Urinary tract infections can affect both felines and humans. Treating such an infection without using antibiotics is difficult, if not impossible. Only partially treating the infection risks suppressing symptoms with the bacteria still present, potentially leading to a long-term infection that could harm your cat's health. A urinary tract infection, even a minor one, is a time bomb, because bacteria can travel up to the kidneys and cause an infection in this area as well. If possible, it is best to seek the help of a veterinarian and subject the animal to an adequate course of antibiotics.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Choose a Veterinary Care
Step 1. Test to understand what kind of bacterial culture it is and to use effective antibiotics
Typically, when treating a urinary tract infection with antibiotics, an attempt is made to do a culture test to analyze the antibiotic sensitivity of the type of bacterium involved. Antibiotics are drugs that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them, depending on the type.
- A test will allow your vet to figure out exactly what type of bacterium is in the cat's urine and which antibiotics are most effective against it.
- Using targeted antibiotics reduces the risk of inducing antibiotic resistance in bacteria and is the best way to treat an infection.
- However, it is not always possible to obtain a large enough urine sample, or the cost of the examination may be too high.
- Even if the current episode is the cat's first urinary tract infection and immediate treatment is needed, it may not be possible to do a urinalysis, as results may take up to a week to get results.
- It is especially important to perform a urinalysis if your cat has a recurrent urinary tract infection. In this case it is likely that the cat has a mixed infection in which only part of it is treated, or that the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic in use.
Step 2. If a urinalysis is not possible, give your cat generic antibiotics
The latter are thought to kill different types of bacteria.
- If your cat has never suffered from a urinary tract infection before, you may want to give him a series of generic antibiotics to kill the different types of bacteria that might commonly be found in the urine.
- These types of antibiotics are usually penicillins, such as amoxicillin, clavulinic acid, cephalosporin or sulphonamide.
- A cat weighing less than 6 kg typically needs 50 mg of penicillin by mouth twice a day.
Step 3. Offer your cat a urinary healthy diet
There are several diets that can be helpful for a cat suffering from this type of problem, such as Purina's Urinary line. This type of food helps improve the condition of your cat's urinary tract.
- Since this type of food contains fewer minerals, such as phosphate and magnesium, it reduces the chance of stones forming in your cat's urine.
- These diets also affect the pH (acidity or basicity of the urine) so that it adapts to optimal health conditions.
- Generally the goal of this type of feeding is to reproduce a type of slightly acidic urine, with pH 6, 2-6, 4 (which, coincidentally, corresponds to the pH of the urine of a cat that feeds exclusively on mice).
- Urine like this is hostile to most bacteria, and while it's unlikely to get rid of a urinary tract infection with just a change in diet, it could reduce the chance of survival for bacteria in the bladder.
Step 4. By making the cat's urine more acidic, it is necessary to pay attention to the stones
Bacteria generally do not tolerate acidic urine, so an acidification of the urine acts as a natural disinfectant. However, it is preferable to carry out this type of treatment under medical supervision.
- Although most stones (such as struvite) are formed in alkaline conditions, there are also less common minerals that thrive in acidic conditions (such as oxalate).
- Some breeds, such as Burmese, are more likely to develop oxalate stones.
- This would mean curing one problem (infection) by creating another in the form of oxalate stones.
Step 5. Use glucosamine to stimulate the cat's glucosaminoglycan layer
The bladder produces a layer of mucus-like substances that acts as a sort of bandage, protecting the internal walls from harmful substances in the urine.
- When a cat suffers from a urinary tract infection, the glycosaminoglycan layer becomes thinner, thus exposing the bladder walls to possible irritation.
- Neutraceuticals such as glucosamine help enrich the glycosaminoglycan layer and soothe the cat.
- Although studies regarding the benefits of glucosamine are not conclusive, there are several over-the-counter medicines that contain glucosamine and tryptophan. Each capsule contains 125 mg of acetylglucosamine N and the recommended dose is one capsule, to be administered twice a day.
- If your cat refuses to take capsules, you can have your vet administer an injection containing acetylglucosamine. This treatment is typically used to treat arthritis in dogs and one of its side effects is bladder inflammation. The recommended dose is 0.15ml per injection, once a week for 4 weeks, followed by a regular injection once a month.
Method 2 of 2: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Understand the effect of age on urinary tract infection risk
As your cat ages she becomes more sensitive to urinary tract infections due to changes in the functioning of her urinary tract and liver.
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Cats that are less than 7 years old have a lower risk of getting an infection. They generally have a more concentrated urine: strong urine constitutes a natural disinfectant that inhibits bacterial growth.
- If you see traces of blood in the urine of a young cat, it is likely that the problem is not caused by an infection but by some stones, which may have irritated the bladder walls.
- There is a risk that the stones will join and form a blockage in the urethra, the tube through which urine passes. In this case it is advisable to contact the veterinarian urgently.
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Cats older than 7 are at a higher risk of getting an infection. Their ability to produce concentrated urine is impaired and they are likely to produce dilute urine as they age due to a reduction in the functioning of the kidneys.
Weak urine is a less potent disinfectant and makes infections more likely. It is very important to treat infections before they reach the kidneys, as they can cause significant damage and lead to the formation of scar tissue
Step 2. Encourage the cat to drink so that it cleans its bladder
Although diluted urine is a risk factor for a urinary tract infection, constant urination will help clear the bladder.
- The bacteria produce waste substances and chemicals that can irritate the bladder walls, causing inflammation.
- Regular hydration can dilute these substances and limit the time they spend in contact with the bladder walls, reducing inflammation and dryness.
- To increase your cat's water intake, switch him from dry to wet food. You will automatically increase the amount of fluids you ingest.
- Offer him several large bowls to drink from. Cats seem to prefer to drink from large containers, where the whiskers cannot touch the sides.
- Some cats will tend to drink more from a running water source, such as a cat drinking fountain.
- Other cats do not seem to appreciate the taste of chlorine and chemicals in tap water and prefer to drink mineral water.
Step 3. Offer your cat currants or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) tablets to acidify the urine
This type of pads can naturally acidify your cat's urine.
- The recommended dose of currant lozenges is 250 mg 2 times a day, while the vitamin C dose is 250 mg 1 time a day.
- Do not try to increase the doses of these supplements because you run the risk of reducing the pH too much: excessive acidity can also irritate the walls of the bladder.
Step 4. Try a homeopathic remedy
There is no scientific evidence that this remedy works, but some homeopathic vets recommend an infusion of dandelion, parsley, bearberry, or watercress.
- To prepare the infusion, just add 1 teaspoon of herbs to 1 cup of water, previously brought to a boil.
- Let the infusion rest for 20 minutes and then filter the water.
- Give your cat 2 teaspoons of tea with food, twice a day for a week. The infusion should be made fresh every 2 days.
