According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 57% of households in the United States owned a pet at the end of 2016, and 25% of those households owned a cat. Cats have long brought joy to many people, and there is plenty of research to suggest owning pets can increase a person’s happiness and even overall health.
But what about when they inappropriately urinate in the house? Nobody likes house soiling and cats are often the culprits of this undesirable behavior. In this article, we will explore urinary tract disease and disorders in cats, how to recognize symptoms and how to help prevent them.
Feline Urinary Tract Disease and Disorders
The two main causes of urinary disorders in cats can be lumped into behavioral problems and medical problems. Anytime your cat suddenly starts avoiding the box and urinating inappropriately, a veterinary visit is always warranted. A physical exam, urinalysis, and possibly imaging with x-rays or ultrasound are needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
Causes of Feline Urinary Issues
Medical causes for urinary disorders in cats are varied and can include common things, like bacterial infection and inflammatory cystitis, and less common disorders, such as Diabetes and kidney disease. Typical urinary tract infection symptoms seen in cats include frequent squatting, with small amounts of urine being produced. Occasionally owners may see blood in the litterbox as well.
Symptoms of Urinary Issues in Cats
Some cats may urinate outside the box, because they possibly associate urinary pain with the litterbox, thus they avoid it. Anytime your cat is frequently going to the litterbox with small amounts of urine being produced, a trip to the vet is warranted.
Can Both Male and Female Cats Have Urinary Tract Problems?
When these symptoms occur in a male cat, the likelihood of this being related to cystitis, versus a true bacterial infection, is much more likely. In male cat anatomy, the urethra is much narrower than in a female. This makes bacteria travelling up into the bladder less likely, but also makes it harder for urine to be voided if inflammation is present. This is why in male cats, straining to urinate can be associated with complete urinary blockage. This is very dangerous and cats can die from it if left untreated.
Symptoms of underlying systemic diseases, like kidney disease or diabetes typically present a little differently. These cats usually are voiding very large amounts of urine, but are not always going to the box more frequently. Some may pee outside the litterbox, but the urine may be devoid of an odor since it is so diluted. Owners typically notice the clumps of litter in the box are larger in size. Some owners may notice the water level in the dish going down quicker as well.
Treatment of Urinary Issues in Cats
Treatment really depends on the underlying problem, but there are some things that can be done to prevent urinary issues, especially sterile cystitis in male cats, and urinary tract infections in female cats. Feeding a urinary specific diet can help dilute out the urine, making inflammation causing crystals less likely to form. A cat with more diluted urine will sometimes void their bladder more frequently as well, which can help prevent ascending bacteria from causing a bacterial infection.
Stress has been linked to urinary issues in cats, so ensuring your cat has a safe and comfortable environment can help. Some cats with repeated inflammation causing cystitis can be helped by being prescribed medications that decrease anxiety. Feline pheromone products can occasionally help as well.
Behavioral Urinary Issues in Cats
While nobody wants their cat to have an illness or medical problem, the silver lining is that sometimes there is a treatment and the urinary issues can be resolved. Behavioral urinary issues, however, can be frustrating to manage. Once your veterinarian has ruled out a medical cause for inappropriate urination, then options for behavioral therapy need to be tried.
Prevention of Urinary Issues in Cats: Litter Boxes
Cats can be incredibly picky about the placement of the litterbox, type of litterbox (high sides, low sides, covered, uncovered), and the type of litter. A general rule of thumb is that you should have at least one litterbox per cat, and possibly one more. For a two-cat household, having three boxes may be necessary. Picky litterbox users often require an impeccably clean box, like twice a day scooping. If this sounds daunting, consider a self-cleaning box.
Older cats will sometimes have issues climbing into the box, and one with lower sides may help. Very large cats may need a larger box. A rule of thumb for the appropriate length is the length of your cat from nose to extended tail. Some undesirable urinary behaviors can be curbed by experimenting with different types of boxes and different types of substrates. If you have a multi-cat household, be sure that one cat isn’t bullying another in the box. If cats feel vulnerable, they may choose a ‘safer’ place to urinate, like on the couch…
Cat Marking
The presence of a urine smell can encourage a cat to mark, so it is imperative to use a product that uses enzymes to break down the urine odor. Stress and disruption from routine can lead to inappropriate urination. If this becomes a chronic problem, medications to help manage stress and anxiety may help as well. These would need to be prescribed under the care of a veterinarian.
