Urinary tract infection is a type of infection that may occur in cats and humans. In fact, patients need to take antibiotics to treat the infection completely. Be careful, an infection that has not completely healed will only suppress symptoms without actually killing all the bacteria that caused it. As a result, cats are at risk for long-term infections that threaten their health. Don't underestimate a low-grade urinary tract infection because of the fact that bacteria can enter your kidneys and cause more serious problems. Therefore, take the time to immediately see your cat to the doctor to get the right diagnosis and antibiotic recommendations.
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Method 1 of 2: Visiting the Vet
Step 1. Perform a culture test to identify infection and find an effective antibiotic
To treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics, doctors generally need to do a culture test to analyze the antibiotic sensitivity of the patient (in this case, your cat). Antibiotics are a group of drugs capable of blocking the growth of bacteria or killing them; Different antibiotics will have different benefits.
- By performing a culture test, the doctor can accurately diagnose the type of bacteria and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
- Targeted use of antibiotics reduces the risk of induction of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and is the best method of treating infections.
- Unfortunately, doctors can't always collect enough urine samples to perform a culture test, or the costs are too high. In some cases, the cat will be given another antibiotic which can be adjusted later when the results of the culture test are out.
- Culture tests are especially important if your cat has recurrent urinary tract infections. If that's the case, it's likely that the cat has a mixed infection that hasn't completely healed, or that the bacteria in the cat's body have developed resistance to the antibiotics they are taking.
Step 2. Treat the cat with broad-spectrum antibiotics if culture testing is difficult
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are able to kill various types of bacteria in the cat's body.
- If your cat has never had a urinary tract infection, don't hesitate to treat it with broad-spectrum antibiotics that can kill various types of bacteria in the urine.
- Generally, the recommended type of antibiotic is a penicillin such as amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, or sulfonamides.
- Get a prescription for an appropriate antibiotic from your veterinarian.
Step 3. Use glucosamine to stimulate the cat's GAG (glycosaminoglycan) layer
In fact, the bladder produces a mucus-like layer that serves to protect the bladder wall from harmful substances in the urine.
- If your cat has a urinary tract infection, the lining gradually thins and increases the risk of irritation of the bladder wall.
- Nutraceuticals such as glucosamine can help replenish the thinning GAG layer and make the cat feel more comfortable.
- Although there is no reliable research on the benefits of glucosamine, there is no harm in trying this method. Some large pharmacies sell over-the-counter medications such as Feliway Cystease which contain glucosamine and tryptophan. Make sure you first discuss the use of supplements or over-the-counter medications with your doctor.
Method 2 of 2: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Understand the relevance of age to your cat's risk for infection
In fact, the risk of urinary tract infection increases as your cat ages, especially since the function of a cat's liver and urinary tract also changes as they get older.
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Cats under 7 years of age have a low risk of infection. The reason is that young cats have an excellent ability to concentrate urine, and a strong urine stream is a natural disinfectant to prevent bacterial growth.
- If you find blood in the urine of a young cat, it's most likely not an infection, but rather the presence of crystals, stones, or inflammation that irritates the lining of the bladder.
- Be aware of the risk of crystals clumping together and blocking the urethra (the tube through which urine passes). This situation is classified as an emergency and should be treated by a qualified veterinarian immediately.
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The risk of infection is increased in cats over the age of 7, mainly because older cats often have difficulty concentrating urine and tend to produce watery urine due to reduced kidney function.
Weak urine flow is not an effective disinfectant, increasing the risk of infection in cats. Treat this condition immediately before the infection attacks the kidneys and encourages the formation of keloids or scar tissue
Step 2. Encourage the cat to drink more to clear her bladder
Although diluted urine is a risk factor for urinary tract infections, cats that already have an infection need to urinate more often to wash their bladder.
- The bladder should be cleaned of bacteria from food residue, as well as chemicals that can irritate the lining of the bladder and cause inflammation.
- Hydrating the body on a regular basis can reduce bacteria and chemicals contained in the bladder. As a result, the inflammation and pain experienced by the cat will be reduced.
- To increase your cat's fluid intake, try changing his dry food to wet food.
- Also, provide your cat with as many wide bowls of drinking water as possible. Generally, cats prefer to drink from a wide container so their whiskers don't touch the rim of the bowl
- Some cats prefer to drink running tap water. If your cat is like that, try buying him a special fountain for cats to drink.
- However, there are also cats who do not like the chlorine and other chemicals in tap water and prefer to drink bottled mineral water.
Step 3. Give cranberry capsules or ascorbic acid to acidify the cat's urine
Some veterinarians recommend using cranberry capsules to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, especially since cranberry extract contains proanthocyanidins that prevent bacteria from penetrating the bladder wall.
- Consult the use of any supplements with your veterinarian. Make sure you also follow the instructions for use and the recommended dosage recommended by the doctor!
- Do not increase the dose without a doctor's supervision! Be careful, increasing the dose risks reducing the pH of the urine too much, and excessively acidic conditions can irritate the lining of the bladder.
