Ask the Shelter: A heads-up about UTIs and cats
Q: Hey, I just wanted to give people a heads-up about urinary tract infections in cats. My cat was urinating all over the house and I really thought it was a behavioral issue. I tried everything to get him to stop, from putting him into a room by himself, to diligently cleaning the litterbox, to plugging in the pheromones thinking that would help, but he kept doing it and it didn’t seem like there was any kind of pattern. Well, a vet check found that he had crystals in his urine as well as a urinary tract infection. I got the necessary antibiotics and he continued to urinate in the house. I thought for sure now it was behavioral, but a second vet check found that the problem hadn’t been fixed with the initial dose of medication, so I had to change it. To make a long story short, I just wanted to let other cat owners know that if their cats are going to the bathroom outside the litterbox and they think it’s behavioral, you really should check with your vet to make sure it’s not actually physical.
A: Oh bless your heart! It’s so great when other animal-lovers watch out for each other. Your point is incredibly valid and well put. So, take heart, cat-owners out there. If your boy or girl is urinating in places he or she shouldn’t, don’t immediately assume it’s behavioral. A friend just recently told me her male cat had a lot of urinary tract problems. Get your baby to the vet to make sure your feline gets the necessary checkup to make sure they’re OK physically. Thank you for writing!
Q: I have an older cat whose health is declining and I’m concerned about her weight loss. How can I monitor how much she gains or loses from day to day? Will a bathroom scale work?
A: I just want to make sure you already know what’s causing the weight loss in your girl. It’s possible you might need medication to maintain the weight, depending on the issue. With older pets, especially, weight loss could be the symptom of an underlying problem, so make sure you check into that. As for monitoring her weight, I know a lot of vet’s offices will check our pet’s weight on a routine basis, so you may want to give yours a call. A bathroom scale could work if it’s precise enough. It’s probably easiest to get on yourself first, make note of your weight and then pick up your cat. Digital bathroom scales may be a bit more precise, depending on how far out the decimals go. The thing is, your girl’s weight will fluctuate probably a pound or two here and there and while that’s not that big of a deal for us (especially for those of us trying to lose weight – sigh), comparatively it could be a big deal for her. Even the loss of a pound or two could be worrisome, especially considering her health. Kitchen scales or baby scales can be a little more precise, so you could consider investing in one of those. Whatever you get, just make sure the scale measures high enough to include your girl’s weight so you can actually see the fluctuations and remember to include the weight of the basket. Good luck to you and your baby.
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Ask the Shelter is a weekly feature aimed at pet education. If you have a question, contact Jennifer Vanderau, publications and promotions consultant for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, at [email protected] or 263-5791.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Ask CVAS: A cat with a UTI may go everywhere