A Cat Or A Cat Often Goes To The Toilet For A Little Bit: Causes Of Frequent Urination, Diagnosis And Treatment Of Possible Diseases

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Frequent urination in cats: is it necessary to sound the alarm

If the cat has begun to visit the litter box more often on "wet" cases, you should pay close attention to this, since frequent urination can be a symptom of the disease.

Content

• 1 Normal amount of urination in cats
• 2 Situations in which increased urination is normal

• 3 Frequent urination as a sign of illness

  • 3.1 Video: Different Causes of Frequent Urination in Cats
  • 3.2 For what symptoms do you need to see a doctor urgently?

  • 3.3 Drugs for the treatment of urinary tract disorders in cats

    • 3.3.1 Table: Overview of Medicines Used to Treat Urinary System Disorders in Felines
    • 3.3.2 Photo Gallery: Medicines for the Treatment of Urinary System Disorders in Cats
    • 3.3.3 Video: Urinary Incontinence in Animals
  • 3.4 The use of traditional medicine
  • 3.5 Rules for caring for sick animals
• 4 Veterinarian recommendations

Normal amount of urination in cats

Normally, the daily amount of urination depends on the age and sex of the animal:

• very small kittens up to 3 months old can urinate only once a day;
• from 3 to 5 months, the frequency of urination gradually increases and can reach 6 times a day;
• an adult cat urinates 1-2 times a day, but the frequency of visits to the litter box may increase during heat and pregnancy;
• an adult cat urinates 3-4 times a day, a castrated cat - up to 5-6 times.

The difference in urinary frequency between cats and cats is due to differences in the structure of the urinary tract, which in neutered cats is further narrowed. Each animal has an individual rate, which does not differ much from the average, but it is she who serves as a guide when it comes to changing the frequency of urination.

Situations in which increased urination is normal

In a number of situations not related to the development of the disease, there is an increase in the frequency of urination (pollakiuria):

• In old age - with age, cats and cats have a weakening of the bladder sphincter, and they urinate more often.
• During the period of sexual heat - cats during estrus, as well as cats in a state of sexual arousal, mark the territory with small portions of urine. In this case, labels are produced in various places, not only in the tray.
• When stressed, this is due to the reflex contraction of the muscles of the bladder, which causes stress, especially prolonged stress. It is important to correctly identify the source of stress and remove it if possible. If this is not possible, then the cat can be sedated and paid more attention to the pet.
• As a result of hypothermia - under the influence of low temperatures there is an increase in urination, which is normalized when the animal warms up. The danger of exposure to hypothermia is the possibility of infection, including its own conditionally pathogenic flora due to temporary suppression of the function of the immune system caused by hypothermia.
• Under the influence of medication, such as diuretics or corticosteroids.
• With increased fluid intake (at elevated ambient temperatures or as a result of eating salty foods). In this case, the frequency of urination should be normalized within 24 hours.

Eating salty foods will increase the amount of water consumed and the frequency of urination.

Frequent urination as a sign of illness

Pollakiuria may also indicate the development of:

• Urolithiasis. It is characterized by the formation of stones in the renal pelvis and bladder as a result of metabolic disorders. The stones injure the lining of the urinary tract, causing it to become inflamed, and also obstruct the flow of urine. If, in case of a violation of the outflow of urine, help is not provided to the pet in time, within 3-5 days it may die. The symptoms of urolithiasis are:

  • general malaise;
  • anxiety;

  • the cat visits the litter box often, urine is excreted in very small quantities, often with blood (in cases where there is no urine discharge at all, we are talking about acute urinary retention, and this is an emergency);

    

    Difficulty urinating is indicated by the tense posture of the animal in the tray
  • vomiting;
  • fever;
  • with an increase in intoxication - drowsiness, weakness.

• Cystitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, which can develop against the background of hypothermia, injury by stones during urolithiasis, the spread of an infectious process from the renal pelvis and ureters, as well as from the urethra. Symptoms characteristic of cystitis:

  • mucus, blood or pus appears in the urine, it becomes cloudy;
  • pain when urinating, the cat may meow while in the litter box;
  • the cat often and for a long time licks the crotch area;
  • the pet urinates in a different place, since the use of the litter box is associated with pain;
  • fever;
  • unpleasant pungent urine odor.

• Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal pelvis. Pathology is caused by the spread of microbial flora from the lower parts of the urinary system or the drift of bacteria with blood from other existing foci of inflammation. Also, the cause may be the presence of stones in the renal pelvis. The symptoms of pyelonephritis are:

  • fever with increasing temperature above 40 ^to C;

  • severe intoxication:

    • lack of appetite;
    • lethargy;
    • apathy;
    • vomiting;
  • severe pain in the lumbar region - the cat meows bending;
  • painful urination along with its frequency - the cat screams while in the tray;
  • the urine is cloudy, with an unpleasant odor, contains an admixture of pus, and possibly blood.

• Renal failure - characterized by the death of a part of the nephrons and their replacement with connective tissue, resulting in a pronounced decrease in renal function. Kidney failure symptoms:

  • frequent urination with an increased amount of urine;
  • thirst;
  • dehydration;
  • lethargy, general depression;
  • swelling;
  • anemia;
  • increased blood pressure;
  • ulcerative lesion of the oral mucosa;
  • constipation;
  • the smell of urine or acetone from the mouth and from the cat's fur;
  • itchy skin;
  • urine is excreted in large quantities, weakly colored, watery.

• Tumors. With tumors located inside the urinary tract, the formation of their partial, and then complete obstruction is characteristic. Also, an externally located tumor can compress the bladder, prompting it to empty. The symptoms are very different, depending on the type of tumor, its location and size. Commonly found:

  • the appearance of blood in the urine;
  • unpleasant putrid odor from urine during tumor decay;
  • loss of body weight;
  • volumetric formations on palpation of the abdomen;
  • general oppression;
  • lack of appetite;
  • anemia;
  • fever;
  • the appearance of pain syndrome (with violations of the outflow of urine, as well as with germination and compression of the nerve trunks by the tumor).

• Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease caused either by a deficiency in the production of the hormone insulin in the cells of the pancreas, or by a loss of sensitivity of the body's cell receptors to it, which leads to a high content of glucose in the blood, urine and its deficiency in the cells. Thus appear:

  • increased appetite;
  • thirst and increased water intake;
  • an increase in the amount of urine separated (frequent urination in large volumes);
  • slow healing of small skin lesions;
  • frequent infectious diseases, purulent infections of skin wounds;

  • with decompensation of the course of the disease, there may be:

    • the smell of acetone from the mouth;
    • coma;
    • convulsions.

• Diabetes insipidus. It develops as a result of damaging effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary system of skull injuries, hemorrhages, infections and tumors. As a result, the synthesis of antidiuretic hormone by pituitary cells is disrupted. This hormone is responsible for water-salt metabolism, and when it is lacking, the reverse absorption of water in the tubules of the nephrons is disturbed. It is rare. Symptoms:

  • increased amount of urine discharge, watery urine;
  • thirst, increased water intake;
  • dehydration;
  • weight loss;
  • general weakness;
  • a decrease in body temperature is possible.

• Hyperthyroidism - excessive function of the thyroid gland with an increase in the content of its hormones in the blood. More common in older cats. Symptoms:

  • increased appetite;
  • thirst, increased water intake;
  • an increase in the amount of urine separated;
  • increasing weakness due to a decrease in muscle mass;
  • regular diarrhea;
  • vomiting;
  • heart palpitations;
  • in advanced cases - shortness of breath.

• Cushing's Syndrome. It is caused by an increase in the production of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands or the intake of its synthetic analogs for therapeutic purposes. The symptoms are:

  • lethargy;
  • thirst, increased water intake;
  • an increase in the amount of urine separated;
  • increased appetite;
  • decrease in muscle mass;
  • an increase in the size of the abdomen;
  • the formation of areas of symmetrical baldness;
  • thinning, dry skin.

• Pyometra - purulent inflammation of the endometrium (the mucous membrane of the uterus), accompanied by the accumulation of pus in its cavity and the development of intoxication. The main reason is endometritis against the background of a violation of hormonal regulation with the further addition of bacterial flora. Symptoms:

  • purulent discharge from the uterine cavity with an open cervical canal;
  • fever;
  • thirst, increased water intake;
  • a rapid increase in the volume of the abdomen with a closed cervical canal;
  • lack of appetite;
  • diarrhea;
  • an increase in the amount of urine separated;

  • general oppression.

