If your cat is suffering from uncomfortable urination and an increased number of trips to the litter box, she may be suffering from Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It is a serious problem and veterinary care should be sought immediately.Below are a few tips on figuring out if your cat has FLUTD and how to proceed.
Symptoms
FLUTD often stops your cat’s bladder from emptying properly and may even cause a fatal blockage in the urethra. This is a very serious ailment and can cause fatality if the cat does not get in to see a vet right away.Symptoms include:
- Frequent or painful urination
- Only being able to pass a small amount of urine
- Blood in the urine
- Cloudy urine
- Increased frequency of the cat licking the urinary opening
- Loss of bladder control
- Crying in pain when trying to pee
- Squatting for long periods of time in the litter box
- Urine has a strong smell of ammonia
- Becoming lethargic
- Vomiting
- Suddenly drinking large quantities of water
What causes FLUTD?
FLUTD is usually found in cats around four years old, and males often suffer more often because they have narrower urethras. FLUTD is not just one issue. In fact, it can be caused by a wide variety of health problems in your cat, such as:
- Bladder stones
- Urinary tract blockage
- Infection
- Cancer
- Incontinence
- Injury to the urinary tract
- Tumour
- Stress
- Issues with the spinal cord
What are the treatment options?
Take your cat to the vet right away if you suspect she has FLUTD. Your vet will conduct a complete exam as well as a urine analysis. Blood work and an ultrasound will also help diagnose the cause of the problem. Brace yourself: this may not be a cheap trip to the vet, but it will be well worth it for the life of your cat.
There are many different treatment options, depending on what is causing the urinary problem. You may be required to do some of the following treatment options:
- Antibiotics
- Change your cat’s diet
- Increase the amount of water your cat drinks
- Surgery to remove bladder stones, tumours or any other abnormalities
- Fluid therapy
If you think that your cat might be suffering from an infection, it's best to take him or her to the vet to get everything checked out and get them on the road to recovery.
