Feline urinary tract problems may be easily remedied, but can continually reoccur if changes are not made to the cat’s diet. One major problem is that cats are reluctant to drink water. Because they aren’t receiving enough liquid, their bladders are not flushed out frequently enough to remove bacteria and minerals that can gather in the bladder. These bacteria and minerals then cause various disorders in the cat’s urinary tract.

As the owner, you play an important role in diagnosing urinary disorders in your cat. You should have a general idea about your cat’s normal litter box routine and behavior. Then, if your cat changes their routine (goes to the litter box more frequently or less frequently), you can inform the veterinarian of the differences. Knowing your cat’s routine is particularly important because in many cases their behavioral changes are used to help the veterinarian narrow down what type of disorder your feline may have.

Felines diagnosed with any one of the disorders listed below usually have similar symptoms. The causes of the various urinary disorders listed below are mostly undetermined. Ash, an inorganic mineral residue found in cat foods, was once thought to be the main cause of urinary disorders in cats but now some veterinarians believe it is the high amounts of magnesium that are causing the urinary problems. However, research is still being done to determine what elements are causing urinary tract problems in felines.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD): also known as Feline Cystitis; the inflammation of the bladder and formation of crystals in the urine; often the cause is unknown or indeterminable; signs include frequent licking of genitals (males), frequent urination, urinating outside the litter box, blood in urine, and difficulty urinating.

Urolith (bladder stones): caused by the crystallization of minerals (ammonia, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium); symptoms include straining to urinate, blood in urine, and frequently urinating in small amounts; two types of stones are struvite (the cause of almost half the cases of bladder stones) or calcium oxalate; treatment by veterinarian involves dissolving the stones.

Urethral Obstruction: cat’s with obstruction should be taken to the veterinarian immediately; usually cat will display problems when the day before they were fine; more likely in males because of their long, narrow urethra; causes include urethral plugs (composed of minerals, cellular debris, and protein); acidity of urine is key in breaking up urethral plugs;

Bacterial Urinary Tract Infection: more common in dogs than in cats, but is a problem for some felines; the presence of bacteria, which can come from inside or outside the body, in the bladder;

Incontinence: the involuntary passing of urine; caused by urinary infections, Ectopic Ureter, lack of muscle control, or spinal cord diseases; signs include dribbling urine while laying down, after standing, or at inappropriate times.

If your cat is prone to having urinary problems, the best solution is to change their diet and begin administering medications that will improve their urinary tract. Give your feline foods that are low in magnesium, ammonia, and phosphorous; also, make sure your cat is drinking more water to help clean out their bladder. Pills are available for urinary problems but cats often will not swallow a pill. Therefore, you should use medication that comes in a powder, liquid, or other non-pill form that can be administered with their food or water. If you are aware that your cat is prone to urinary disorders, you should make an effort to improve their diet and water intake and give them the proper medicines to prevent the problem. Products containing L-Lysine and cranberry extract are effective in maintaining overall urinary tract health in cats.