    

    Pyometra - an accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity, which occurs when pyogenic microflora penetrates into the uterus and disrupts the outflow of purulent contents

Thus, pollakiuria is a valuable diagnostic feature of many diseases. With some of them, it will appear among the very first symptoms, for example, cystitis and pyometra, which will allow an attentive owner to start treating a sick cat as early as possible. With pathologies of the endocrine system, pollakiuria develops gradually against the background of other symptoms, therefore it is important to know the normal frequency of urination in your cat in order not to allow the smooth development of the disease to go unnoticed.

Video: different causes of frequent urination in cats

What symptoms do you need to see a doctor urgently?

The appearance of a number of symptoms against the background of pollakiuria requires an urgent visit to the veterinarian:

• pain during urination: the cat screams, takes a forced position (the back is bent, the head is turned down, the muscles are tense);

• pathological impurities in the urine - blood, mucus or pus;

  

  With frequent urination and the appearance of pathological impurities in the urine (blood, mucus, pus), an urgent veterinarian consultation is necessary

• unpleasant odor from urine, it can become pungent, putrid;
• an increase or decrease in the amount of urine separated - the owner will be able to understand this by how much the need for cleaning the tray has changed;
• fever;
• edema;
• general oppression, lethargy, apathy;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea or constipation;
• weight loss;
• pain on palpation of the abdomen;
• purulent discharge from the genital tract;
• odor of acetone or urine from the mucous membranes and hair of the cat.

Some of the diseases, the manifestation of which is pollakiuria, can have a chronic course, their symptoms are subtle or are not present in full, as, for example, in the acute form of the same diseases, for example, in pyelonephritis. Therefore, even if there are no other symptoms and outwardly the cat behaves as usual, but the frequent urination persists for more than a day - you should contact the veterinarian and get tested.

Drugs for treating urinary tract disorders in cats

For the treatment of diseases of the urinary system, the following groups of drugs are used:

• Antibacterial drugs - destroy or damage bacterial cells, causing their death:

  • Sinulox;
  • Baytril;
  • Ciprofloxacin.

• Sulfonamides are broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs that additionally have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antipyretic effects:

  • Sulfadiazine;
  • Sulfadimezin;
  • Urosulfan;
  • Sulfapyridazine.

• Nitrofurans - active against bacteria, protozoa, fungi:

  • Furagin;
  • Furazolin;
  • Furadonin.

• Antispasmodics:

  • No-shpa;
  • Platyphyllin;
  • Papaverine.

• Pain relievers - to relieve pain;

  Meloxicam

• Diuretics - used to accelerate renal filtration:

  • Diakarb;
  • Furosemide.

• Phytopreparations:

  • Cyston;
  • Kanephron;
  • Lespeflan.

