Cats, just like us, can suffer from diseases that affect their urinary tract. cystitis is one of the most common problems cats suffer from and can cause great discomfort if not treated properly.
It is a common but potentially dangerous disease, so every owner should know the symptoms of feline cystitis to act as soon as possible and avoid bigger problems. Sometimes a poorly cured cystitis can become chronic and cause your cat to relapse from time to time. In addition, it causes a lot of stress to the animal.
In this article on our site you will learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment of cystitis in cats to act quickly and prevent the clinical condition worsens..
What is cystitis?
Cystitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the urinary bladder, making it very similar to human cystitis. It can be caused by different causes, but the consequences are the same. It causes problems when urinating, causes pain and can make the cat that suffers from it very nervous. Likewise, he goes to the sandbox again and again but hardly urinates. For all these reasons, it is important to go to the vet as soon as we observe the first symptoms.
Feline cystitis is a common disease that can be overcome with proper care, but if complications arise it can cause major problems. If an obstruction of the urethra occurs and is not treated, it will cause the death of the animal.
Causes of cystitis in cats
Cystitis in cats can be caused by several factors:
- Bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Your veterinarian will determine the origin of the infection through a urinalysis. Bacterial infections are the most common and will be treated with antibiotics.
- Bladder cancer. Bladder cancer or other tumors can cause urinary problems that lead to cystitis. Other symptoms will be present.
- Obesity. Obesity is not a cause in itself, but it can predispose your cat to urinary infections. Read our article "Prevent obesity in cats" and discover how to keep your feline at its ideal weight.
- Feline idiopathic cystitis It is very difficult to diagnose this disease. It has a possible neurological origin. Normally when a cat has urinary problems but they do not come from a normal infectious process, it is a feline idiopathic cystitis. Your vet will rule out other causes first. The symptoms are not caused by bacteria or a pathogen. This type of cystitis is mainly caused by stress For this reason it can be difficult to diagnose and treat. It is important to control the environment of the animal, avoid stress and check that it drinks enough water.
Symptoms of cystitis in cats
At first it can be difficult to determine the symptoms of feline cystitis. But, as it progresses, our cat will show the signs of this disease more clearly. That's why it's important to observe your cat as soon as he behaves strangely. The sooner we act, the better.
The most common symptoms of cystitis in cats are as follows:
- Pain on urination: Meows or shows signs of pain when passing urine.
- He licks his genital area more than usual.
- Policy urination: urinating many times but small amounts, sometimes just a few drops.
- Dysuria: urinating with effort.
- Urinate outside the drawer.
If you notice that your cat does not urinate at all, it could be a obstruction of the urethra It is caused by the formation of crystals in the urethra, and tends to occur more frequently in male cats. When this happens, your cat, despite trying and making an effort, can't urinate at all. In these cases you should immediately go to your veterinarian
Feline cystitis treatment
As soon as you take your cat to the vet, the vet will perform a blood and urine test to determine the source of the cystitis.
If it is a bacterial or viral infection, it will be treated with antibiotics Respect the duration of treatment recommended by the veterinarian and do not medicate your cat on your own. It is very important not to stop treatment halfway, even if our cat is already well. If the infection does not heal well, relapses can occur.
During this period you should watch your cat's diet and keep it hydrated until it recovers.
Prevention of cystitis in cats
hygiene is essential to avoid infectious problems such as feline cystitis. We must have the litter box as clean as possible and observe every time you change it that the bowel movements and urination are correct. On the other hand, the place where the sandbox is located must be ventilated, accessible, with little humidity and away from other animals.
Cats with cystitis may have problems with litter boxes. The ideal for them is a wide and preferably open tray. Closed boxes with doors tend to be more difficult to clean, and some cats don't like to shut themselves in to urinate. You know your cat better than anyone, so choose the litter box that best suits him and keep it as clean as possible.
hydration is just as important to prevent urinary problems. They should always have fresh, clean water at their disposal. Leaving a cat without access to water for long periods can damage its kidneys.
If your cat goes outside and stays outside for hours. Place a container of water outside. Although cats look for alternatives to drink, it is always better that they drink the clean water that we put in it.
If you want to know more about other diseases that can affect your cat, read our article Common diseases of cats.
