In this blog post, you’ll learn about common cat UTI symptoms and how to treat them. If you suspect your cat has a UTI after reading, contact Penny Paws to schedule a visit with one of the best veterinarians in DeSoto, TX.
What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?
A urinary tract infection, often abbreviated as UTI, refers to an infection that affects part of your cat’s urinary system. The infection starts in their bladder or urethra when bacteria enter the urinary tract and begin to multiply.
UTIs can cause pain, inflammation, and changes in how your cat urinates. Some cats strain in the litter box, urinate more often, have accidents outside the litter box, or cry while trying to pee. Without treatment, the infection can worsen and lead to more serious health problems.
4 Signs Your Cat May Have a Urinary Tract Infection
Cats often hide pain and discomfort, so urinary problems can be easy to miss at first. If you suspect your cat has a urinary tract infection, don’t wait for the signs to turn into a more serious problem. Schedule an exam right away if you notice any of the following signs of a urinary tract infection in cats:
Frequent Urination
A cat with a urinary tract infection may visit the litter box more often than usual and only pass small amounts of urine each time. You may notice repeated trips to the box, squatting often, or trying to pee several times in a short period.
Blood in the Urine
Blood in the urine is a common warning sign of irritation or inflammation in the urinary tract. The urine may look pink, red, or darker than normal. Even small amounts of blood mean your cat needs veterinary attention.
Straining To Urinate and Litter Box Avoidance
Some cats strain for long periods and produce little or no urine. Painful urination can also make your cat associate the litter box with discomfort, which may cause them to avoid it. This sign can point to an infection, crystals, or a blockage that needs prompt care.
Peeing Outside the Box
Cats often pee outside the box when urination becomes painful or urgent. Your cat may choose rugs, bedding, laundry, or other soft areas instead of the litter box. When a cat pees on the bed, it usually means there’s a medical problem, not a behavior problem.
Conditions Often Mistaken as UTIs in Cats
Urinary tract infections are quite rare in young and healthy cats. Many other urinary problems cause similar symptoms, so people often mistake them for a UTI. The following list describes a few of the most common:
- Feline idiopathic cystitis: Stress, inflammation, and changes in the bladder wall can cause pain, frequent urination, straining, and accidents outside the litter box without a bacterial infection.
- Urinary crystals: Minerals can form tiny crystals in the urine that irritate the bladder and make urination painful or difficult.
- Bladder stones: Stones can rub against the bladder lining, block urine flow, and cause blood in the urine or repeated straining.
- Urethral blockage: A blockage can stop urine from leaving the body. This is a medical emergency, especially in male cats.
- Kidney disease: Kidney problems can change thirst, urination habits, appetite, and energy levels, which some owners mistake for a bladder infection.
- Diabetes: Cats with diabetes often drink more water and urinate more often, which can look like a urinary issue at first.
Because so many conditions share the same warning signs, your cat needs a proper exam and testing to find the real cause and get the right treatment.
How To Treat a Cat With a Urinary Tract Infection
At Penny Paws, we see cats with urinary tract infections all the time, and we know how to find the cause and treat the problem quickly. When you bring your cat into Penny Paws, we’ll examine them, run the right tests, relieve their discomfort, and create a treatment plan that helps them recover quickly.
Here are a few ways we treat cats with urinary tract infections:
Diagnostic Testing
We start by finding the cause of your cat’s symptoms. We may recommend a urinalysis, urine culture, bloodwork, or imaging to check for bacteria, crystals, stones, inflammation, or other urinary problems.
Medication and Supportive Care
If your cat has an infection, we may prescribe antibiotics or other medication based on the test results. We may also recommend pain relief, hydration support, and diet changes to help your cat feel better and recover faster.
Treatment for Underlying Conditions
Some cats have symptoms caused by bladder stones, stress-related inflammation, blockages, or other medical issues instead of a simple infection. We treat the underlying problem, so the symptoms do not keep coming back.
What Happens When You Ignore a Cat UTI?
When you ignore a cat’s UTI, the infection and inflammation can worsen and cause more pain every day. Your cat may strain in the litter box, urinate more often, cry while trying to pee, or start avoiding the litter box completely.
Blood may appear in the urine, and accidents around your home may become more common. Some cats stop eating, hide more, or act tired because they feel sick. In severe cases, bacteria can spread, or a blockage can develop, especially in male cats.
Quick treatment protects your cat’s comfort and helps prevent dangerous complications.
Bring Your Cat to Penny Paws for Professional UTI Testing and Treatment
In this blog post, you learned about cat UTI symptoms. If you still aren’t sure if your cat has a UTI, but you noticed one or more of the signs mentioned in this blog post, you need to schedule a visit with a veterinarian.
Call Penny Paws at (817) 993-1234 to set up an appointment where we’ll examine your cat, run the right tests, find the cause of the symptoms, and start the treatment your cat needs to recover and remain healthy.
Make sure you check out our other blog post about common health issues in cats to learn the warning signs and understand when your cat needs veterinary care.