Table: An overview of medications used to treat urinary tract diseases in cats

A drug	Structure	Operating principle	Admission rules	Price, rubles
Sinulox	ampicillin; clavulanic acid.	Combined broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. It is not prescribed for allergies to penicillin antibiotics.	I / m or s / c at a dose of 8.75 mg / kg in a course of 3-5 days once a day	910 for 40 ml
Baytril; Enroflox.	Enrofloxacin	Broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. Do not appoint to animals: during growth; during pregnancy and lactation; with diseases of the nervous system, accompanied by convulsions; with an allergy to fluoroquinolones.	Cats exclusively in the form of subcutaneous injections of 5 mg / kg once a day	310 for 100 ml 2.5% solution
Ciprofloxacin; Tsiprovet; Tsipromag.	Ciprofloxacin	Broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. Do not apply: during growth; pregnant women, lactating; if you are allergic to fluoroquinolones.	5-15 mg / kg twice a day, course 5-14 days	113 for 10 tablets of 15 mg
Urosulfan	Urosulfan	Antimicrobial agent with antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. High activity against staphylococcus and Escherichia coli. Low toxicity. Does not apply when: agranulocytosis; acute hepatitis and hemolytic anemia; pregnancy, lactation.	0.03 g / kg body weight 1-2 times a day for a course of 5-6 days	from 30
Sulf 120	sulfadiazine; trimethoprim.	Combined broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent	1 tablet per 4 kg of body weight; the daily dose is divided into 2 doses; give with food. Treatment continues for 2 more days after the symptoms disappear.	160 for 6 tablets
Papaverine	Papaverine	An antispasmodic drug, less bitter in tablets and painful in injections than No-shpa, therefore it is preferable	1-2 mg / kg; the dose is the same for tablets, i / m and s / c injections. The daily dose is calculated for 2 administrations.	tablets from 10 rubles; solution for injection from 50.
Furagin	Furagin (furazidin)	Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent; when used together with antibiotics, it prevents the formation of resistant strains. Does not apply when: a history of nitrofuran allergies; pregnancy; decompensation of renal function.	5-10 mg / kg; course for at least 5 days; repeated course not earlier than 10 days after the end of the first one, if necessary	from 114
Lasix	Furosemide	Loop diuretic; mainly used to eliminate the accumulation of fluid in cavities and soft tissues; when using, monitoring is necessary: daily amount of urine; drunk liquid; electrolyte disturbances; dehydration.	2-4 mg / kg i / v or i / m. The course is rarely prescribed, mainly used to quickly get rid of excess fluid, applying situationally, for example, after a dropper	from 37
Hydryl; Oretic; Unazid.	Diakarb	Thiazide diuretic, the effect is milder than that of furosemide; exerts its effect regardless of blood pH, removing sodium and chlorine ions. Do not apply when: severe dysfunctions of the liver and kidneys; severe diabetes and gout.	1-2 mg / kg tablets every 12 hours; take one hour before meals. The course is individual.	from 85
Lespeflan	Alcohol tincture of Lespedeza	It has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect, reduces the level of nitrogenous toxins in the blood in case of renal failure. Do not use for allergies to the drug, pregnancy - due to alcohol.	1-2 ml per animal by mouth 2-3 times a day before meals; Shake the bottle, measure the dose and leave it in a dark place for half an hour to weather the alcohol. The course is 3-4 weeks.	from 172
Loxicom	Meloxicam	Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effect. Do not apply when: allergies to the components of the product; decompensation of kidney and liver function; peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum; hemorrhagic syndrome; pregnancy, lactation; kittens under 6 weeks of age.	Administered orally with food: the first day of treatment 1 mg / kg; on the following days 0.05 mg / kg. The course is not more than 10 days; while maintaining the need for pain relief, the analgesic is changed.	923 for 15 ml

Photo Gallery: Medicines for the Treatment of Urinary System Disorders in Cats

The antibiotic enrofloxacin, which is part of Baytril, has a broad spectrum of action and is highly effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections

Sinulox is successfully used to treat urinary tract infections; due to the inclusion in the composition of clavulanic acid, it has an extended spectrum of action

Lespeflan is a herbal preparation with a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect

Loxicom is intended for pain relief; to reduce the irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, give it after eating

Video: urinary incontinence in animals

The use of traditional medicine

Traditional medicine is used in conjunction with drug therapy in agreement with the attending veterinarian:

• Lingonberry leaf infusion - has diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects:

  1. Pour a tablespoon of crushed dry leaves with one glass of boiling water.
  2. Heat in a water bath for 30 minutes.
  3. Strain hot.
  4. Give 1.7 ml per kg of body weight 30 minutes before meals 4 times a day.

• Collection according to Yordanov - has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect, as well as the ability to dissolve calculi:

  1. Take the mixture:

     • peppermint leaves - 10 g;
     • field horsetail - 15 g;
     • black elderberry flowers - 10 g;
     • juniper fruit - 15 g.
  2. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection with a glass of boiling water and leave under the lid for 1 hour.
  3. Apply 30-50 ml 2-3 times a day.

Lingonberry has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect

Rules for caring for sick animals

For the speedy recovery of the pet, the following conditions must be met:

• avoid hypothermia of the cat: exclude drafts, the floor and air must be warm;
• give the cat peace of mind, eliminate the effects of stress;
• provide the pet with access to plenty of drinking water and make sure that he drinks;

• in feeding, use ready-made veterinary feeds developed for feeding animals with urinary tract pathology; if the cat is on natural food - to reduce the amount of protein consumed, but in this case, switching to veterinary food looks preferable.

  

  Many brands have dedicated lines for cats with urinary tract problems

Veterinarian recommendations

Frequent urination in cats occurs both normally in some conditions and is a symptom of diseases. In the case of a combination of frequent urination with additional signs indicating malaise, contacting a veterinarian should be urgent, since we can talk about a disease of the urinary or endocrine systems. The list of medicines used to treat diseases of the urinary system is wide, but their appointment is permissible only by a veterinarian.