Urinary-Tract Infection Symptoms in Cats

Urinary-tract infection is an ailment that can hinder your cat's ability to urinate and can cause great pain. In about half the cases the infection is idiopathic, meaning that the cause is unknown. In other cases the cat may have contracted a virus, fungus, parasite or bacteria that causes the urinary-tract infection. Urinary infections can occur in male or female cats. Symptoms of urinary-tract infections may be the same as those for other illnesses, such as infected kidneys, and should be diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Some symptoms your cat displays may be the same to those displayed by a person with a urinary-tract infection.

  1. Blood

    • Blood in the urine is a sure sign that something is wrong.

    Urination

    • If your cat seems to be going to the litter box more than normal, or is straining or perched on the side of the litter box, the cat is in distress.

      Your cat may even try to urinate in the bathtub, or in other inappropriate areas. This behavior is called periuria and, according to veterinarian Dr. Jody P. Lulich, it may be caused by a pain-induced aversion to the litter box.

      Frequent urination, or prolonged attempts, are also a symptom of a urinary-tract infection.

    Crying

    • Your cat may cry out when trying to use the litter box. The pain associated with the illness can be terrible.

    Licking

    • Some cats will lick the urinary opening trying to relieve the pain. A male cat may be seen with his penis protruding. In the case of a urethral obstruction there may be sandlike particles around the penis.

    Bladder

    • Upon examination, your veterinarian may find that your cat's bladder feels abnormally small or firm.