Cranberry Pill for Cat Urinary Tract Infections

Your cat may have a urinary tract infection if you notice he is suddenly not using the litter box and is peeing around the house. Often times, the amount of urine is minute because just like humans, when a cat has a urinary tract infection they too feel the need to urinate frequently. If you notice blood in the urine or your cat is licking himself more often than normal, there is a good chance he has a urinary tract infection.

  1. History of Cranberry

    • Cranberry extract, usually given in the form of a cranberry pill, has been used for decades in the treatment and prevention of urinary traction infections, especially with holistic veterinarians. Cranberry is a fruit that grows in shrubs, which grow low to the ground in areas known as bogs. Cranberry is found predominately in the United States and Canada.

    Urinary Tract Infection Causes in Cats

    • Cat urinary tract infections are most commonly caused by diet. Many commercial dry cat foods are alkaline, changing the pH levels in a cat so drastically over time that crystals and debris begin to form in his urinary tract. When urine is alkalized, sand and stones can form. Since this is often the case, the use of antibiotics will not remedy the situation.

    How Cranberry Pills Help

    • Cranberry battles urinary tract infections because it helps to stop some types of bacteria, such as E. coli bacteria, from attaching to the bladder well as well as other healthy cells in a cat's body.

    Dosage

    • One recommended dosage is 250 mg of cranberry extract given daily, however the dosage will vary depending on the product as well as the weight of your cat. For accurate dosage information consult your holistic veterinarian.

    Warning

    • Do not give cranberry pills to a cat that has chronic renal failure because cranberry contains benzoic acid and cats with chronic renal failure have difficulty metabolizing it.