Is your cat sick? Many pet owners miss the symptoms of urinary tract infection. This condition is painful, and left untreated, may be fatal.
The problem is that our pet cat can’t tell us if there is a problem. We need to observe changes in behavior, and then watch for symptoms or ‘red flags’ so we know if we need to bring him to a vet. Here are some early signs that your cat has urinary tract infection.
Excessive grooming
Does your cat spend an unusual amount of time grooming his genitals? This may be a sign that he feels pain in that area. Also watch to see if he flinches or cries while he grooms.
Keep an eye on the litter box
When your cat goes to the litter box to do his business, follow. Does he try to urinate, but fail? Or does he cringe or show any signs of pain when he urinates? You may also notice restless behavior: he goes to the litter box, tries, moves away, comes back a few minutes later.
Take note of changes in patterns of urinating
Maybe your cat is urinating less or more than he usually does. If that’s difficult to monitor, keep an eye on his water dish. One of the earliest symptoms of urinary tract infection is dehydration. Maybe your cat is drinking more water, or has turned to finding other sources of water—like the puddles in the bathroom or kitchen.
Your cat may also refuse to use the litter box, because he suddenly associates it with pain. Or, he may be unable to use it because he has lost control of his bladder.
And this is very important: contact your vet right away if your cat has not urinated in more than 2 days.
Check the tummy
Does your cat have a tender abdomen? Touch the area and see if he flinches. One way to do that is to lift him and then place him on your lap and then gently press a finger on the area.
Watch for lethargy
In the later stages of urinary tract infection, the pain and discomfort may cause your cat to be lethargic. You know your cat better than anyone else. Are there changes in personality? Does he play less? Has he stopped interacting with you?
Do the paper test
If you notice some changes in your cat’s behavior or drinking/urinating patterns, place a light colored sheet of paper in the litter box. This will enable you to see if your cat is urinating blood. Look for a pinkish stain.
photo from animals.howstuffworks.com