Introduction: Urinary problems are becoming more common in cats. Lower urinary tract (LURT) problems are related to diet, while kidney failure increases with maturity and so is commoner as cats live to a greater age.
Symptoms of urinary problems may include more frequent visits to the cat litter tray, weight loss, loss of appetite, and drinking excessively, and blood in the urine is common.
Stress and Cystitis: Emotion-induced cystitis in cats is related to chronic nerve stimulation, with excessive neurotransmitter release and re-use. Anti-depressants work by inhibiting the re-use of the neurotransmitter 5-HT. Additional methods of reducing stress, such as encouraging relaxation and uninterrupted sleep, and moving the cat litter tray to a calmer area, will also help.
Natural Defences: The cat's physiology reduces the chances of LURT infections, making these rare, although commoner in females. There are natural, beneficial bacteria in the urethra, which by their very presence prevent colonisation by disease-causing bacteria. Mucus in the bladder helps stop any pathogens from becoming invasive, although mucus and urate crystals can cause painful urethral obstruction in male cats. Antibodies are released into the urine to help in the defence against pathogens, and urea and urine acidity reduce bacterial multiplication. Prostate secretions in males have antibacterial properties.
Most feline urine infections do not appear to be caused by bacteria, although it is possible that they are viral in nature.
Problems in the Urinary Tract: These include genetic abnormalities, injury, infection, poisoning, poor diet, age-related chronic renal failure, tumours, stress-induced cystitis, and mineral deposits - struvite and calcium oxalate
Conventional Treatments: There is now felt to be no need for a low protein diet in chronic kidney disease. Manage uraemia (excessive urea in the blood, a consequence of renal failure) instead by maintaining nitrogen balance, reducing dietary phosphorus, and feeding a medium-protein diet. Anti-oxidants are important for scavenging free radicals (which damage kidney cell membranes), reducing kidney damage for example from excessive lipid in the blood.
1-2% of the cat population suffers from lower urinary tract disease (LUTD), and these are more likely to be fed exclusively dry cat food. Aim to reduce urine specific gravity to
