Apart from the joy they bring into one's life, cats are believed to help humans decrease their levels of stress and, more than that, they can lower the risks of heart disease. So owning a cat can truly improve one's life. But what can we do to improve our feline friend’s lives, as they also need care like the rest of us do?
Cats are indeed very hygienic pets, but they are also very sensitive when it comes to certain aspects. Cats, in general, develop a very high risk of urinary infections that can be fatal for them if you treat it with ignorance.
One thing you should always keep in mind is that one of the most frequent and common illnesses in cats is related to the urinary system. Though it can be fatal, urinary infection in cats is a treatable disease if you know how to prevent this type of problem or identify the symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms of urinary infections in cats are:
Frequent urination
Urinating outside the litter box
Licking the painful area
Lack of appetite
Playing or moving less than usual
No grooming
And the worst of all, blood in the urine
Now that you have learned the symptoms, it is extremely important to find out the causes of this disease and the main cause for it is improper feeding.
The best way to avoid urinary infections in cats is by keeping them on a properly hydrated diet, which means dried food is not quite recommended for felines. Water depleted foods can seriously affect your cat’s urinary system by causing urethral obstructions, which is also extremely painful.
An increased water intake also means an increased urine output, which is highly recommended when you are aiming to prevent your cat from developing urinary infections.
In case you have noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above in your feline friends you might want to make an urgent effort and pay a visit to the vet so he can:
Confirm the diagnosis
Take urine samples
Make an X-rays evaluation
Treat the urinary infection by prescribing a treatment
The urinary infections in cats are most of the time treatable so you should not worry about it unless you have ignored the symptoms and did not take any actions.
Cats are truly adorable little creatures that can improve your lives in so many aspects. Still, once you own one, it becomes a big responsibility, which means caring, proper feeding and regular visits to the veterinarian. Any changes or recommendations regarding the cat’s environment or nutrition should be carefully followed in order to avoid future health problems.
However careful and loving you might be, problems may occur. Think of your cat as your own child, a helpless being that cannot speak to tell you when it hurts or what it needs, treat it as part of your family and do not hesitate to call on a veterinarian for professional support in case you cannot handle the situation on your own.
