Cat Health Bladder General Information on Cat Bladder Stones

Cat bladder stones can cause a lot of discomfort and pain to your cat. Typically, a cat suffering from this problem may show the following signs: straining to urinate but producing little amounts of urine, not able to urinate, painful urination, vomiting, lethargy, and fever to name a few.

Bladder stones, medically known as uroliths, are caused by the accumulation of minerals in the bladder. These minerals have become hard as stones. When these hardened minerals rub against the bladder wall, they cause irritation. As a result, the cat may urinate with blood in it. The irritation in the cat’s bladder wall may also make the cat urinate frequently even if only a small amount of urine has been stored in the bladder. At times, if the bladder stones have formed a plug in the cat’s bladder or in the urethra, they may block the normal flow of urine and prevent the cat from excreting urine normally. A partial blockage in the cat’s urinary system may cause the cat to urinate only a small amount. In some cases, the bladder stones can completely block the urinary passage, disabling the cat from excreting out any amount of urine. When this happens, the cat is in a dangerous situation. If not treated immediately, the blockage can cause urine build up in the bladder. If this situation continues, the cat may end up with a ruptured bladder. According to experts, cats with completely blocked urinary tract may not be able to live longer than 72 hours if not given proper medical attention immediately.

There are several types of urinary stones. Each of them is named according to the mineral components from which they are formed. Some of the known urinary stones are struvite crystals, urate, calcium oxalate, xanthine, cystine, and calcium phosphate. Struvite crystals are the most commonly urinary stone formations encountered in cats. They account for 50% to 65% of stones diagnosed in cats with urinary problems. The second common type of cat bladder stone is the calcium oxalate. The rest of the other types of urinary stones are rarely if not seen in cats.

Cat bladder stones can vary in size and shape. The smaller stones can pose greater risks to pets because they have more chances of forming a plug and obstructing the normal flow of urine.

The method of treatment and prevention used in cats suffering from bladder stones varies according to the type of stone that is present in the cat. Usually, the vet may collect a stone sample from the cat to determine the mineral content that has caused its formation. When the type of mineral has been determined, the vet can then proceed to providing proper treatment and give advice on preventing the recurrence of the problem.

There are many ways to prevent the formation of bladder stones in cats. It may include a change in the cat’s diet or the administration of medications which can help control the pH level of the cat’s urine. If you want to prevent the recurrence of bladder stones in your pet, the best thing to do is to follow the advice of the veterinarian. Likewise, you should also continue taking your pet to the vet for regular check-ups. Doing so can lead to the early detection and prevention of possible reccurrences.

General Cat Health Care

General cat health is also extremely important as a kitten so that they can grow up to be healthy throughout the rest of their life. Cat health care is one of the most important subjects for responsible and loving cat owners to be aware of. It involves prevention, understanding, and sometimes treatment of a possible life-threatening disease. Cat health care is also affected by lack of exercise and poor diet. You can love your cat into a state of being unhealthy without enough exercise and proper nutrition.

Talk to cat owners who have older cats. Ask them about cat health care for their older cats. What are the problems and what are the right foods and nutritional needs that fall under the term elderly care. If your cat does not receive the proper food and nutrition, they may have problems with their health. Talking about cat health care in advance will make it easier for everyone when the time comes.

Natural cat food is always a welcome one for all pet owners. There are brands of cat food that contains no chemicals and has lots of white meat and vegetables. The prices of these products will vary but because of the balanced diet, correct protein, and vitamins you are going to find the priced higher then the “store brand”.

Heat and humidity degrade nutritional value, so do your best to buy fresh food. Once opened, your cat’s dry food should be stored in a sealed pet feeder container to preserve freshness. As for soreness in your cat, heat is a good soother, heated cat beds or a heated throw will give much relief to this painful complaint. Massage is often beneficial but should be administered with care. Your vet will give you complete direction as to how long to do it.

Bad breath is another unhealthy sign. Your cat should have strong white teeth without odor. Dry cat food will give them strong gums, good healthy teeth, and that will give them clean breath.

Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores known as hot spots. Symptoms of diabetes in your cat include excessive urination and drinking along with weight loss or sudden obesity. If you find that your cat develops diabetes you need to carefully regulate diet and monitor blood sugar levels.

Fleas carry many diseases and can transmit these to your cats. Fleas carry the tapeworm cyst inside them and your cat inevitably swallows fleas during routine grooming .When this happens it is then that the tapeworm hatches and grows in your cat’s stomach. Natural flea control methods and products provide a safer alternative to chemical insecticides. If you cannot reasonably control fleas with this “safer” approach, then consider stronger measures.

Vaccinations (‘shots’) can help keep your cat from getting many of the serious diseases which can make your cat sick, or may even threaten your cat’s life. Your cat’s individual lifestyle and situation will determine which vaccinations your cat needs to have and how often these vaccines need to be given. You will need to keep the shots up to date.

Remember that the main reason to spay is to prevent pregnancy, not to eliminate a cat’s normal behavior, however, removing the ovaries also reduces the risk or mammary cancer.

Remember that advice simply can’t be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say exactly what is best for your cat. Remember to give your kitty a hug today and be thankful that they are with you!

NOTE: This article is for information only. See your veterinarian for medical advice.