Natural Medications for Cat Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections in cats can be potentially serious problems, so it's always important to treat them in a timely manner. There's a number of at-home, natural remedies that pet owners can use to help fight and resist infection and correct imbalances that allow bacteria to grow into urinary tract infections.

  1. Diet

    • Perfecting a cat's diet and liquid intake is a big step toward ensuring it doesn't get urinary tract infections (UTI). Making sure your cat's food is chemical-free is important. Harmful additives, preservatives and artificial color can weaken a pet's immune system. Under the supervision of a veterinarian, you can begin a home-cooked diet for your pet in order to avoid such chemical additives. It's also important to make sure your cat drinks enough fluid. In order for the bladder to be flushed, there must be enough fluid in the body. It's best to give your pet filtered water to drink and make sure it's fresh each day. For pets who can't seem to drink enough water to flush the bladder, wet food is another good option.

    Vitamins and Supplements

    • Cantharis, also known as Spanish fly, is a useful homeopathic remedy for relieving the pain of your cat's UTI. Petalive.com recommends that owners give cats one to two tablets per day to assist them with pain while urinating. Cranberry juice extracts can also help fight the growth of bacteria in your cat's bladder. Placing a pinch of this extract in the cat's wet food is a popular method among pet owners who give cranberry extract to their cats. Vitamin C is another vitamin supplement that might help, as it increases the strength of the bladder. It takes some trial and error to find out the correct dosage, according to Petalive.com. Vitamin C can cause diarrhea in cats, so you must carefully monitor your cat's litter box activity to get the correct dose.

    Over-the-counter Products

    • There are a variety of products on the market today that claim to relieve or prevent UTIs in cats. These products, mostly liquids or tablets given to the cat via its food or water, contain a variety of natural ingredients, including couchgrass, echinacea (purpurea), marshmallow, dandelion and horsetail. It is wise to consult with a veterinarian before starting a pet on any medicinal products.

    Exercise

    • Simple changes in your cat's lifestyle can also be helpful in preventing and treating urinary tract infections. Making sure your cat gets ample exercise is key, as is offering ample opportunity to urinate. Consider installing at least two litter boxes per cat in your home.