Urinary issues, although reasonably uncommon in cats, can be very serious. While your cat may be stoic, or like humans, expect the issue to go away on its own, their inability to communicate means that it’s important for cat owners to know how to spot a potential issue.
The most common problems are blockages in the bladder or a cat urinary tract infection. Crystals or small stones in the urine can be the cause, and these can develop as a result of dehydration, irregular bathroom habits or a more serious disease. These crystals can irritate the lining of the urinary tract, blocking the regular flow or urine, causing toxins to build-up. When this starts to happen, you may notice that your cat tends to cry out or vocalize when urinating, because of the pain.
Other signs can be straining to urinate, urinating outside the litter box or even pacing anxiously, crying constantly or even hiding. If you notice any of these signs, don’t just wait for the issue to pass. Particularly if this is affecting a male cat, contact your cat’s vet urgently, because a urethral infection can infect their kidneys.
Courses of treatment may include an initial examination, a course of antibiotics and may even require the removal of the stones in critical cases.
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