|
How can you recognize feline Urinary Tract Infections early on, to save your
kitty needless pain, and damage to your home from her cat urine?
This article will outline the steps you can take to prevent kitty's pain from feline Urinary Tract Infection and the damage done to your home from her urine.
Possibly the single biggest cause of cats not using the litter box is a
medical condition called Feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It used to be
called Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS), but you don't often see that term
anymore.
Feline UTI can be sneaky and hidden, because your cat often may not display
outward symptons of discomfort and pain early on. It's only after your kitty
feels significant pain, time and time again, that she stops using her litter
box because she associates her urinary pain with the cat litter box.
This is when you sit up and take notice, since there's nothing like a smelly
puddle of cat urine on your beautiful floor or furniture to get your
attention!
However, there are a few signs you should be on the lookout for. While none
of us really want to watch our kitty use the litter box, it's a good idea to
observe her a couple times a week. This way, you can separate normal litter
box behavior and habits from those that indicate something is not quite right.
By knowing what is normal for your kitty, you can stop health problems
before they manifest themselves into cat urine odor puddles and stains
around your home, create immense frustration for you trying to figure out
what's wrong, and spend needless time spent cleaning your house after every
episode.
And what are we looking for?
First, we are looking to see if our cat cries or howls in obvious pain while
she's urinating. If this is the case, run, don't walk to the phone, and call
your vet immediately!
Next, even if kitty does her business in silence, look at the urine ball (or
puddle) before she buries it. If you see any tinge of red or pink - get your
cat to the vet as fast as you can, because she definitely has a UTI in full
bloom.
This was how I finally figured out the root cause of Scout not using her
box. I just happened to see her use the box to urinate, and I was so happy,
I decided to scoop the urine ball immediately, to keep her box clean. The
urine ball was reddish in some spots. I called the vet right then and there,
and while I didn't know it at the time, I had finally found the source of
Scout's discomfort with her litter boxes!
NOTE: If your cat stops using the litter box, but you find her squatting in either the bathroom sink or tub, you can easily see the color(s) of her urine - lucky you!
Why is this lucky?
- Because your cat's urine will show up brightly against the porcelain;
- It's easy to clean up;
- She has the right room and idea, but the wrong appliance!
Here's another clue your kitty will give you:
After she uses the box and covers her business, if she licks her genitals
excessively, and meows, you can be pretty sure she has a feline UTI. So,
it's time for a consultation with your friendly neighborhood vet, and some
testing to determine if a UTI is haunting your kitty. Particularly if you
see this behavior coupled with "accidents" around the house, you can be
pretty certain the vet will conclude kitty has a UTI.
Taking a few minutes out of your schedule each week, watching your kitty use the box, and quickly analyzing her urine production can save you a lot of
heartache and puzzlement down the road.
And, by evaluating her behavior in the litter box, you're saving kitty lots
of pain and agony from a feline UTI. You're also saving time and money by
not having to seek out and clean up multiple cat urine spots on your floors
and furniture.
About the Author
Nancy has successfully eliminated cat urine odor from her home, and kept the kitty that caused it.
Visit http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com
to help you save money and stop the damage in your household by offering solutions that work together to eliminate cat urine odor from your home.
|
