When you call your vet to discuss your cat's symptoms, he or she may ask some questions to help you figure out what's stressing your cat, including: Another thing to consider is that cats are often tuned into their pet parent's feelings, so you may want to check in with yourself, too. While male cat urinary blockages are common, they can be life-threatening. It can be because of a number of reasons - including problems in the urinary tract or stress. Stress and Feline Urinary Problems: How to Deal With It. These are often the result of a cat urinary tract infection, or crystals forming in the bladder. Although it may seem like cats have easy lives, the truth is, cats can get stressed very easily. Initially, an owner may notice that the cat is spending … The main reason that cats experience immunity stress … For most cats suffering from urinary issues such as crystals or bladder stones, wet food is best, since it has more moisture to keep your cat hydrated. In the case of cats with urinary tract disease, however, sensory neurons trigger the inflammation of the bladder not because of infection or injury but in response to stress. ), try to prepare your cat by finding items and toys she enjoys. How to prevent a cat urinary problem Preventing urinary infection in cats is aimed at addressing behavioural issues and helping to reduce stress for the cat. If your cat is posturing to urinate and little or no urine is coming out, your cat … Know the warning signs and how nutrition can play a pivotal role in preventing FLUTD. In addition to prescription medication and food, your vet can also offer suggestions on how to improve your home environment to calm all the cats in your household. When she is not teaching or writing, Chrissie enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Cat urinary tract disease: a common health problem. Behavioral enrichment can include things as simple as more toys that allow for the cat to engage in “hunting” activities. Untreated FLUTD has the potential to cause partial or complete obstruction of the urethra. If a cat and their owner have a strong relationship, the cat can even pick up on an owner’s stress, which can result in health problems. The stress causes numerous problems, so to have a happy, healthy cat, be sure to address possible behavioral or environmental stressors. Treatment of urinary problems in cats . Research suggests that these issues are most common among cats older than one year, but also younger than four years. Because idiopathic cystitis can cause crystals, the narrow urethra of male cats can get blocked by crystals being lodged in the tube. So, even if your cat is only urinating once … When a cat shows an obvious urinary tract problem, Buffington suggests that this can be just the tip of the iceberg — the cat with urinary tract symptoms may be suffering from a Pandora’s box of other ills or “sicknesses.” Pandora’s … Hill’s Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Canned Cat Food. This can be beneficial for your cat’s health and can actually prevent idiopathic cystitis. And don't forget to manage your stress better, too! The more challenging stress sources are long-term situations that may not have quick fixes and can cause more serious urinary problems. Veterinarians recommend that the number of litter boxes in the house is one greater than the number of cats. Ways do this would be to feed wet food, or by adding more water bowls throughout the house. If your cat is experiencing urinary issues, don't delay the trip to the vet. Urinary tract problems in cats are just one such example and urinary-related illnesses are rather common. Feline urinary problems can be one of the first signs your cat is experiencing some type of stress. Commonly referred to as a urinary tract infection, this problem in cats is more properly called “idiopathic cystitis” in veterinary terminology. We cannot stress enough the importance of resolving your cat's urinary tract problems. If the stressor is identified quickly and the cat gets the special attention she needs, the urinary issues may quickly subside. Instead, the problem in cats is usually stress induced. Instead, the problem in cats is usually stress induced. It is … Dietary modifications would help by diluting the urine. If she's more of a loner, there are plenty of great pet yoga videos on the internet for the both of you to enjoy at home. The … When cats are happy and healthy, they use the litter box for both urinating and defecating. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is actually a complex of diseases and includes illnesses such as bladder infections, bladder stones, inflammation in the bladder and even, in rare … Additionally, keep the litter box very clean and find a quiet place for her to relax. Has stress started to interrupt your daily routine? Urinary problems can lead to a serious, urinary obstruction, especially in male cats. Depending on her stressors, your vet may prescribe medication and/or adjust her diet with therapeutic cat food, which can help relieve some urinary issues and get her on the path to feeling well again. Excessive sleeping or lack of sleep are common symptoms in humans who are stressed. