Monitoring and Follow-Up Care
Video: Blood in your cat’s urine explained. Vet covers common causes of bloody urine in Cats.
After your cat experiences a urinary infection, vigilance in monitoring and incorporating appropriate follow-up care is critical for their health and recovery. Your veterinarian plays a key role in setting the course for this, with a focus on preventing recurrence and detecting complications early.
Regular Veterinary Check-Ups
You must schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to ensure your cat’s urinary health is on track.
These visits typically include a urine culture to check for ongoing infection and blood work to assess overall health. A culture and sensitivity test might also be part of the follow-up to determine the best antibiotic if an infection persists.
Home Care and Observation
At home, you should observe your cat for signs of recurring infections, such as frequent urination, discomfort, or blood in the urine. Note any changes and report them to your veterinarian. Your careful observation aids in early detection and swift management of potential medical conditions.
Using Cat Litter to Monitor Urinary Problems
Color-changing kitty litters like Genius Litter is a cool tool for detecting urinary problems in your cat. This litter is made with highly absorbent silica gel crystals that react to the pH levels in your cat’s urine, signaling different conditions through changes in color.
Understanding the Color Codes:
- Yellow: Normal urine pH.
- Green/Blue: Possible high alkalinity, warning of potential struvite stones or bacterial infections.
- Orange: Indicative of acidic urine which can point to kidney problems or metabolic acidosis.
- Red: Likely presence of blood, a serious sign that needs immediate veterinary attention.
They even made it to Shark Tank. While random, I watch Shark Tank almost every day, even the replays, and I was quite excited when I saw this litter. In fact, if I knew about it earlier, I would have used it with Ginger, and it may have picked up some early signs of his urinary issue (see first paragraph if you missed it).
Anyhow, the goal here is detection, not diagnosis. Always follow up with your vet for professional advice, please do that. Meanwhile, you can be proactive and catch early signs of a urinary problem that can be cured quickly.
Conclusions
A cat urinary infection is not to be taken lightly. Cats are stoic when it comes to pain, but this doesn’t mean that there are no signs suggesting that something’s going on.
Especially if you have an older cat, chances are that he will have some urinary problems. They can be mild and symptom-less, or they can be debilitating as in the case of what happened to my Ginger. But no matter the magnitude, they must be recognized, and addressed promptly.
Talk to your vet ASAP, as there are effective and easy-to-use medications that can help your cat feel better in no time.
RELATED: Natural treatments for feline lower urinary tract disease (LUTD)
