Our pets are an extension of our family. So, when they become sick or hurt it can be very distressing. I have a 13-year-old cat, Grim, who has for the most part been a very healthy feline. He passes all his senior cat wellness exams with flying colors and keeps himself out of trouble – most of the time. He is a very predictable character, I always find him at his food bowl at the same times of the day and he frequently greets me at the top of the steps as I come home from work – one of the many small joys I get from having a cat. Recently, Grim’s predictable routine ceased – he became lethargic and stopped eating and drinking – alerting me that a trip to our vet was needed.

Grim’s diagnosis was a bladder infection that had traveled up into his kidneys. My poor boy was running a fever and we needed to get him on antibiotics quickly. Luckily for us, after a round of oral antibiotics and some rest, Grim was back to normal within a week. This got me thinking, was there anything I could do better or help prevent this from happening again? I did some research and spoke with my vet and here is what I found to be the most helpful tips on preventing bladder infections in cats.

Tips to Help Prevent Bladder Infections in Cats:

• Improve their diet: Adjust pH as needed through diet and/or supplements
• Keep their water bowl clean: Provide fresh water daily
• Tidy up: Keep your cat’s litter box extra clean
• Monitor: Cats over age 10 are at higher risk
• Reduce Stress: Stress can raise hormone levels and cause pH level imbalances that cause infection

While most items on this list may seem like basic pet care, they are still good reminders to review. We felt we were doing our best for Grim, but after his infection, we did decide to transition him to food better suited for senior cats.

Proper care along with being aware of their behaviors and routines are your best bet for a long, healthy life for your cat.

Sources:
Fetchfind.com. (2019). How to prevent urinary tract infections in cats. [online] Available at: https://www.fetchfind.com/blog/2017/07/05/how-to-prevent-urinary-tract-infections-in-cats [Accessed 17 Sep. 2019].
NASC LIVE. (2019). Urinary Tract Infections in Pets | NASC LIVE. [online] Available at: https://nasc.cc/pet-university/urinary-tract-infections-in-pets/ [Accessed 17 Sep. 2019].