The Symptoms of Urinary Problems in Cats

Urinary problems can happen to cats of any age. However, changes in a cat's urinary habits could be the first sign that she is suffering from a urinary problem. Although there can be multiple causes for urinary problems in cats, recognizing the symptoms can be vital first step discovering possible feline urinary-related health issues.

  1. Urinating Outside the Litter Box

    • If you notice your cat urinating outside of the litter box on a regular basis, it might be more than an accident or a behavioral problem. Cats suffering from medically related urinary problems might urinate outside the litter box or on cool, smooth surfaces such as tile floors or bathtubs. You might also notice her urinating in other areas though out the house to avoid the litter box, since she might be associating the litter box with pain.

    Blood in Urine

    • Determining if your feline friend has blood in his urine might not always be easy in a box with filled with litter. To tell if your cat has blood in his urine, put out an empty litter box or one lined with ripped up newspaper strips. It can help you to see whether your cat is suffering from blood or discoloration in his urine.

    Frequent Urination Attempts

    • Does your cat make several attempts to urinate with little or no success? Does she cry out while trying? If your answer is yes to one or both questions, your cat could be trying to tell you that she is has a urinary problem that is preventing her from using the litter box regularly. When you are cleaning out the litter box, keep an eye on how much your cat is actually using the litter box verses how many puddles she's producing.

    Excessive Licking

    • Even an item not directly related to urine output, such as excessive licking or biting of the genitals or the area around it, can be a symptom of a feline urinary problem.

      According to vetinfo.com, the cat might be feeling irritation related to a urinary problem and trying to relieve it.

    Prevention

    • Urinary problems can happen to cats of any age, however, there are a few contributing risk factors. Middle age, overweight and indoor cats can have more problems. Stress, such as routine changes and multiple cats in one household, can also increase feline urinary problems. After health factors have been diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian, food, water and environmental changes that can help prevent future urinary problems