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Urinary System
Older cats drink more water, but dramatically
increased thirst indicates kidney problems,
cystitis (inflamed bladder) or urethritis
(inflamed "pee-pipe"). Kidney problems
are more common in older cats as their kidneys
work less efficiently (this is discussed
elsewhere). Cats with cystitis pass frequent tiny
amounts of urine, sometimes bloodstained or
containing mucus (slime). Cystitis causes
discomfort and must be treated by a vet. There are
other reasons a cat might start to drink more so
any unexplained increased thirst must be
investigated by a vet. Make sure your cat has
plenty to drink at all times - this keeps the
urine dilute and prevents dehydration. If he
doesn't drink water often, flavor the water with a
little tuna juice or meat gravy. Canned food has a
higher liquid content.
"Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder"
(FLUTD) or "Feline Urological Syndrome"
(FUS) is a general name for non-kidney urinary
problems. FLUTD is more common in older cats.
There is no single cause, but many contributory
factors including diet, stress and a hormonal
link. Symptoms and causes include cystitis,
urethritis, tumor in the bladder/urethra,
bacterial infection, injury to the bladder/urethra
or kidney stones, bladder stones or
"gravel" in the urine. Stones and gravel
are less common than they once were - they were
associated with dried cat foods, but modern
formulations eliminate the problem in all but a
very few susceptible cats. Stones are a build up
of crystals or mineral deposits; either calcium
oxalate or struvite, depending on urine pH.
Urethral plugs are soft plugs of accumulated
material containing minerals, blood, cellular
debris and protein, blocking or partially blocking
your cat's urethra ("pee-pipe").
If your cat has problems urinating or urinates
every few minutes, see the vet at once. If he
can't urinate at all, the kidneys can't function,
infection sets in and he may die in 36-48 hours
from blood toxicity or the pH of the blood
changing. The vet will remove obvious blockages
and may drain and flush out the bladder using a
catheter. Rehydration and antibiotics/anti-inflammatories
may be required. In male cats, frequent blockage
can be surgically corrected by widening the
urethra. The vet will probably prescribe a
high-energy, low ash content food with reduced
magnesium, calcium and phosphorous and ingredients
to adjust the pH of the urine and prevent further
problems.
Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)
occurs in older cats if the bladder sphincter
doesn't work properly or the bladder doesn't send
"full up" signals in time for the cat to
reach his litter tray. He may dribble after
urination (sphincter doesn't shut off the flow),
at times throughout the day (sphincter cannot
fully hold back the urine) or when asleep
(sphincter relaxes). It may also be caused by
injury to certain nerves or to the brain. Stress
incontinence (when coughing/sneezing) may be due
to an infection which requires antibiotic
treatment. Urinary incontinence is involuntary and
should not be confused with house-soiling in
senile cats or scent-marking (a behavioral
problem).
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