Cats, unfortunately, more often from cystitis. This is sometimes noticeable by an increased urge to urinate, sometimes cats meow loudly when urinating and sometimes blood is also visible in the urine. Bladder gravel and bladder stones are a problem for many cats. They can cause infections in the bladder or blockages in the urethra.
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Cystitis in cats
- Cystitis in cats is rarely caused by a bacterial infection;
- Depending on the course of cystitis, it can be life-threatening for cats;
- It is important to check whether the cystitis is accompanied by the formation of bubble gravel.
What is cystitis?
Bacteria are not always responsible for cystitis. Only 5% of all cats under 10 get cystitis after a bacterial infection. Cats with cystitis often use the litter box to urinate. The urination is often accompanied by pain-related meowing. In some cases, even if the cats are pressing hard, only small amounts of urine will come out. Cats may lick their vagina or penis and house-trained cats may become unclean and urinate outside of the litter box. Blood may also be visible in the cat’s urine.
Cystitis can develop in both male and female cats alike. Not all of the symptoms described have to be visible.
Caution, risk of death
If the cat has problems urinating because of a blockage of the urethra, it is in mortal danger. As the cat’s bladder continues to fill, it can no longer pass urine. This can damage the kidneys and the bladder can burst. If a cat becomes lethargic, does not want to eat anymore, vomits, walks strangely, and is plagued by severe abdominal pain, an immediate visit to the vet is necessary. The cat is sitting in the litter box, pressing hard, and yet not even a drop of urine runs off? Then the highest warning level is announced.
High kidney values and cardiac arrhythmias can clog the urethra in hangovers. Hangovers can die from it. The clogged urethra must be cleared of bladder gravel, mucus, and/or blood as soon as possible. The urethra in tomcats is much narrower than in cats, so hangovers are more likely to suffer from the condition. The vet will place a catheter and, if necessary, an infusion. The vet also checks the kidney values and the potassium level in the blood.
What causes are responsible for cystitis?
Many factors influence the development of cystitis. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle as well as crystals in the urine are the most common causes of cystitis. Other reasons include insufficient fluid intake, incorrect nutrition with too much magnesium in the feed, or incorrect acidity in the urine due to too much feed. Then there is the stress. Bladder stones, polyps, congenital malformations of the urinary tract, and bladder tumors can be other possible triggers, but these rarely occur.
How can cystitis be treated?
If no urine crystals are present during the bladder infection, the veterinarian can treat it with anti-inflammatory pain relievers. The cat may be given an infusion and a bacteriological examination. If the cystitis is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are given to the cat. In overweight cats, the weight must be reduced, the vet may give a remedy for stress.
If the cystitis is accompanied by urine crystals, it is important that these are dissolved.
This works with special diet food. Depending on the crystals, the food can be helpful here. The feed also prevents regeneration and lowers the pH value in the urine. Some crystals do not dissolve with special food, but the formation of new ones can be avoided. If a cat shows symptoms of cystitis, in most cases the veterinarian will want a urine sample from the affected cat. The easiest way to do this is with a special plastic cat litter known as Katkor. No liquid is sucked up from the grains, so the urine can be sucked up with a syringe or pipette. The urine should then be sent to the vet as soon as possible. Storage should be a maximum of two hours. The urine should be stored in the refrigerator until the sample is taken to the vet.
Homeopathic treatment for cystitis
Especially in the early stages, homeopathic remedies can be used in cats with cystitis. The funds, however, should be given soon.
Cantharis is a good choice for a bladder infection without stone formation. However, the vet should definitely determine beforehand whether the cat has bladder stones. If this is the case, Berberis or Lycopodium can be helpful in driving out the stones if they are stuck in the urinary tract.
To do this, the food must be changed so that the cat receives food with an optimal pH value. Outdoor cats should also have a litter box in the house so that problems with urination can always be recognized in good time.
Bladder infections in cats can occur at any time. To minimize the risk, care should be taken with the weight of the cat. The cat should not have access to unlimited food but should have enough to drink at all times. Cats who are lazy to drink can often be encouraged to drink more by a drinking fountain. If the cat has already had bladder stones or urine crystals, it should be given a special diet food on a permanent basis.
