Two months ago, Biscuit, a beautiful one and a half year old domestic short hair, arrived at VCA Alexandria in a lot of pain. His owners told the veterinarian on staff that he had been “acting painful”, and hadn’t been eating for several days. When the veterinarian examined Biscuit, it was clear that he had a severe urinary blockage and needed immediate treatment. Unfortunately, his owners were unable to afford the necessary treatment, and they decided to surrender him to the AWLA so that we could treat him.
Biscuit had to have a catheter in place for several days in order to clear the blockage, but once it cleared, the catheter removed, and we proceeded to monitor him to make sure he had no further issues. Once it was clear that Biscuit was fully recovered, he was placed up for adoption and is now looking for his forever home!
Feline urinary tract infection and urinary blockages are a very common problem, and often are the reason that cats are surrendered to shelters. It’s very important for cat owners to know the signs of a urinary tract infection so it can be treated before it turns into a urinary blockage and becomes much more invasive (and expensive) to treat.
Tips to Prevent a Feline UTI:
– Keep your cat at a healthy weight. Obese cats are more likely to get a UTI.
– Feed your cat wed (canned) food. Wet food has more protein and moisture than dry food, which helps prevent infection.
– Make sure your cat always has fresh, clean water.
– Clean your cat’s littebox often! Dirty litterboxes can cause infection, so make sure you remove waste as soon as possible.
How do I know if my cat has a UTI?
Watch for symptoms of a UTI in cats. Pay attention and watch for the following:
– Straining to urinate.
– Yowling, or making other noises while urinating.
– Urinating only small amounts at a time, or none at all.
– Frequent trips to the litterbox.
– Blood in the urine.
– Licking the genital area.
– Increase in water consumption.
If you see any of these symptoms in your cat, call your veterinarian to determine if a visit to the vet is necessary. Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you and ways to help prevent UTIs in the future.
Donate here to help animals like Biscuit.