Feline Urinary Issues and Tips for Prevention

Our feline friends make great companions and can provide so much joy to our lives. It is important to keep them just as healthy and happy as they make us. One medical concern cats are predisposed to developing is urinary issues, which can become a significant roadblock to both their and our quality of life. There are several ways to help mitigate this, and this post is meant to help cat owners navigate prevention of these disorders to keep our kitty friends happy and healthy.  4 Paws Animal Clinic in Winter Park is available to help take care of your cat's urinary issues.  

Causes of Urinary Health Issues in Cats

   Several things can cause urinary issues in cats, from endocrine diseases like diabetes to behavioral issues. Two major causes that account for a majority of urinary symptoms are kidney disease and feline lower urinary tract disease. Chronic kidney disease occurs as cats age and their kidneys do not filter blood as well as they used to due to degeneration within the kidney itself. Feline lower urinary tract disease is a syndrome that affects the urinary bladder, where stress-induced bladder inflammation develops and can lead to crystal formation and potential blockage of the urethra (we sometimes call this FLUTD). These can both cause cats to feel very sick very quickly; thankfully, there are several things that can be done both with our veterinarians at 4 Paws Animal Clinic and at home to prevent these conditions and keep our cats happy and healthy.  

Prevention is the Best Medicine

   A major part of preventing these conditions is through regular health checkups with our veterinarians at 4 Paws. We can check blood and urine samples to make sure there are no signs of inflammation or crystals in the urine that would indicate urinary disease, as well as kidney values to make sure they are not increasing and indicating compromised health of the kidney. If these clinical signs are noted, our veterinarians may take the next step and start a prescription diet for your cat. These diets are commonly lower in protein, magnesium, sodium, and calcium, which helps to prevent crystal formation in the urine and protect the kidneys by giving them less protein to filter from the blood, so they don’t have to work as hard. Our veterinarians at 4 Paws may also try to find ways to increase your cat’s water intake, as this helps to clear toxic metabolites from the blood and urine by eliminating them from the body. Some of the ways they may do this are by changing to a canned food diet that has more water in it, or by adding a supplement to increase water intake. These checkups are recommended yearly for cats under 8 years old, or every 6 months if 8 years or older. If our veterinarians diagnose a kidney or bladder issue, it is possible that an exam will be needed more often. Our staff at 4 Paws in Winter Park can help schedule your cat’s checkup at your earliest convenience.  

At-Home Tips and Tricks

   In addition to regular checkups in our veterinary hospital, there are some preventive measures that can be taken at home as well.  These measures are geared toward increasing water intake and promoting urinary health by eliminating stressors in their environment. A major first step is healthy litter box etiquette- the number of litter boxes in the house should be equal to the number of cats plus one, and they should be scooped daily. If you have two cats, there should ideally be three litter boxes. These litter boxes should be kept in lower traffic areas to allow for decreased stress in the home. Their food and water should be kept in the same manner, but away from the litter boxes present. Additionally, Feliway diffusers are great for reducing stress within the home- these are diffusers (like a Glade Plugin) that diffuse calming pheromones throughout the home and reduce stress and anxiety that cats may feel. Enrichment opportunities, like cat trees for “vertical space”, boxes for places to hide, and scratching posts are also great for allowing cats to both have an outlet for pent-up energy and have their own space to hide away when needed. Open access to water is also a necessity to allow cats to stay hydrated- it is beneficial to consider a water fountain as cats respond better to moving water than water that is still in a bowl. Furthermore, any transitions to food or litter should be made very slowly, over the course of a week. This will help to reduce stress in times of transition that could potentially cause a urinary flare-up.

The veterinarians, and technicians at 4 Paws Animal Clinic in Winter Park specialize in discussing these issues with clients.  Please call us to ask any questions.

To Conclude

     While cats are predisposed to developing urinary issues,  there are several steps that can be taken to prevent them as much as possible. The best way is via preventive medicine. Regular health and blood work checks with a veterinarian are essential for monitoring these conditions so quick action can be taken to prevent significant health risks. Our veterinarians at 4 Paws are happy to help keep your kitty healthy for as long as possible. Please contact 4 Paws Animal Clinic today if you wish to set up a consultation for more information regarding these conditions.  Take care!