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How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape

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How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape

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Is your feline leaving puddles of urine in your bathtub or on your tile floors? Making lots (and lots) of trips to the litter box? Or crying out in pain when they pee?
 

Sounds like

tinkling trouble.

 

 

Urinary problems pester lots of grown-up cats, especially dudes, bro.

Your furry friend might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is just scientific jargon for a collection of painful conditions that can wreak havoc on your kitty’s bladder and/or urethra.

 

 

So, what common urinary tract conditions are we talking about, exactly?

Some of the most common FLUTD diseases include urinary tract infections, urinary stones caused by a buildup of minerals, obstructions within the urethra or an inflamed bladder.

 

 

What causes FLUTD?

  • Not drinking enough water

  • Not urinating often enough

  • A urine pH level that’s too high

  • Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine

  • Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower

  • Stress or anxiety

 

Keep your

eyes peeled for

peeing problems ...

 

 

How to check if your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary health issue:

The Opens a new window American Veterinary Medical Association says to watch for these major signs:

 

  • Straining to go

  • Frequently urinating a little at a time

  • Prolonged attempts to go

  • Crying out while urinating

  • Excessively licking their genital area

  • Peeing outside the litter box

  • Passing blood in their urine

 

Get your cat back

on the right tract.

 

 

How to treat
FLUTD:

Decide whether you need an immediate vet visit.

First things first, if your feline seems to be in a lot of pain or isn’t able to pee at all, get to the vet — stat!

Your cat might have a urethral obstruction, a life-threatening condition that your veterinarian must treat quickly!

Seriously, don’t dillydally.

 

 

Next, try these tips to help get your cat’s system flowing again:

  • Feed smaller, more frequent meals.

  • Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.

  • Encourage your feline to drink as much as possible to help keep mineral buildup at bay and flush your feline’s urinary system.

 

 

Finally, don’t forget about litter boxes and
S-T-R-E-S-S! ?

  • Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.

  • Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.

  • Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.

  • Maintain a steady routine and make your home as stress-free as possible. Consider how your own stress level, any visiting house guests and any other pets might be affecting your cat.

 

Take this old adage to heart:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

 

 

How can you help maintain your cat’s urinary health?

In addition to the tips above, feed your cat delicious Opens a new window IAMS™ PROACTIVE HEALTH™ Urinary Tract Health, made with real chicken.
 

 

It helps promote your cat’s urinary system health by reducing urinary pH and helping to control mineral levels.

 

How’s that for

a win-win?!

 

 

Here’s how our formula helps keep your feline’s “plumbing system” running smoothly:

Salt for the win!

We use a sodium salt to acidify urine and help prevent struvite crystals from forming.

 

More sodium.
Thirstier cat.
Drinking more H20.
Less-potent pee!

Let’s talk mineral levels.

Our formula helps control levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in your cat’s urine, which is a good thing!

 

Next stop? Litter box bliss.
(Ahhhh.)

How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
  • Cat Vaccinations
    Cat Vaccinations

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    Cat Vaccinations

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    Cats are generally considered to be low-maintenance pets. However, that’s nothing but a myth. You need to care for a cat the way you would care for any baby, especially with regards to its health and overall well-being. Although medical treatments are available for most feline illnesses, prevention is always better than cure. Cat vaccinations, such as the anti-rabies and FVRCP vaccine, protect your furry friends from deadly infections like rabies. But did you know? These diseases are transmissible to humans as well. Yes. So, when you vaccinate your cat against such medical conditions, you also reduce the possibility of contracting fatal diseases from your own pet.
     

    Feline vaccines are scientifically developed to boost the cat’s immunity and fight fatal diseases. Even though there is no ‘one size fits all’ protocol for immunization, veterinarians suggest cat injections depending on your pet’s age, overall health, lifestyle, and breed. Moreover, these vaccinations are primarily divided into two categories – core vaccines and lifestyle vaccines. Core vaccines are essential for every cat irrespective of their lifestyle, breed, and region. Lifestyle vaccines are given to cats after considering certain circumstances.
     

    Different Cat Vaccinations and When to Vaccinate

    Administering rabies and other precautionary vaccines from a young age protects cats from falling prey to serious diseases. Mentioned below are essential cat vaccinations that every kitty must get:

    1. Rabies vaccine

    These are anti-rabies vaccines for cats. They are given annually or once in 3 years – depending on the type of vaccine you choose – to protect your kitty from the fatal rabies virus. While this disease is fatal for your feline friend, it can also prove terminal for humans. Rabies often spreads through bites or scratches of infected animals. And rabies patients develop signs of aggression, disorientation, and hydrophobia post incubation stage. If not treated in time, rabies often results in fatal consequences for both animals and humans. Hence, anti-rabies vaccines for cats are a must from a young age.

    1. FVRCP vaccine

    These are 3-in-1 vaccine for cats. FVRCP vaccine prevents cats from three different viruses – feline rhinotracheitis virus, calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia virus. Instead of getting the kitten inoculated three times, you can simply get the FVRCP vaccine. This 3-in-1 vaccine for cats is recommended annually to protect them from highly infectious diseases.

    1. FeLV vaccine

    Protect your kitty from leukemia virus by getting them vaccinated. This disease can spread through body fluids like urine, saliva, and feces; hence, FeLV infects cats while grooming or sharing a bowl with an infected cat. This fatal virus can process into various associated conditions such as anemia, lymphoma, or immunosuppression. Hence, the FeLV vaccine is recommended for cats from a very young age. This vaccine consists of two doses spaced three to four weeks apart for kittens and is followed by revaccination a year later for adult cats.

    1. FPV vaccine

    An FPV vaccine also protects your cat from feline panleukopenia. Kittens should receive an FPV shot once they turn 6-8 weeks old. You should also revaccinate your four-legged angel every three to four weeks until the age of 16 weeks. After this, a booster dose should be given between the ages of 1 to 2 years.

    1. 4-in-1 vaccine for cats

    Developed to combat 4 diseases, 4-in-1 vaccine for cats protect against rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and chlamydia. These 4 in 1 cat vaccine are also called 4-way vaccines or FVRCCP. Feline chlamydia is part of the feline upper respiratory complex and an underlying cause of most early ocular infections. Hence, kittens should receive 4-in-1 vaccine for cats at the age of 8, 12, and 16 weeks, and a revaccination once they turn a year old. Cat parents are also suggested to revaccinate their kitty every 3 years to keep their purrfect pal hale and hearty.

    1. 5-in-1 vaccine for cats

    F5 or Fevac 5 vaccines are 5-in-1 vaccine for cats that boosts your kitty’s immune system to tackle five viruses. Getting your kitty inoculated for this combination will ensure that it is safe from a range of fatal illnesses.

     

    Cat Vaccination Side Effects

    Vaccines are built to boost immunity and fight deadly illnesses. However, after getting vaccinated, your kitty might show mild signs of discomfort and other symptoms. These signs and symptoms are nothing but proof that its body is building a defense mechanism to defeat deadly viruses. Side effects of anti-rabies, FVRCP vaccine, or other combination vaccines for cats may include the following symptoms:

    1. Lethargy

    2. Loss of appetite

    3. Vomiting 

    4. Fever

    5. Diarrhea

    6. Swelling and redness around the injected area

    Ensuring that your feline friend is vaccinated from time to time aids in keeping them healthy and lively. Hence, every cat parent is recommended to plan a proper vaccination schedule for their fur babies.

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