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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?
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Not drinking enough water
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Not urinating often enough
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A urine pH level that’s too high
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Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine
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Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower
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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:
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Straining to go
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Frequently urinating a little at a time
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Prolonged attempts to go
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Crying out while urinating
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Excessively licking their genital area
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Peeing outside the litter box
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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:
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Feed smaller, more frequent meals.
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Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.
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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! ?
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Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.
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Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.
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Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.
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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.)
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adp_description_block232Your Cat’s Language: What Meows, Chirps and Yowls Mean- Share
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Listen up, Mom or Dad, because your feline definitely has something to say. Cats use more than 100 different vocal sounds to communicate. Here are nine of the most common sounds you’ll hear and what your cat’s unique language means.
Purr
While your cat’s purrs are usually a sign that they’re happy, comfortable or content, it’s important to point out that your cat might also purr when they are anxious, agitated or sick — because purring soothes them. The key to figuring out if it’s a “worry purr” is to check if their ears are folded back, if they seem tense or if they just aren’t acting normal. (If that’s the case, call the vet and grab the cat carrier.)
Meow
Why do cats meow? It’s simple: It’s their way of communicating with us!
Meows are your cat’s most common “word,” and every one means something different. For example, your cat might meow to greet you when you come home, to ask you to open your bedroom door so they can curl up on your pillow, or to say, “I’d like some more tasty kibble or a second serving of IAMS® PERFECT PORTIONS™ paté, s’il vous plaît.”
Chirps and Trills
Chirps and trills are the loving language of cat mothers. Chirps, or chirrups, are staccato, bird-like sounds mother cats use to say to their kittens, “Follow me.” Trills are higher-pitched chirps your cat uses to say hello or “Pay attention to me.” When your cat directs these sounds at you, chances are they want you to give them some love or follow them somewhere, usually to their food or water bowl. (Shocker, LOL.)
If you have more than one feline fur baby, listen closely. You’ll likely hear your cats talk to each other with these sounds.
Chatter
When your kitty spies an unsuspecting bird or squirrel frolicking outside the window, they might make a chattering sound at it. This distinctive, repetitive clicking noise is caused by a combination of lip smacking and your cat rapidly vibrating their lower jaw. This odd behavior looks like teeth chattering, and a lot of cats also chirp when they chatter.
This clickety sound is thought to be a mix of predatory excitement and frustration at not being able to get to the elusive feathered or furry prize. Some animal behaviorists even think the sound mimics a fatal bite used to break the bones of their prey. Who knew your li’l feline was so ferocious?!
Regardless of the exact reason cats chatter or chirp at birds and other small animals, most feline parents find it fascinating and amusing to watch.
Hiss
The unmistakable sound of a cat hissing is like a steak hitting a hot skillet, and it can only mean one thing: Your cat feels threatened and will put up a fight if they have to. Just as important as the hissing sound, however, is the cat body language that comes with it. Your cat will flatten their ears, arch their back, puff their fur, twitch their tail and usually open their mouth to flash their fangs — aka the classic defensive pose.
Snarls and Growls
In addition to a hiss, if your cat makes a deep, guttural growlsound, they’re saying, “Back off.” Similar to a dog’s growl, this noise means your cat is annoyed, scared or angry. Some cats even make short, higher-pitched snarl sounds before launching into a full-blown growl.
While these sounds usually signify an unhappy cat, it’s important to note that some cats growl because they’re in pain from an injury or a health problem. If you suspect this is the case, a trip to the vet is in order.
If your feline snarls or growls at you for any reason, though, it’s best to leave your feisty friend alone.
Yowl
A yowl, or howl, is a long, drawn-out meow that almost sounds like moaning; it’s your cat’s way of telling you they’re worried or distressed, or that they need you. They might have gotten locked in a closet, can’t find you anywhere or, heaven forbid, have discovered their food bowl is empty. Your cat might also yowl when they don’t feel well or when a new neighborhood cat trespasses on their turf.
Whatever the reason, make sure you immediately help your cat whenever you hear a yowl. Trust us — you’ll both be glad you did.
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