Natural Remedies for Feline Urinary Tract Infections

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection, you’ll understand how painful they are. Cats are good at hiding their symptoms, so a cat UTI can be hard to diagnose if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Since your kitty can’t tell you exactly what’s hurting, we’re going to explain some common cat UTI symptoms so you can catch and treat the infection quickly. UTIs can be an ongoing issue for a lot of cats and dogs, so making sure you learn why the infection occurs and what you can do for your cat to prevent further infections from happening is important.

Cat UTI Symptoms

• Starting to urinate in random places (outside the litter box)
• Blood in the urine
• Cats crying out when urinating, indicating pain
• Strong smelling urine (outside what’s normal)
• Trying to urinate but not much coming out
• Super frequent urination
• Constant licking of the genitals

How and Why Urinary Tract Infections Occur

UTIs can develop in any pet. A common reason they develop in cats is because of poorly balanced diets or environmental factors such as stress. Some cats are naturally predisposed to UTIs, like older female cats or cats with diabetes. With pets who get UTIs more frequently, you’ll notice the symptoms sooner and become accustomed to the treatments that work well, but UTIs should always be taken seriously.

While your cat can’t tell you what they feel, common physical symptoms of a UTI include fever, backache, painful and frequent urination, and lethargy. Causes could be related to diet, but may also include immunological deficiency or fungal or protozoan infections. Other causes could be bladder stones, injuries, or tumors.

Crystals Forming from Cat UTIs

In addition to inflammation, crystals are often found in cats affected with UTIs. Struvite crystals are the most common type, and they occur in urine that’s too alkaline. The urine of a carnivore should be slightly acidic. Consuming high-quality animal proteins and plenty of moisture will maintain this balance. Dry commercial foods are a major culprit in producing alkaline urine, so one of the first steps you can take to prevent and treat urinary problems is changing your pet’s diet to a high quality canned food, homemade diet, or raw diet that’s properly balanced.

Home Remedies for a Cat UTI 

Rather than attacking the problem with antibiotics, which can lead to undesirable side effects, there are several natural home remedies for a cat UTI that are effective at treating the infection.

• Juniper berry works very well when it comes to severe urinary tract infections. It’s an herb known for increasing the rate at which the kidneys filter out impurities and it can, therefore, increase urine production.
• Cranberries are a known and effective home treatment for urinary tract infections, though cranberry juice is very high in sugar so shouldn’t be given to pets the same way a human would drink it. We’d recommend Fera Pet Organics Bladder Support for Cats.
• Parsley leaf is an effective diuretic that can aid in the elimination of waste. And, in addition to being highly nutritious, parsley leaves have antiseptic qualities that are great for treating urinary tract infections.
• Uva Ursi leaf is one of the most powerful natural astringents available. Holistic veterinarians use it to attack a variety of pathogens that are often the cause of UTIs. It can stop bleeding and reduce the inflammation associated with these infections.
• Marshmallow root works wonderfully when there’s inflammation in the urinary tract because it stimulates the immune system and attacks bacteria that cause these infections, while also soothing the body and reducing irritation.

Final Thoughts

Urinary tract infections in pets are serious, so you definitely want to get your cat to the vet as soon as symptoms arise in order to get a clear diagnosis and begin treatment. Whether your cat’s UTI is caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, or crystals, there are many natural remedies you can try if you wish to avoid harsh conventional treatments. Always check with your vet before you treat your cat’s UTI.