Cat UTI (Urinary Tract Infections)are caused by bacteria in the bladder and can be as uncomfortable for your cat as a bladder infection is for you! It can also cause your cats urine to have a bad odor. Many people don’t even realize their cat has a UTI and if these infections are left untreated, they can have serious health consequences for your cat.
Some symptoms of UTI include – blood in the cats urine, your cat is having accidents or not using the litter box, cat cries or seems to be in pain when he urinates.
If you see any one of these symptoms, you should have your cat tested for UTI. This used to mean a costly trip to the vet, but if you follow the instructions in the article below, you can do a UTI test for your cat at home!
How To Save Money By Testing For Feline UTI Yourself
Author: Nancy E. Wigal
Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty, and unnecessary trips to your vet? Would you like to know if your cat is developing crystals in her urine that could lead to a feline UTI?
It’s easy to do with this check-at-home method.
If your kitty has been previously diagnosed with a feline UTI, there’s a chance it could re-occur. Since it’s impossible to see the crystals in your cat’s urine that are caused by a UTI, you don’t know kitty’s hurting again until the UTI is fairly well advanced. And then how do you tell?
Poor kitty probably stops using the cat litter box – again.
Well, there’s an easy method to check kitty’s urine at home, with a minimum of fuss. You can check as often as you like, and it’s easy to see the test results – you don’t need any training.
Here’s how:
First off, you’ll need either non-absorbent litter (available from your vet) or clean acquarium gravel that’s available at any local pet store.
Next, you’ll need urine pH test strips, which you can read about, and order at:
http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com/crystals-in-cat-urine-pH-kit.html.
Then, set up kitty in a room of her own with food, water, a clean litter box (scrubbed clean, not just litter-dumped-out clean) with the non-absorbent litter or acquarium gravel. You might also add some of her favorite toys, a kitty DVD (see them here at http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com/cat-litter-box-problem.html , or just turn on a radio tuned to a classical music station, with the volume set low.
This testing is even easier when you know the approximate times of the day or night your cat uses the litter box. You may need to observe your cat for a few days to figure this out. Scout usually goes around 4:30 AM, or 5:00 PM. There’s probably other times, but these are the two most convenient times for me to grab a fresh sample from her.
Give kitty time to give you a sample in the box. Check often, to make sure you get fresh cat urine. Why? Fresh cat urine will give you the most accurate pH reading. The older the urine, the higher the pH reading will be…you’ll think kitty has a problem, when she may not.
Dip the urine pH test strip into kitty’s urine, and GENTLY shake the excess off, over the cat litter box. Hold the wet end up, and compare it to the chart that comes with the urine pH test strip kit.
A normal reading is 6.4 – 6.6. If it’s any lower or higher, please contact your vet as soon as possible for more information.
I test my cat Scout monthly. Since I’ve begun using this method, I no longer have to guess if the changes in her diet and lifestyle are working to prevent future UTI occurences. I know for certain, based on the urine sample test reading.
What could be easier? You:
– Can test kitty at home, at your leisure, and hers.
– Don’t have to schedule a vet visit.
– Can easily read the test results quickly.
– Will know if an appointment with kitty’s vet is necessary or not.
Remember, this testing will tell you that a recurring UTI is possible – it’s NOT definitive. For confirmation, you will need to take your cat the vet.
Good luck, and happy testing!
About the author:
www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com