7 Common Signs of Feline Urinary Tract Infection

By Stephen Jones

Boy, did I learn a valuable lesson. A couple years ago, I rushed my dear, dying cat to the pet hospital due to lower urinary tract disease caused by a blockage of his urethra. I'm not exaggerating when I say that if I waited any longer, he would have died. Thankfully the vet was able to save him although he was in a delicate state for weeks.

In order to prevent this stressful and agonizing experience from happening again, I had to learn to watch closely for the symptoms of feline urinary tract infection so I could treat my cat quickly at home. Better yet, I learned how to prevent feline lower urinary tract infections from happening altogether by making the necessary lifestyle and dietary changes and using homeopathic remedies but it's always safe to know the signs of an infection just in case. There are only very subtle behavioral variations in cats so that makes it extra difficult to spot an infection. Here are 7 of the most common signs you should look out for.

1. If your cat looks like he is in pain when urinating, it could be a sign of cat urinary tract infection. Take your cat to a veterinarian for quick diagnosis if you suspect an infection.

2. Frequent urination can also be a sign of feline urinary tract infection.

3. If your cat stops urinating altogether, you can almost be sure that your cat has UTI. The causes of not urinating could be inflammation of the urinary tract, bladder stones, or urethral obstruction. The most common cause of infection in cats is bladder stones.

4. Excessive grooming of the genitals is linked to the cat urinary tract infection, especially if your cat is crying while grooming. This could signify that he is in pain.

5. Blood in the urine is an almost certain sign of feline urinary tract infection and means your cat is in severe pain. You should take your cat to the vet immediately to prevent stress and further aggravation of the infection.

6. If your cat has stopped urinating in its litter box and urinates in different parts of the house, you can suspect cat urinary tract infection. This is because when urination becomes painful your cat associates it with the litter box and thus tries to avoid it.

7. If your cat is straining to urinate and there are only drops of urine coming out, it may be a sign of feline urinary tract infection. Furthermore, you may notice that your cat is acting extremely lethargic.

If you spot some of the more serious signs of cat urinary tract infection such as blood in the urine, your best bet is to take your cat to the vet immediately and seek conventional treatment. It is important however that once you get home, you start making dietary and lifestyle changes in order to reduce the chance of re-infection such as by feeding your cat fresh, unprocessed foods that are rich in essential minerals like magnesium. If your cat only seems to be in the early stage of an infection, you can try administering a homeopathic remedy at home in order to keep the infection from progressing.

Homeopathic remedies also support overall immune functioning and can be used to complement conventional treatments if you don't feel comfortable using them on their own. It is important to remember that conventional treatments like antibiotics are very strong and can have dangerous side effects. Using a homeopathic remedy promotes overall health and is 100% safe to use. Make no mistake about it. Preventive and homeopathic treatment promotes overall health so your cat can recover from a feline urinary tract infection without having to resort to strong antibiotics or surgery. Make sure to be aware of any unusual changes in behavior so your cat doesn't have to suffer in silence. With the right combination of dietary change, homeopathic treatment, and close observation, you can spot, treat, and prevent urinary tract infection in your cat and promote long term health.