The feline urinary tract can be the cause of much frustration for not only the cat, but for their owner and vet as well. Many common problems such as high stress levels, poor diet and obesity can contribute to significant bladder disease. The underlying cause is not always known, but the result can be life-threatening in terms of both fatal urinary obstruction for male cats or house-soiling which leads to euthanasia. The most common urinary problem is called cystitis or FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) which results in painful inflammation of the bladder. This can be sterile (most common in younger cats) or bacterial (more common in older cats), so it is best to have the urine tested before deciding on a treatment. No matter the cause, it’s important to treat urinary disease quickly to prevent the development of very serious complications.
- Cat Professionalwww.vetprofessionals.com/catprofessional/publications_gb.html — download or order a paper copy of their book about feline lower urinary disease, a very well written and comprehensive resource aimed specifically at owners.
- International Cat Carewww.icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/z-conditions-and-treatments — look under FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) and FIC (feline idiopathic cystitis) for excellent information.
- CatInfowww.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth — a very thorough and informative article about how to manage urinary disease in cats, particularly the benefits of a wet food diet.
- American Association of Feline Practitionerswww.catvets.com/cat-owners/brochures — a good brochure on feline house-soiling.
- Cornell University Feline Health Centerwww.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/topics.cfm — excellent information on urinary issues.
- Cats Protectionwww.cats.org.uk/cat-care/care-leaflets/veterinary-guides — along with guides for general cat care, they also do a series of veterinary guides for many different diseases.