Protect Your Cats Against UTIs

You may not always notice the signs of a feline urinary tract infection right away—that’s what PrettyLitter is for. We make it easier than ever to look after your fur baby.

The Good Cat Parents’ Guide to Feline UTIs

What is a UTI in a Cat?

Cat UTIs are painful infections in the lower urinary tract, affecting the urethra and bladder. Bacteria from the outside world travels up the urethra and finds a home in your kitty’s bladder, where it grows and multiplies causing painful urination. These infections can lead to various urinary tract issues if not promptly addressed.

Urinary Tract Infections in cats are no problem to treat, as long as you notice the signs and symptoms before it develops into something more serious.

How to Identify a UTI in Your Cat

Sometimes, you could swear your cat makes himself so clear it's like he's talking to you. But your cat may struggle to find the “words” to tell you he's suffering from a UTI, which is why it's your job to notice the signs:

• Frequent trips to the litter box
• Small amounts of urine each time
• Painful urination—you might hear mews and cries of pain
• Bloody urine
• Turning the house into their litter box
• Excessive genital grooming
• Alkaline urine (high pH levels)—you'll notice blue patches in their litter box when using PrettyLitter

What Causes a UTI in a Cat?

It's safe to say that cats know how to find trouble—chasing birds, romping through your garden, even picking fights with the neighborhood raccoons. But with UTIs, it seems trouble finds them. Understanding the common causes of UTIs will help in more effective prevention and treatment:

Bacterial Infection

The most common infectious organism is Escherichia coli, the bacteria found in feces.

Stones or Crystals

These harsh, irritating mineralized crystals in the bladder can leave cats increasingly vulnerable to infection and urinary tract issues.

Fungal or Parasitic Infection

Although uncommon, Candidiasis (fungal yeast infection) and Capillariasis (parasitic worms) may be the culprit to your cat's UTI.

How to Prevent UTIs in Cats?

Cats may be independent creatures, but they still need your love and care, especially when it comes to cat UTI prevention. Here's what you can do to help keep your kitty safe from feline UTIs:

Increase Water Intake

Adding canned food to their diet or purchasing a pet fountain are easy ways to keep your cats hydrated after a full day of play.

Avoid Change

Cats are creatures of habit—they respond poorly to interruptions in their routine, and the added stress can spur on infection.

A Proper Litter Box Environment

A quiet, clean place for your cat to do their business can stimulate healthy litter box habits.

Special Diets

Prescription cat foods might help balance your fur baby's pH levels and prevent UTIs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Treat My Cat’s UTI at Home?

UTIs should be treated by a veterinarian, even if your kitty's only experiencing mild symptoms. You can, however, attempt to alleviate their discomfort in the meantime, and hopefully prevent further infections through cat UTI prevention measures:

• Hydration - Keep their bowl filled with clean water or invest in a pet fountain to encourage hydration. You can also switch to wet canned food if you haven't already.
• Acidity - Adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice concentrate to their canned wet food may be able to flush out their bladder and create an environment that the bacteria can't survive.

Your veterinarian will be best equipped to provide you with a safe, effective treatment method.

Do Cat UTI’s Go Away?

If your cat exhibits mild symptoms of pain and discomfort that seem to disappear after a week, this doesn't mean they're cured. UTIs typically have an underlying cause that needs to be addressed—without doing that, your kitty's strange urination habits and yowls of pain will be back before you know it. The only way to rid your kitty of a UTI is through proper medical treatment and behavioral adjustments.

How Long Can a Cat Have a UTI?

Mild cases may clear up in 5-7 days, but they're likely to reappear within the year. Cat urinary tract infections can quickly become recurring conditions, especially if they're not properly treated.

After receiving a confirmed diagnosis of feline urinary tract infection, most antibiotic therapy lasts 7 to 14 days. You should start to see improvements in that time—if not, check back in with the vet.

Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet for a UTI?

Yes, definitely. Feline urinary tract infections are not only painful for your fur baby but can become debilitating and even deadly if left untreated, leading to potential urinary issues like bladder stones. Even if the initial symptoms disappear without intervention, there's likely an underlying cause or infection that necessitates veterinary assessment and treatment. It's crucial to address any concerns promptly to ensure your cat's well-being and prevent further complications associated with urinary issues and bladder stones.

Which cats are prone to lower urinary tract problems?

Urinary tract issues can affect all cats: young or old, male or female.

UTIs, however, are much more common in females (cats and humans alike) because their urethras are shorter and wider. Males, on the other hand, are more susceptible to urethral obstruction—a common cause of lower urinary tract disease—for the exact opposite reason.

Senior cats are also more prone to lower urinary tract problems because of their increased susceptibility to kidney disease and diabetes. These conditions can impact their urine's acidity and concentration, leaving them at higher risk of infection.

What health conditions might lead to lower urinary tract problems?

Lower urinary tract problems can be caused by:

• Bladder stones or crystals
• Urethral obstruction
• Bladder inflammation
• Bacterial infections

Certain pre-existing health conditions increase the risk of developing a feline UTI, including:

• A previous UTI or bladder stones, which leaves them susceptible to recurring infections
• Diabetes mellitus (“sugar diabetes” in cats)
• Obesity or elevated body mass

What does a urinalysis look at?

A urinalysis can detect and diagnose several cat urinary disorders—feline UTIs included. Specifically, your veterinarian will be assessing:

• Urine gravity (concentration)
• pH levels (alkaline or acidic)
• Ketones (chemicals produced by the liver)
• Glucose (sugar content)
• Bilirubin (a pigment that arises from breaking down red blood cells)
• Blood (red and white blood cells)
• Bacteria
• Protein

A high white blood cell count and the presence of bacteria are two common indicators of a feline UTI.

Use PrettyLitter to Detect UTIs Sooner

Maintaining your fur baby’s health doesn’t have to be a guessing game. PrettyLitter’s smart technology helps to detect health issues before you can, including an alkaline pH balance for those pesky feline UTIs.

Don’t risk it — start using PrettyLitter today.