Humane societies and animal shelters report that one of the most frequent reasons that cat owners decide to get rid of their cat is because the cat has begun to urinate around the house. Once the shelter workers explain to the cat owners that a urinary tract infection is most likely the cause of the cat's behavior, efficient treatment can restore the cat to its place on the family sofa.
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Urinary Tract Infections in Cats
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Urinary tract infections are common in cats, accounting, by some veterinarians' estimates, for 10 percent of cat veterinarian visits. The cat will often experience pain or bleeding when urinating, and since it associates the pain with its usual place of elimination, the litter box, it will start avoiding that area and urinate in other areas of the house. Cat owners must be alert when this behavior is noticed and if a UTI is confirmed treatment should begin immediately.
Avoiding Antibiotics Through Home Treatments
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Many cat owners are hesitate to give their pets antibiotics. Antibiotics are successful at clearing up a UTI quickly, but tend to destroy good bacteria while killing the infectious bacteria, which can cause even more severe problems in the future. Many cat owners try to avoid antibiotics through home treatments.
Herbal Tea for UTIs in Cats
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One herbal treatment which has proven successful for UTIs in cats is a tea brewed from a combination of goldenrod, horsetail, parsley, marshmallow root and elderberry. Cat owners who try this method should give it to the cat three times daily until the symptoms of the UTI have cleared up. These roots and herbs can be purchased at health food stores or through an herbalist and are easily added to the cat's food at mealtimes.
Treating and Preventing UTIs in Cats with Cranberry Juice
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Cranberry juice is often recommended to humans to prevent and treat UTIs and it seems to be effective for cats as well. Most cats will balk at eating food which has cranberry juice added to it as the acidic taste is distasteful to them. Cat owners who decide to use cranberry juice as a treatment (or preventative) can buy an extract and shoot it into the cat's mouth through a syringe or administer it in pill form.
Treating Pain While Letting Nature Run Its Course
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Cat owners can effect homeopathic treatments for the pain of a UTI in a cat while giving the cat natural treatments that generally take time. Pet homeopaths suggest administering cantharis to control UTI pain in a cat so that time can take its course with natural remedies--cranberry juice, increased liquids, food prepared with no chemicals, and vitamin C supplements.
Considering Home Treatments First for Feline UTIs
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Urinary Tract Infections can be quite painful for a cat, so a cat owner must follow the progression of natural treatments to ensure that they are effective. If the home treatments are not helping the cat, antibiotics should be considered so that the condition does not develop into a full-blown blockage of the urinary tract. Home treatments can be effective and should always be considered as a first course of action.
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