Does Your Cat Have FLUTD?
One of the most common ailments that cats can develop is feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD. The disease is treatable, but can have serious complications if it is not detected and treated early. If you suspect your cat is suffering from FLUTD, here is what you need to know.
What Are the Symptoms?
There are several symptoms that your cat might have that indicate a problem, but one of the most noticeable is inappropriate urination. Instead of using the litter box, your cat might start urinating anywhere. FLUTD often makes it challenging for a cat to control its urge to urinate.
Your cat could also have trouble in urinating, lack of appetite, and irritability. As the disease progresses, the frequency of your cat's urination might decrease. You might notice your cat has multiple attempts at urinating, but it could have trouble with doing so.
At some point, your cat could start to vomit and even become depressed. Depending on the cause of the FLUTD, your cat's condition could prove to be fatal if it is left untreated.
What Is the Treatment?
The treatment for FLUTD depends on the cause. For instance, bladder infection is one of the most common causes. Your cat's veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotics that need to be taken as recommended.
Bladder stones are another potential cause. The vet might recommend surgical removal. Depending on the progression of the disease, the vet could opt for changes to your cat's diet. The changes could help prevent the development of bladder stones in the future.
What Can You Do?
The care your cat receives at home plays a major role in how well it recovers from the FLUTD. You can jumpstart your cat's recovery by offering it more water. Water can help with improving urination. If your cat is reluctant to drink more water, look for alternative means of sneaking in water into its diet. For instance, you can add more water to your cat's food.
You also need to keep your cat's litter box clean. A clean environment for urinating will help with keeping infections to a minimum. If you have more than one cat, ensure that there enough litter boxes for all of them.
Talk to your cat's veterinarian about other ways you can help your cat recover from FLUTD. Recovery can take some time, but with the right care and follow-ups with your vet, your cat can overcome urination problems.