolution of crystals and stones. Others may have to be removed surgically.
Your veterinary team will also work with you to identify possible sources of stress in your cat. Anxious cats can benefit from a diet designed for anxiety problems. They can also be prescribed with calming medicine or drugs that will reduce the risks of idiopathic cystitis recurrences.
In other cases, we will reduce bladder inflammation by using anti-inflammatory medicines designed for cats, and we will help with pain management. Some diets with a specific amount of omega fatty acids may be recommended to help manage bladder inflammation.
If your cat is completely blocked, we will work fast. The animal will be hospitalized and we will unblock the urinary tract by flushing the urethra with a urinary catheter.
Back at home, we need to encourage cats with urinary conditions to drink more water. Also, wet food specially formulated to help with these conditions is important. It is also crucial that the cat is happy with the litter box’s material and location, and it must be easily accessible. An animal that is not happy with their litter box can hold it in for longer than needed, which increases the risks.
In conclusion, pay attention to the symptoms presented above, and to any behavioural changes in your pet. If in doubt contact your vet immediately. Lower urinary tract diseases are easily treated when they are caught early. Encourage your cat to drink plenty of water, feed them the proper diet, prevent them from getting bored and stressed, and keep an eye on any multi-cat relationships that could be causing stress.
Read more about urine marking