Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection

A common health problem with cats is urinary tract infection. Male cats that haven’t been neutered commonly suffer from urinary tract infection, although females can suffer from this problem also. This problem is normally the cause for a cat to suddenly stop going to the litter box. If the cat’s urine starts to smell really strong, that might be an indicator. You should take your cat to the vet if you suspect that they have a urinary tract infection. It can be treated with medicine, and the vet can make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Signs of Urethral Obstruction

You can tell if your cat might have a urethral obstruction if you notice the following: frequently attempting to urinate, straining to urinate, and producing little, if any, urine. An obstructed cat will become much more distressed, often crying out in pain, as time passes.

It might appear that the cat is constipated, when the cat is actually obstructed. An obstructed male cat might lick at his penis, and the penis may be protruded. You might see small sand-like particles around the penis.

Urethral obstruction is a true medical emergency. If you suspect any cat of having from this condition, they must be seen by a veterinarian immediately. If the cat’s urethra becomes completely blocked, the kidneys will not be able to maintain a proper balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body or remove toxins from the blood. The cat will eventually lose consciousness and die, if the obstruction is not removeded. Electrolyte imbalances most frequently will cause heart failure which will ultimately result in death. It may be less than twenty four to forty eight hours from complete obstruction until death. It is essential that the cat get immediate treatment.