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD is a common condition seen in cats. One creative way to reduce stress for you and your cat is to do yoga together. … Although it may seem like cats have easy lives, the truth is, cats can get stressed very easily. The most dangerous problem seen in cats with LUTS is urethral obstruction, or blockage of the urethra, a potentially life-threatening condition. Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control … Unfortunately, for many cats, dealing with feline urinary stress may take weeks or months to alleviate. Urinary stones are only one of the causes of urethral … “Generally speaking, infectious agents such as bacteria are infrequent in urinary tract disease in cats,” says Dr. Gal. “Because stress plays an important role in the origin of this problem, it is important to reduce stresses related to the litter box as much as possible,” says Dr. Gal. But depending on the root cause, worry not! Stress and Feline Urinary Problems: How to Deal With It. Sometimes, urinary problems are a sign that your cat may be suffering from a medical issue; think urinary tract infection. Stress often arises because a cat feels intimidated by another cat in the house, according to Dr. Gal. Another huge factor to managing your cat's stress is to provide her with consistency. It’s important to address urinary tract disorders in cats because of the other health consequences of stress-related disease. Since idiopathic cystitis isn’t caused by an infectious agent, other animals in the household can’t catch the disease. As discussed in Part One, stress can often be either the main cause of your cat’s urinary tract problems, or a contributing factor. Depending on your cat’s energy levels, it can’t hurt to take a bit of extra time to keep your cat … These can come in various forms, such as wipes, sprays, and plug-in diffusers, and are used to relieve stress in cats. Crystals, irritation, inflammation, and other feline urinary problems usually present with frequent attempts at urination with very little actual urine produced. Male cats are more likely than female cats to have this problem. Cookie Consent Tool, Dominican Republic - República Dominicana, Greater China - Hong Kong SAR – (English). Urinary tract infections (FLUTD) can kill your cat. “Avoid placing litter boxes in high traffic areas or where there is a lot of noise.”, Dr. Gal also warns against litter with scents. Urinary tract disorders are relatively common in cats, according to Dr. Arnon Gal, a veterinarian who specializes in small animal internal medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Stress and Feline Urinary Problems: How to Deal With It. Cats are susceptible to stress-related lower urinary disorders, including cystitis and urethral spasms, which can result in blockage. As an owner, there are various ways you … If your cat is experiencing urinary stress, a visit to the vet is likely needed. However, if your cat starts exhibiting any of the following behaviors, she may be experiencing feline urinary stress or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD): Most cats will show the above signs when they have reached their stress limit or are having a medical issue, so some earlier signs of stress might be that your cat is hiding more, is less affectionate, is changing her eating behavior, or is only urinating or defecating in her litter box (not both). Sometimes, however, all you need to do is spend a little more time with your cat and give her positive attention to ease her mind. Also, try keeping the litter box and house very clean and make sure she is well-hydrated, which can relieve stress and reduce or eliminate the feline urinary problems. It is important for cat parents to know what the symptoms look like and how to help their feline friends. By preparing for stressful situations and keeping an eye out for the initial signs that your cat is becoming overwhelmed, you can help your cat avoid feline urinary problems and lead a healthier and happier life. That's one of the reasons why we picked Royal Canin’s … According to Live Science, researchers found the most common long-term stressor for cats was unfriendly relationships with other cats in the house. It is important for cat parents to know what the symptoms look like and how to help their feline … Chrissie Klinger, a mother of two, and a pet parent to three dogs and a cat, enjoys writing pet related articles that help families bond and enjoy life with pets. If the problem is ignored in male cats, due to their anatomy a potentially lethal blockage can occur. min read. This includes stress which may transfer from owner to cat, stress from living in a multi-cat household or stress from having … RT @rlsdvm_epivet: Great summary of our cautious optimism and continuing concern https://t.co/lt26qti1tp10:10 AM Feb 2nd, 3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building Even a small change in routine can cause painful health issues … Urinary tract infections (FLUTD) can kill your cat. If you have cats that do not get along, feed them separately and give them each their own litter box, bed, and hiding space to retreat to if things get stressful. Here's what you can do about common urinary problems … Feline urinary problems can be one of the first signs your cat is experiencing some type of stress. Know these 4 facts about feline urinary … Big changes in a cat's life, like a move or an addition of a new pet in the house, could cause temporary stress. 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