Female Cat & Urinary Infection

Older female cats are more likely to develop urinary tract infections than males because the condition is usually a sign of an underlying disorder of the bladder or urethra. However, cats of any age, breed or sex can develop this painful illness, which can lead to complications and even death if left untreated.

  1. What is a Urinary Tract Infection?

    • When a veterinarian makes a diagnosis of urinary tract infection, or UTI, he is most likely diagnosing a bladder infection, the most common UTI seen in small animals, according to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center in Los Angeles. The urinary tract includes the bladder, the kidneys, the tubes that carry urine to the bladder and the urethra. A urinary tract infection could involve any of these areas and results when bacteria from the lower tract climb into one of the areas.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms of a urinary tract infection in cats are many and include frequent urination with little or no urine seen, urinating outside of the litter box, blood in the urine, difficulty or straining to urinate, crying or meowing during urination and frequently licking the genitals, according to petinfo.com. A cat suffering from a UTI will show a reluctance to urinate by avoiding the places she usually does so.

    Diagnosis

    • A veterinarian must perform a urine culture and urinalysis in order to formerly diagnose a feline urinary tract infection. Veterinarians at the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center believe that a urine culture is the only test that can confirm the presence of a urinary tract infection, but a urinalysis can help detect indicators of infection, including excessive protein in the urine and an excessive white blood cell count.

    Treatment

    • Simple bladder infections are typically treated with 10 to 14 days of antibiotics. The cat's symptoms should resolve quickly within the first few days of treatment, but the entire course of antibiotics should always be administered to prevent recurrence and bacterial resistance, warns the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center website. If symptoms persist or if a followup culture still shows bacteria, this could indicate a greater problem, such as bladder stones or tumors. However, most UTIs clear up after one round of antibiotics.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Many UTIs could be avoided if cats were fed proper diets consisting of healthy and high quality foods. Cats also need continuous access to fresh, clean water. Long-haired cats and obese cats can get dirty near their genital areas, so owners should use a gentle cleanser and wipe away any lingering urine or stool at least once a day, according to tips provided by petinfo.com.