Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections
Unfortunately, some cats may not show any signs of a urinary tract infection until it becomes a more serious problem. This is especially common in outdoor cats and cats that roam freely inside and out, because their cat parents may spend less time with the cat that do owners of strictly indoor cats. Some of the most noticeable signs of a urinary tract infection may include:
Straining to urinate
There may be inflammation and/or the formation of stones in the bladder, which leads to blockage, making it extremely difficult for the cat to urinate.
Frequent attempts to urinate
A cat with a uti often urinates an abnormal amount of times each day because there is little to no urination being released each time. Not only is this frustrating, but it can be dangerous for the cat. When your cat has a blockage or infection that makes it difficult for them to urinate, they are unable to rid themselves of toxic waste products through their urine.
Painful urination
In some situations, the pain associated with a urinary tract disease may become so severe that the cat will continuous lick their vaginal or penile area to try and sooth the irritation, but this ultimately creates more pain as well as a risk of further infection. The pain from the combination of the urinary tract infection and rawness in the area of continuous licking may cause your cat to scream out in pain, especially when urinating.
Bloody urine
The majority of cats with a urinary tract infection will generally have urine that is discolored or tinged with blood. A female cat is at a greater risk for a urinary tract infection that leads to blood in the urine than male cats.
Urinating outside the litter box
Although urinating outside the litter box doesn’t always indicate the possibility of a urinary tract infection, it should be a concern, especially if the cat is displaying any other symptoms associated with a UTI.
If your cat is showing any symptoms of a urinary tract infection or you suspect something else may be wrong, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinary as soon as possible. If your cat (especially a male cat) has stopped urinating altogether (may be due to being blocked), you should immediately take the cat to a veterinarian hospital. Your vet will examine your cat and collect urine samples for testing and in some situations, a blood test will be required. Once a urinary tract infection has been identified, your veterinarian will advise you on the best form of treatment.
If you suspect your cat may have a urinary tract infection or another type of problem that may be interfering with urination, please contact us at Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.