A Urinary Tract Infection in a Male Cat

Cats are very sensitive to change and are prone to stress. Changes in routine, environment and food affect a cat both physically and mentally. Cat's systems can develop issues with very little apparent provocation. Veterinarians and scientists do not know enough about the precise workings of a cat's body to understand exactly how all feline illnesses develop. Like humans, symptoms in a cat can have a number of different causes and discovering the proper treatment often involves elements of trial and error. This is true with male cats and urinary tract infections.

  1. Identification

    • Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, in felines have similar signs, but the degree of severity differs from cat to cat. They are a common among cats. Difficulty urinating, frequent urinating and "dribbling" of urine are common. Cats with urinary tract infections will urinate outside the litter box and their urine may contain blood. Some cats also will lick their genitals frequently.

    Causes

    • Male cats, especially neutered male cats, tend to suffer from UTIs caused either by urinary stones or by urethral obstruction. The urethra is the tube that transports urine from the bladder, where it is stored, to outside the body. This tube is longer and narrower in male cats, particularly neutered ones, than it is in female cats. In a UTI, a mineral deposit (stone) or a soft, spongy mixture of cells, minerals and proteins block the urethra. The urine then backs up into the bladder and does not get released, which prevents the flushing of toxins from the body and creates an infection.

    Effects

    • UTIs are very painful and create stress for a cat, which aggravates the symptoms. The urinating outside the litter box creates frustrations within the household and toward the cat. This causes even more stress and anxiety for the feline, which aggravates the problem.

    Warning

    • If left untreated, a blockage and accompanying UTI can cause a loss of consciousness and death, since the feline will no longer be able to regulate fluids and electrolytes, causing heart failure. The toxins that are usually released in urine also build up inside the body and can poison the animal. Signs of a UTI in a male cat, especially a neutered one, require immediate medical attention from a qualified veterinarian, since death can occur in less than 48 hours.

    Treatment

    • Veterinarians treat obstructions by catheterizing the animal, which consists of placing a tube up the urethra to relieve the blockage. Cats need to be unconscious prior to this treatment, so the doctor will generally anesthetize the cat first. Fluids may be given intravenously, depending on the condition of the cat. The doctor prescribes a course of antimicrobials to fight the infection and a diet featuring food that is low in acid production to keep the blockage and infection from reoccurring.