A Quick Guide To Common Cat Bladder Diseases

With how vast and easily accessible resources are nowadays, you would think that cases of feline bladder disease would significantly decrease by the day. Yet each year, about 10 percent of cats are affected, and 55 to 59 percent of those have unknown causes. Breed also seem to play a role, with Burmese, Siamese, Ragdolls, Persians, Himalayans and some Shorthair cats being particularly susceptible.

Cat bladder disease is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the bladder. These include tumors, but the most common are cystitis (bladder inflammation), urolithiasis (bladder stones) and ruptured bladder.

Diseases of the bladder are rarely seen in cats below one year and if they are, trauma may be suspected. Aging is a primary consideration; such diseases are common in cats ages four and up. However, in many cases it is simply a matter of improper diet. Fish-flavored food, which is usually high in phosphorus - a primary contributor to stones - and dry food are the common culprits. Dry food contains only 10% moisture - a staggering 1/7th of a cat's total daily water requirements.

Stress can also be a precipitating factor, as well as cancer (1%), trauma, urinary tract obstruction, physiological defects, preexisting condition (diabetes, Cushing's) and prolonged use of antibiotics and certain drugs. Unlike popular belief, bacteria are not a major cause, and only 1 to 3 percent of all documented cat bladder diseases actually originate from bacterial infections. This makes urinalysis and urine cultures a must before diagnosing and dosing a cat with antibiotics, which are rather harmful to the kidneys.

Signs and Symptoms

One of the greatest challenges in treating feline bladder disease is the erring similarity in the signs and symptoms. The obvious pain as a cat strains while urinating, passing little to no urine, bloody or cloudy urine with a strong odor, lethargy, avoidance of the litter box, constant grooming of the genitals and frequent water intake - these are all classical signs of UTIs. But they are too of bladder stones and cystitis.

Thus apart from urinalysis - which should be done routinely every 6 months - veterinarians will also request for a blood workup and an ultrasound, particularly if bladder stones are suspected.

Types

Cystitis

Also known as bladder inflammation, this is the most common type of feline bladder disease and is seen in 50 to 65 percent of cases. This may result from a blockage in the urinary tract or in rare cases, UTIs.

Urolithiasis or Bladder Stones

Bladder stones come from crystals that have mineralized in the bladder, usually due to poor diet. The most common types are struvite and calcium oxalate stones, both of which occur frequently in Persians, Foreign Shorthairs, Ragdolls and Himalayans.

Ruptured Bladder

In more than half the cases, a ruptured bladder results from trauma and accidents, although blockages and cancer can also be factors. Apart from the signs mentioned, a cat will also present with an absolute failure to void. This is a medical emergency! A cat who's unable to void for 24 hours is likely to suffer from total renal failure, or worse, death.

Home Interventions

In an effort to reduce the harmful effects of prescription drugs particularly antibiotics, many holistic veterinarians now prescribe the use of homeopathic remedies, such as Belladonna (for pain) and Berberis (for UTIs). This, in addition to feeding your cat nothing but pure, high-quality canned food and replenishing their bowls with fresh water regularly will ensure that he'll live a longer, and bladder-disease-free life.