what causes cats to get crystals in their urine

April 09, 2022 Post a Comment

Cat's Urinary Health

Cats are notoriously plagued by urinary problems. Kidney affliction, chronic bladder inflammation, and urethral obstruction are common feline medical conditions, and many owners want to know how they can maintain their true cat's urinary wellness and keep these bug at bay. Whether your cat has a history of urinary problem, or you hope to forestall disease evolution, use these five tips:

#1: Increment Your Cat'southward Water Intake

A college urine water content dilutes the toxins, minerals, and urinary irritants that can lead to problems. Concentrated urine is more likely to form crystals and urinary stones, and irritants can contribute to chronic bladder inflammation. Increasing your cat'south water intake is one of the nigh important steps toward keeping her urinary tract healthy. More than water also means your cat will stay hydrated and urinate more ofttimes, which will affluent out toxins and maintain kidney part.

Endeavor incorporating these ideas into your cat's daily routine to increment her water intake:

Fresh water — Cats love fresh h2o, and your cat will probable drink more if you make clean and fill her water bowl daily.
Canned food — Canned diets contain more water than dry out varieties, and feeding wet food is an easy mode to comprise more h2o into your cat'southward daily diet.
Flavored water — Adding tuna juice or sodium-free chicken broth tin tempt your cat to spend more time at her h2o bowl.
Fountains — Almost cats are drawn to running water, and a battery-operated fountain may be more interesting than your cat's regular water bowl.

#2: Reevaluate Your Cat's Diet

If your cat has had previous urinary wellness problems, she may benefit from one of the many bachelor urinary diets, which contain specific amounts of minerals, protein, and bladder protectants to assist maintain a salubrious urinary tract. Urinary diets have restricted amounts of minerals, such every bit magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, which tin contribute to urinary crystal and stone formation. They are also formulated to make your cat's urine slightly acidic, which discourages crystal formation. Some diets comprise glycosaminoglycans, which naturally protects the bladder lining.

Before changing your cat's diet, consult your family unit veterinarian. Many urinary diets are available, and she tin can help yous choose one that is advisable for your true cat'southward needs. She tin also counsel y'all nigh gradually changing your cat to a new food so she will accept information technology. Cats are creatures of addiction and may not do well with a sudden switch.

#iii: Reduce Your Cat's Environmental Stress

Cats are sensitive to environmental stressors, which take been linked to inappropriate elimination and feline lower urinary tract affliction (FLUTD), a condition that causes chronic bladder inflammation. Affected cats suffer from bladder pain and are at run a risk of developing a life-threatening urethral obstruction. Environmental changes, such as a new roommate or babe, a new pet, or a different litter make, tin trigger internalized stress that manifests as urinary problems.

Eliminating uncomplicated stressors and providing an escape when your cat is fearful or broken-hearted tin keep her urinary tract healthy, so try these stress-reducing tactics:

Scoop litter daily — Some cats hate a soiled litter box and decline to apply dirty litter, so keep your cat'due south box as make clean as possible.
Don't switch litter brands — Cats can exist picky near their litter, and a sudden brand alter may prompt her to utilise your floor instead of the new, blossom-scented brand in her box.
Provide a refuge — Your cat will appreciate her ain space, particularly if your home contains rowdy children or other pets, or she is timid and enjoys time lone. Choose a quiet, low-traffic area of your domicile and include all your true cat'due south necessities—food and water bowls, litter, a scratching mail, a perch, and toys—then she can get abroad and de-stress when she feels the need.
Add together feline pheromones — Feliway® products contain feline pheromones that reduce stress and encourage calmness in cats. Add together diffusers to home areas where your cat spends most of her time, and spray her blankets and bedding. Houseguests can also be sprayed to make new introductions less stressful.

#four: Provide Ecology Enrichment for Your Cat

An indoor life is safest for your cat, merely a bored true cat more likely will develop stress-related urinary conditions. Cats are natural predators, and your cat will savour toys and interactions that bring out her inner lioness, such every bit:

Perches — Cats love to safely sentry household activity from above, and an elevated perch, such as a true cat tree, can provide her hours of amusement. She may also love a window perch that will let her observe the birds and squirrels in your backyard.
Videos — Videos of mice scurrying or birds flight can keep a bored true cat entertained while yous are at piece of work, or busy with household chores.
Food puzzles — In the wild, cats hunt for their food. Making your true cat piece of work for her dinner will appeal to her primitive side, and the added activity will help her stay fit. You lot can buy food puzzles for hiding food, or you lot can merely hide pieces of food around your dwelling house and allow your cat's nose lead her on a hunt.
Moving toys — Your true cat may dearest to chase battery-operated toy mice or insects zooming around the floor. A feather on a string can proceed her moving and entertained, too.

#5: Schedule Regular Veterinary Appointments for Your Cat

Cats demand regular veterinary intendance, and your family veterinarian can detect signs of underlying urinary conditions during your cat's annual wellness visit. Cats over eight years of age should encounter a veterinarian more ofttimes to maintain proficient wellness. A urinalysis tin be performed at each visit to analyze your cat'south urine for signs of inflammation, infection, and kidney dysfunction. Blood piece of work will evaluate your cat'southward kidney function, and can detect kidney failure, a leading cause of expiry in cats, in its early stages when treatment tin be helpful.

If you lot have questions about your cat'due south urinary health, speak with your family unit veterinarian. If your cat has been diagnosed with a urinary condition that requires specialty care, contact united states of america to speak with our internal medicine department.