Bladder Infection – Cats – How to Treat and Prevent it
You may suspect that your pet has a bladder infection. Cats do not usually heal from this condition on their own, so it’s important to take action, so the infection does not spread to the kidneys and cause other more serious issues. In this brief article, you’ll learn what to watch for and what action steps to take. First, though, let’s go through the symptoms.
<b>Bladder Infection: Cat Symptoms to Watch For</b>
It’s smart to pay attention to the normal behavior of your cat, so you’ll know almost immediately when something is amiss. Since cats can’t tell us that they’re in pain, changes in their behavior are the only way that they can show us that they need medical attention.
In terms of a bladder infection, cats may seem to have difficulty urinating or actually cry out in pain, they may drink water excessively or barely drink at all and they may also urinate outside the litter box (because they think that their pain during urination has something to do with the litter box, so they avoid it). If you notice any of these signs, then it is time to take your beloved kitty to the vet.
Your vet will test for a bladder infection. Cats that have infections are typically prescribed antibiotics, but here is where you’ll want to think carefully about what is in the best interest of your pet. Antibiotics are drugs and all drugs have side effects. Cats are sensitive creatures and some simply cannot tolerate the side effects of drugs. Since antibiotics only suppress the symptoms and do not heal the cause of bladder infection, cat may not completely heal. This can set your pet up for recurring infections. Also, sometimes the side effects can worsen your cat’s condition, adding to its suffering and misery.
The drawbacks of antibiotics have led many caring pet owners to try natural remedies instead. Although these remedies are considered to be “alternative,” they have actually been around a lot longer than prescription drugs. The herbs used in these remedies are proven, have no side effects and will not interact negatively with any other medication that your cat might need to take. Best of all, they are gentle, yet effective and get to the root cause of the bladder infection. Cats heal quickly and inflammation and pain subside right away. Since they also restore the pH of the bladder, this prevents infections from recurring in the future. This makes them particularly important to give to elderly cats or those who seem to be prone to urinary issues. They also work to prevent bladder crystals.
In addition to giving your pet a remedy for treatment and/or prevention, make sure to follow other common sense steps. Give your pet lots of fresh, filtered water to clean and flush the bladder. Make sure to feed your pet healthy food, rather than junk food kibble which is full of chemicals, dyes and fillers that can actually cause a bladder infection. Cats who are on a junk food diet are more prone to urinary issues because the chemicals in the food wreak havoc with the pH of the bladder.
Finally, make sure your cat gets lots of love and attention. Living in a home where your cat feels cherished and gets good quality food, fresh water and natural health care to heal and prevent infection and disease will go a long way to ensuring that your cat has a long and happy life. And as a loving pet owner that’s exactly what you want to provide.
