A cat urinary tract infection can often be indicative of more serious problems lurking under the cover of the infection. Compounding the problem of how quickly the infection can spread, cats are notoriously clever when it comes to hiding the fact that they are in pain, thus making it even more difficult to catch it in time. Unfortunately, for many cats and their owners, the infection can progress very quickly until it results in the loss of the cat's life.
Male cats tend to suffer from urinary tract infections more often than female cats. They are also more prevalent amongst older cats, as they are more likely to develop kidney problems, which can lead to a blocked urinary tract and an infection.
There are some telltale signs that a feline is ill with a cat urinary tract infection though these may not be noticed if the cat is an indoor and outdoor cat. One of the first symptoms that a cat has a urinary tract infection is that it will avoid urinating in its litter box. Instead, it will urinate in different locations around the house; seeming to prefer cool locations such as tiled floors or even in bathtubs and sinks.
This avoidance of the litter box is because the cat begins to associate the litter box and the passing of urine with pain, and so they avoid using the box. If the cat is an outdoor cat and it does not use a litter box it is possible that you may not notice this symptom at first. Other symptoms include straining while urinating and quite possibly yowling with pain at the same time. The urine will normally smell much stronger than normal, and occasionally, especially as the infection progresses; you may notice blood in the urine.
Another typical symptom is excessive licking of the genital area. Whenever a cat feels discomfort or pain their natural reaction is to lick the area in an effort to quicken the healing. While this may work for other wounds, unfortunately it is of little value if a cat has a cat urinary tract infection. You may also notice that your cat is much more thirsty than usual. As the infection progresses, the cat will become increasingly listless and will be obviously unwell.
An untreated cat urinary tract infection can lead to an obstructed urinary tract, which if left untreated, is likely to result in permanent damage or death. If a cat is unable to urinate due to having a blocked urethra toxins that are normally excreted via the urine will instead build up in the blood, bringing a cat to the point of death in as little as 72 hours.
When caught in the early stages, the cat will be treated with antibiotics. You will be encouraged to provide plenty of fresh drinking water, switch to feeding your cat several small meals each day and you may also be advised to change the brand of cat food to one which is low in magnesium. If your cat is not diagnosed early enough, treatment may include a stay at the veterinary office, catheterization and IV fluid administration. In some situations, surgery to remove any blockage may also be indicated.
If you love your pet and want to provide a natural and safe treatment that will help your pet get better and recover quickly then click here now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_J_Nelson
