By Tina Matsunaga
Discover he truth about urinary tract infection in cats. Otherwise, you may have to live my story for yourself:
When my daughter is 10-years-old, we add a gorgeous calico kitty to our family. She is so pretty, and she has an almost shy demeanor. In fact, she seems to believe my daughter belongs to her. However, shortly after she comes to live at our house, she starts going potty everywhere but the litter box. I knew nothing about urinary tract infection in cats.
For the next eighteen months, we clean up mess after mess. Scrubbing furniture is a daily chore. Machine washing stuffed toys and blankets are a common occurrence. Assuming it is a behavioral problem, we cope. Unfortunately, the problem only gets worse, as urinary tract infection in cats will do.
Finally, I cannot deal with the problems any longer. I am ready to send her packing to find a new home. Then, someone suggests she may have questionable cat urinary tract health. Great! While we have suffered a love/hate relationship for over a year, she may have been in real pain and misery. Now, I feel just horrible!
Of course, before giving her the boot, I have to discover whether she is sick. So, now it is time to go to the vet. With crystals and microscopic blood cells in her urine, it calls for a strong antibiotic. Now, I feel like a real heel! Unfortunately, the damage has been done. Even after the infection is gone, she still associates the litter box with pain. Unable to break the vicious cycle, I adopt her out, hoping a changed environment will give her and me a happier life. I wish I had known about urinary tract infection in cats.
On the hand, maybe you already know all about cat urinary tract health because your furry companion seems predisposition to get one frequently. Then, maybe what you need to know is holistic methods to keep sickness at bay:
- Keep water fresh, clean, and in abundant supply
- Soak foods in broth or liquid
- Cranberry juice
- Vitamin C
- Cantharis pellets
- Chemical free diet
Although most of the items on this short list make some sense, a couple of points are probably unfamiliar or merit further explanation.
Fresh water, and plenty of it, is imperative. Although you cannot force your feline friend to drink, the offer should always be available. A big bowl of water tends to get stale, have food crumbs mixed in, or more likely to be harboring harmful bacteria, so it is really important to provide clean water to help ensure optimal cat urinary tract health.
Liquid soaked foodsalso help make more frequent urination possible. Since you cannot explain the importance of drinking, even if your pet is not thirsty, this is a roundabout way to increase liquids. I ask you, what kitty would not love food soaked in chicken broth?
Cranberry juice is a surprise to me. Of course, I have known about the medicinal effects in people-but cats!? Yes. It works the same in pets. Nasty bacteria cling to the juice and are literally eliminated out of the system. Personally, I have never checked to see if cats like cranberry. If it will help prevent the pain and suffering caused by urinary tract infection in cats, I am all for it.
Vitamin C is touted as a health booster. But, this home remedy can be a challenge. Too much of a good thing, and your precious kitty will have a health issue of diarrhea. Therefore, it is important to lower the dose to the point of toleration, without the awful side effects.
Cantharis pellets are also being sold as a great homeopathic treatment for urinary tract infection in cats. One or two pellets, two or three times a day, is supposed a natural boost for fighting the sickness. However, I am suggesting talking to a vet before administering, because too much can do much more harm than good.
A Chemical free diet is also important. Like people, you cat should not have to ingest anything that is unhealthy and may cause problems down the road. Also, use a food appropriate for the age of your cat. For example, kitten food provides too much of some nutrients for grown cats, which can cause problems like bladder stones.
Now that you know this about urinary tract infection in cats, I hope you can avoid the nightmares of my story, and have many years of companionship with your furry little friend.
Tina Matsunaga is a freelance writer for home-based businesses, Internet marketers, and professionals around the world. She enjoys working at home while raising 2 children. She holds a BA in English and secondary education from Regis University. For more information about urinary tract infection in cats, visit http://www.pet-bladder-treatment.com |
0 comments:
Post a Comment