Older cats are more at risk for urinary tract infections than kittens. Common signs include pain and straining when urinating, frequent attempts to urinate, urinating outside of the litter box and, in some cases, blood in urine.
Acute UTIs are usually caused when bacteria travels up the urethra and causes an infection. These may be treated fairly easily with antibiotics. However, if your cat has a chronic UTI problem, or if they’re getting UTIs repeatedly, then more tests may be required to get to the bottom of the issue. There may be some underlying condition that has UTI as a symptom.
If you see any of these signs in your cat, it is best to contact the vet immediately, because if left untreated, UTIs can cause serious issues in cats.
Common Cat UTI Symptoms
The most common signs of a UTI in cats is difficulty in urination and restlessness. Let us do a deep dive:
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Straining during urination: When cats get a UTI, they show visible signs of distress during peeing. They may go to pee frequently and even strain to pee, but have little or no pee come out.
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Pain during urination: When straining to pee, cats may sometimes cry out in pain if they have a UTI infection.
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Bloody urine: The colour of the urine may change from yellow to red or reddish brown, indicating blood in the pee.
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Behavioural changes: They may show various signs in their behaviour: an arched back while peeing, a lowered head, flat ears, eyes closed, a tense muzzle, stiff whiskers, etc. These are signs that they are straining.
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Urinating outside litterbox: Cats with UTIs can sometimes develop an aversion to the litterbox because of the pain associated with peeing. They then avoid it and end up peeing in other places.
What Causes UTI in Cats?
Most cats get bacterial UTIs. Bacteria may travel through the urethra, enter the bladder, and spread inside to cause the infection. In case the cat has a pre-existing health issue, such as diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, etc., they may be at higher risk of a UTI. A weakened immune system may alter the urinary tract environment, helping bacteria flourish.
Bladder stones may irritate the bladder lining, creating a good environment for bacteria to thrive. Poor grooming habits or lack of grooming in aged cats may cause bacteria and dirt to accumulate around the urethral opening, causing infections. In fact, stress and dehydration are also some of the reasons why cats get a UTI. Female cats may be more prone to UTIs because they have a shorter urethral canal.
The most common bacteria that cause UTI in cats are:
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Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
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Staphylococcus
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Streptococcus
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Enterococcus
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Proteus
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Klebsiella
How do vets diagnose cat UTIs?
The procedure to diagnose cat UTIs is to do a urine test. However, in cats, the urine is extracted straight from the bladder through a needle to avoid any contamination from the cup, ground or litter box. This process is called cystocentesis.
After that, the urine goes through a culture-and-sensitivity test. In this, the bacteria is isolated and analysed to determine the best antibiotic to combat the infection.
What UTI treatments are usually recommended by vets?
The treatment for cat UTIs is fairly simple, after the cause of the infection is detected:
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Antibiotics: Cats usually get a short course of antibiotics to treat a UTI. In case of chronic conditions, cats may need a longer course of antibiotics.
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Pain medication: Anti-inflammatory pain meds are sometimes prescribed to cats with UTI in case they are extremely distressed. This happens especially if treatment has been slightly delayed.
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Fresh diet: A high-moisture fresh diet is good when your cat has a UTI infection. This encourages hydration, which produces more urine. Plus, a fresh diet is better for immunity that helps in fighting the infection.
Caution: If your male cat is showing signs of a UTI, take them to the vet immediately. This is especially important if they’ve stopped peeing completely. Otherwise, it may be fatal for them. For female cats, you can try giving them moist, fresh food for a day, but still get them checked within 24 hours.
Can diet affect UTIs in cats?
Yes, absolutely! Feeding the right diet can help prevent and manage the condition, and support your cat as they are recovering. Here are some ways diet may help:
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Hydration: Keeping your cat hydrated is extremely important for prevention, management and to even avoid recurrence of a UTI. Cats usually don’t like drinking a lot of water because they are biologically designed to get their water through their diet. So, a moist diet is crucial. The ingredients in their diet and feeding patterns can influence the volume, pH and solute concentration of urine. So, a high-quality, high-moisture diet is indispensable. Fresh food like BLEP cat food and even bone broths can help increase moisture intake in cats.
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Immunity boost: A healthy, balanced diet can help boost the immune system in cats to fight off infections and diseases better. Some components of the diet that strengthen the immune system are omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants like vitamin E and C, essential amino acids like arginine, taurine, and cysteine, high-quality protein, and others. Feeding fatty fish like Tuna, Mackerel, Sardine, and food rich in fish oil, etc. can enhance the immunity of cats.
