urinary tract health in cats

Urinary tract health in cats is a common reason for pet owners to visit the vets. Changes in a pet’s routine or environment can lead to stress. This could include, moving home, car travel, inter-cat conflict, new family arrivals or pets, lack of exposure to the outdoors, or boarding in a cattery.

There could be several reasons why your cat may need help in maintaining normal urinary tract health. However, it is important to consult your vet who will be able to offer the most appropriate advice for your cat’s specific health requirements.

In order to maintain a healthy quality of life, there are positive ways in which you help to manage urinary tract health in cats:

Water

Encourage your pet to consume more fresh water and present it in a way that your cat prefers. The aim of increasing water intake is to produce more dilute urine, which will be less irritating. Make sure you place their water bowl away from their food. Adding water to their food could be another way of encouraging them to consumer more.

Food

Wet food may be preferable to dry because of the increased water content. Consult your vet as to whether a diet change is appropriate. Offer the new diet in an additional separate container to allow your pet to express its preference.

Exercise

Encourage your pet to take more exercise as this helps to stimulate the bladder. Overweight cats can have poor urinary tract health more than normal weight felines, so exercise and diet can play an integral role in maintaining your cat’s urinary health.

Minimise stress

To help minimise stress for your cat, their indoor environment should include opportunities for scratching, climbing, hiding and resting. If there is a local cat in the neighbourhood causing stress to your cat, try to prevent your cat from gaining access to the aggressor. It is also important that you stay calm during this time, as cats are very good at reading body language and can pick up on any stress you are feeling yourself.

Litter boxes

Litter boxes should be provided in several quiet, stress-free locations throughout the house, particularly in multi-cat households. There should be one litter tray per cat plus one. Litter should be non-scented and cleaned daily avoiding a strong disinfectant.

Increase play

One of the major factors in the occurrence of poor urinary tract health in cats is inactivity. Increased play can also help to reduce anxiety. Some cats prefer to be petted, whereas others may prefer playing with a variety of small toys.

Senior cats

Poor urinary tract health in cats can be more common in senior pets, so it is important to take them for regular health checks. Regularly monitoring their urinary health can help to ensure that your cat has a better quality of life.

Visit your vet

Your vet is best placed to monitor your cat’s health. It is important to have regular health checks with your local vet to ensure that your cat is receiving the best possible care.

Consult your vet for more information on additional ways to help your cat and how can help to naturally maintain a healthy bladder in your cat. Ask your vet about Nutracys+, which has a unique formula specifically developed to help support healthy urinary tract function.