Urinary tract infections in cats: Ignoring the symptoms of a dangerous illness

Photo courtesy of Jacek Poblocki

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are serious business in cats. Sometimes cat owners are unsure about the symptoms, and may wait too long to take a cat to a veterinarian. While some things can require a wait and see attitude, problems with the urinary tract are not among them.

• Refusal to use the litter box: Make sure the litter is clean and free from feces and any urine-clumped litter. Some cats are finicky about their bathroom area; keeping the litter box clean will encourage use of the box. If you have ruled out a dirty litter box, it may be a urinary tract infection.  
• Urination on the floor, or presence of blood in the urine. If you see blood in Kitty’s urine, or urine puddles on the floor, contact a veterinarian immediately. Blood in Kitty's urine may appear as anything from darker yellow, brown, very pale pink, or red in color.
• Increased thirst: Cats with a UTI will drink more water than usual, in an attempt to flush the kidneys of impurities and bacteria from their system. Offer fresh water continuously.
• Loss of appetite: Disinterest in food is generally a sign of illness in cats. Changing a cat's food is not a good idea. However, when a cat refuses to eat, it may mean something is wrong. Try tempting Kitty with ice-cream, scrambled eggs, cooked chicken, cooked turkey, cooked ham, or most any kind of cheese.
• Sluggishness: Any lethargic behavior, beyond typical napping patterns, may be cause for alarm.
• Hot nose or hot ears: A hot or hot ears can be an indication of fever. Use a small amount of petroleum jelly on the tip of a rectal thermometer to determine if a cat has a fever. Generally, a hand placed across the shoulders with firm even pressure is enough to hold a cat in place, or a firm grip on the nape of the neck will hold Kitty securely. Cover Kitty's face and front end of the body with a towel to lessen feline objection and avoid scratches. If you have help available, a second set of hands is a valuable asset with a sick cat.

  Insert a digital or mercury thermometer about one inch into Kitty's rectum underneath its tail, and hold it in place with your thumb and index finger. Wait three minutes to read the mercury thermometer; less time is needed for a digital version. Normal feline temperature is in the range of 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature that is even slightly higher may require a veterinarian, and sometimes temperature isn’t the only indicator of illness. While not everyone agrees that hot ears or a hot nose can indicate illness, it is an indicator that the temperature should be checked to rule out the presence of a fever.

• Foods: Certain foods can disrupt the healthy PH of the urinary tract. Avoid rich, moist foods and feed only as an occasional treat. A good dry cat food and plenty of water is the best diet for your cat, in spite of the commercials featuring a gorgeous Persian eating from a Waterford Crystal goblet.
• Anatomy: In some male cats, there can be problems with the urethra which can cause urinary tract infections. An examination by a qualified veterinarian is recommended.

• Food and water dishes should be clean and water should be changed at least once a day. Clean water dishes with soap and hot water using a scrub brush, rinse thoroughly, then dry with paper towels or air dry. If Kitty is sick, leave out extra drinking water.
• Avoid picky eater’s syndrome: animals can become spoiled to eating certain foods and may refuse to eat because it isn’t something they want; avoiding fancy foods (or human foods) will lessen the possibility of a finicky eater.
• Establish a good diet when kittens first come home by using a dry food that meets 100% of the minimum daily dietary requirements. More expensive cat food is not necessarily better cat food -- it simply costs more money. Dry food can be moistened with warm water if Kitty is very young. Purina Kitten Chow is an excellent choice of food.
• Resist the temptation to feed Kitty something you are eating and discourage begging by tapping your index finger on Kitty's nose, and say, "No" in a firm voice. Two or three taps on the nose will discourage most insistent feline gourmands. In some cases, removing Kitty from the room may be necessary, expecially if the foods you are eating are a great temptation.

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