Ways to Maintain Urinary Tract Health in Cats
Feline urinary tract infection, also known as feline urological syndrome, is known to affect approximately 30% of domestic cats at some point in their lives. This condition occurs when a mucus-like substance begins to develop in the bladder and urethra. Usually this is caused by bacteria that have accumulated in the animal’s urinary system. Once the bacteria have spread the infection in the bladder, the health of the urinary tract is put at risk.
Urinary tract infection is just one part of a series of urinary problems that affect the health of the feline urinary tract. One of its types is known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD, a disease associated with urinary tract obstruction. Urinary tract blockage is a condition in which the urethra becomes blocked, preventing the animal from excreting urine from its system. This condition is a major threat to the pet’s urinary health and is life-threatening as it could mean death if not treated immediately. Most of the victims of urinary tract blockage are male cats because they have a narrow urethra.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection include blood in the urine, foul-smelling urine, straining associated with painful urination, a change in the animal’s urination pattern, squatting for long periods in the litter box without producing urine, or producing only a small amount of it, frequent licking of his genital area, and incontinence. Signs of depression, loss of appetite, and increased thirst for water may also be noted.
Although these conditions can affect your cat at some point in her life no matter what you do, it’s important that you know how to at least minimize the chance of a urinary tract infection affecting your pet.
There are several ways to maintain the health of the cat’s urinary tract. Some of them are the following:
o Give only natural foods. Natural foods have health benefits that may not be present in prescription diets. Ask your vet about natural foods that have the ability to help produce the correct pH level in urine. Too much acid and alkaline in the urine could cause stones or crystals to form.
o Refrain from giving foods rich in magnesium. Magnesium has been thought to enhance the formation of struvite crystals in the lower urinary tract. Foods that are rich in magnesium content are heart, oily fish, pork, and beef.
o Increase your pet’s daily fluid intake. You can do this by increasing his daily fluid intake by giving him wet food, or you can mix his dry food with water or a little broth.
o Wash food bowls with clean water every day.
o When giving water, put a small amount of vinegar in it. Vinegar helps keep the acid in your urine at the proper level and helps prevent the formation of stones that could lead to a urinary tract infection.
Knowing the ways to maintain a cat’s urinary tract health is a good way to keep your pet healthy and infection-free. Give him the care he deserves and you won’t have to worry about serious infections.