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Balanced urine pH: A balanced urine pH helps prevent the growth of bacteria, dissolves harmful struvite crystals, and inhibits the formation of stones. High pH urine may trigger more inflammation, blockage and chronic urinary issues. A slightly acidic range of 6.3–6.6 is usually considered ideal. High-quality protein makes urine more acidic, because of the higher levels of sulfur amino acids (methionine, cysteine). Plant-based food or dairy makes it more alkaline. Therefore, a balance in the diet helps keep pH at an optimal level. A balanced, meat-forward, hydrating diet like BLEP cat food helps in keeping the urine pH in control.
How to prevent UTIs in cats?
Some preventive measures that you can take to steer your cat clear of a UTI or other urinary tract issues are:
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Feed a high-moisture diet like fresh food for cats to help them stay well-hydrated, as they get most of their hydration from food.
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Encourage them to drink more water. Cats need about 50 ml to 70 ml of water per kilogram of body weight daily.
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Keep water bowls all over the house in quiet, safe corners to encourage water consumption. You can also get a water fountain, since some cats like running water.
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Change litter boxes regularly to encourage urination and also to keep their surroundings clean.
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Try to keep their routines steady so that their stress levels are in control. Stress may encourage or exacerbate infections.
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Obese cats are at a higher risk of getting infections so try to keep them at a healthy weight with a meat-forward, balanced diet.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I tell if my cat has a UTI at home?
If your cat is straining to pee, feeling restless, crying in pain while urinating, having frequent pee accidents outside the litter box or is peeing bloody urine, they may be showing symptoms of cat urinary tract infection.
What causes UTIs in cats?
UTI in cats is usually caused by bacteria entering the urethra and infecting the urinary system. The risks increase if your cat is older, has obesity, is chronically dehydrated, is stressed, or has underlying issues like diabetes or bladder stones.
Can a cat UTI go away on its own?
If your cat is showing signs of a UTI, it is best to consult a vet immediately, especially for male cats. Untreated UTI can worsen into serious complications.
How do vets diagnose a UTI in cats?
Vets usually prescribe a urine test through cystocentesis, in which the urine is extracted directly through the bladder using a fine needle. Then, it is put through a culture test, the bacteria is identified, and suitable medication is given.
What is the fastest way to treat a UTI in cats?
The treatment for cat UTIs is a short course of antibiotics. Pain relief meds may also be given. Plus, hydration must be maintained through moisture-rich fresh food, water, and other liquids like bone broths.
How can I prevent UTIs in cats naturally?
The best course of prevention is to focus on keeping your cat hydrated so toxins are flushed well and it gets difficult for bacteria to thrive. Apart from that, clean litter boxes, a low-stress environment, maintaining a healthy weight, etc. also help.
What is the best diet for cats prone to recurring UTIs?
A high-moisture diet with high-quality protein supports hydration and maintains a healthy urine pH. Minimally-processed, meat-forward diets like BLEP cat food are a good option. However, if your cat is getting frequent UTIs, you may want to get your vet to check for underlying conditions.
Can switching to fresh food help prevent UTIs in cats?
Fresh food has more moisture content, is minimally processed, is made with high quality meat and balanced with essential nutrients. Therefore, switching to fresh food like BLEP cat food can be really helpful for cats who are at risk of getting UTIs. Follow a diet adoption plan. Start slowly and mix it with the current diet for the first 2–3 days. Then, slowly increase the amount of fresh food and decrease the amount of current diet. In 9–10 days, they should be able to adapt to the new diet completely. For a guide on diet adoption, check out BLEP’s feeding guidelines.
Looking to explore more tips on how to look after your furry friend? Check out our other guides like Can Dogs Eat Apples?, Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?, Dog Food for Weight Loss, Raw v/s cooked meat for dogs, Home Remedies to cure tick fever, Finding Good Dog Food in India, How many times should I feed my dog?, Things you should do to keep your pet healthy, Types of Dog Food, How Prebiotics and Probiotics can improve your dog's digestion, Essential Tips for a New Dog Parent, and others. Each guide is designed to help you make better food and care choices for your dog, to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.
Resources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623023076
https://bondvet.com/blog/uti-in-cats-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165242713000287
https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/urinary/utis-cats-urinary-tract-infections-cats
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/urinary-tract-infections-utis-in-cats
https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/cat-urinary-tract-problems
https://www.animergevets.com/site/blog/2021/05/30/cat-urinary-tract-infection
Image attribution:
https://evcc.com/blog/cat-having-problems-urinating-why-your-cat-cant-pee/
