What Are the Treatments for Cats That Have Kidney and Bladder Infections?

A cat's urinary system is responsible for removing waste products from the blood and eliminating them as urine, according to the website of the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Washington. Bacterial infections can be present in a cat's bladder and cause problems such as urinary incontinence or dehydration. More severe infections may spread to the kidneys, which require longer periods of treatment.

  1. Water and Flavored Broths

    • Give cats with kidney or bladder infections plenty of fresh, clean water in several locations of the house. If the cat does not respond to plain water, offer clear, low-sodium broths to encourage it to drink. Veterinarians may require dehydrated cats to receive subcutaneous fluids as well.

    Special Diet

    • Veterinarians usually prescribe special diets for cats suffering kidney and bladder infections. Some veterinarians recommend a change from dry food to wet food. Others advise blended formulas with increased levels of vitamins C, D and B. Cat foods formulated for urinary health may include low levels of high-quality proteins, potassium, polyunsaturated fats and increased calcium.

    Holistic Treatments

    • After you consult a veterinarian, you may give the ailing cat holistic treatments or herbs. Pet owners use nutritional supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin E and cranberry extracts to treat infections in cats. Other herbal treatments include plantain, agrimony, cleavers and a Chinese remedy known as polyporous combination.

    Antibiotics

    • Veterinarians usually prescribe antibiotics to treat feline kidney and bladder infections. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cefadroxil or ometoprim-sulfadimethoxine are usually administered first. Vets may give cats that do not respond to these treatments additional courses of antibiotics including fluoroquinolones and second-generation cephalosporins.

    Litter Box Cleaning and Placement

    • Cats suffering from urinary or kidney infections should have access to clean litter boxes. Make the litter box as appealing as possible; frequent urination is important in keeping the infection from becoming worse. Place additional litter boxes in the home to give the cat several different options. Keep litter boxes in safe, quiet areas of the house.