Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, in people are most commonly associated with bacterial infections. However in cats, urinary tract infections are only caused by a bacterial infection in less than 10% of all diagnosed cases.
The prevention of urinary tract infection in cats relies on why the infection developed in the first place. In cases where the cause of repeated UTIs in a cat remains undiscovered, pet owners can use preventative steps to help reduce UTI attacks in their cat.
Symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats can vary, but in some cases cats will not show any specific symptoms at all. Urinary tract infections, and difficulties urinating, can lead to serious and life threatening conditions. Schedule an immediate appointment with your veterinarian if you notice any of the following symptoms in your cat.
Urinary tract infections in cats are diagnosed through urine cultures or a urinalysis test. Before these tests can begin, a clean sample of the urine must be obtained. A clean urine sample is vital to an accurate urinary tract infection diagnosis.
Cats will from time to time develop a urinary tract infection, and these infections are treated successfully with antibiotics. However sometimes the cat has an underlying condition which causes the urinary tract infection to develop. In these cases the infections will continue to reappear after antibiotic treatments unless the cause of the infection is resolved.