Cat urinary tract infections may also be referred to by other names, such as UTI, cystitis, blocked cat and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). We’ve put together the following information to help you understand all about these conditions. If your pet is suffering from urinary tract issues, you’ll be able to identify when it’s time to call your vet.

What is a Urinary Tract Infection?

The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters (tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder and the urethra (the tube connecting the bladder to the external genitalia).

• In male cats, the urethra is long and narrow, and travels through the length of the penis.
• In female cats, the urethra is shorter and wider, as it travels to the vaginal area.

This difference in anatomy is really important, as the narrow male urethra is much more prone to becoming blocked if a UTI is left untreated, which can result in a life-threatening emergency.

UTI in cats simply refers to infection (or inflammation) in any part of the urinary tract. This could be cystitis, where the cat’s bladder is affected by infection, inflammation or bladder stones, etc. It could be that just the urethra is affected by infection, inflammation, or blockage with a urethral plug (mucus, fibrin or mineral deposits). It could also be that more than one part of the urinary tract is affected.

Causes of urinary tract issues include stress, diet, infection, obesity and tumours.

Cat UTI Symptoms and Signs

UTIs are usually much more serious in male cats, so if your male cat displays any of the symptoms listed, don’t hesitate to call your vet immediately. UTIs are very unpleasant for female cats and prompt treatment should always be sought, but there’s not the same urgency for females as there is for males.

How Can I Tell If My Cat Has a UTI ?

Common signs and symptoms of UTI in cats can range from smelly pee to an avoidance or fear of their litter box.

Some things to look out for are:

• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• Passing urine tinged with blood
• Straining to urinate
• Urinating unproductively or only passing a small amount of urine each time
• Urinating more often than usual
• Urinating in inappropriate places
• Vocalising when urinating
• Licking at the penis or vagina
• Strong ammonia odour in their urine

In the early stages, symptoms of urinary tract infection can be hard to spot. If you miss these early signs and your male cat develops a urinary blockage, they will quickly become very unwell and distressed.

Blocked male cats often make a very distressed miaow, are unable to move normally and may even collapse and die if they don’t receive urgent veterinary care.

Diagnosing UTIs in Cats

Your vet will need to examine your cat and also get a urine sample. Tests on a urine sample will show if there’s anything wrong with the urine, like excess sugar, protein, blood or crystals in the urine. Your vet may send the urine to a laboratory to see if bacteria can be grown.

If bacteria do grow, there are tests that can be done to find the right cat UTI antibiotics to clear up the infection. If your vet is concerned your cat could be “blocked” or the problem keeps coming back or fails to clear up properly, they may advise examining the bladder using x-rays or an ultrasound. They may also need to perform some blood tests to get to the bottom of the problem.

Cat UTI Treatment

UTI treatment depends on the results of tests. UTI treatment for cats with mild infections may just include drugs to help relax the bladder and reduce the pain associated with passing urine.

Bacterial Cystitis

If your cat has a bacterial cystitis and there are no other obvious problems, your vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics. In most cases, the problem should start to clear up within a few days of starting the treatment. You must continue to give the treatment until the course is finished, even if your cat seems completely better.

Blocked Urethra in Male Cats

If the UTI has progressed to a blocked urethra in a male cat, then your vet will need to sedate or give them an anaesthetic so they can unblock them as soon as possible. Affected cats are often critically ill, and so sedation and anaesthesia, although necessary, are riskier than in healthy cats.

Your vet may have to drain the bladder via a needle through the body wall. Damaged bladders are very delicate and can easily burst when this procedure is performed. If this happens, then your cat’s chance of survival is much lower, and further surgery may or may not be attempted.

Your vet will try to pass a catheter through the penis and into the bladder. This can be incredibly hard to do. Once the bladder has been drained and the catheter passed, then the catheter may be removed or sewn into place to ensure drainage of the bladder for a period of time.

If the urethra can’t be unblocked, your vet will discuss the options of euthanasia or radical surgery with you. You will need to balance out the risks of surgery, how your cat will cope with hospitalisation and recovery, and, of course, the cost of the procedures. Discuss all your concerns with your vet, as it’s a lot to take in.

UTI Relief for Cats

Hopefully, your cat will recover from their UTI well, but affected cats are more at risk of suffering from UTIs again in the future, so your vet may prescribe long-term medication and/or a prescription diet to reduce this risk.

Urinary tract infections in cats range from being unpleasant occurrences to life-threatening emergencies, so if you’re not sure whether your cat is showing signs of a UTI, it’s always best to call your vet and ask for advice. UTI relief for cats is simple and affordable if caught early, so don’t leave it too long before calling your vet for treatment.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.