If your cat is suddenly avoiding the litter box, making frequent bathroom trips, or showing signs of discomfort while urinating, your feline might be facing a urinary issue. At Mariemont Veterinary Clinic, we want cat owners to understand what’s going on and how veterinarians get to the bottom of it. One of the most effective tools in diagnosing cat urinary problems is a simple urinalysis. Let’s explore what urinalysis can reveal about your cat’s health and why urinary issues occur.

Signs Your Cat Might Have a Urinary Problem

Cats can be private about their discomfort, so early signs of urinary trouble can be subtle. Always keep an eye out for symptoms of feline urinary conditions, such as:

• Frequent or strained urination
• Urinating outside the litter box
• Blood in the urine
• Vocalizing or restlessness in the litter box
• Overgrooming of the lower abdomen or genital area
• Lethargy or sudden changes in appetite

And if your cat is straining to urinate and producing little or no urine, it’s a medical emergency because this can indicate a blockage. Contact a veterinarian immediately.

Common Causes of Cat Urinary Issues

There are several possible explanations behind your cat’s urinary distress. A few of them include:

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease is a broad term that covers conditions like bladder inflammation, crystals, and stress-related urination issues.

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC)
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder with no clear cause. It is hypothesized to be linked to stress or environmental changes, but no clear reason has been determined.

Feline Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs are more common in older female cats and those with certain medical conditions like diabetes. Urinary tract infections in felines are caused by bacteria.

Feline Urinary Blockages
A urinary obstruction in cats is often the result of crystals, mucus, or inflammation. A urinary blockage is a life-threatening emergency and should be treated as quickly as possible.

Each of these conditions shares overlapping symptoms, which is why testing like urinalysis will likely be a veterinarian’s first step to diagnosis.

What Is Urinalysis and Why Is It So Important?

A urinalysis is a diagnostic test that examines the chemical and physical properties of your cat’s urine. This test is used by veterinary teams to uncover what’s going on inside a feline’s urinary tract. A urinalysis can tell a veterinarian about crystal or stone formation, inflammation, infection, kidney function, and much more. Paired with a physical exam and possibly imaging (like X-rays), a urinalysis will enable a vet to more accurately diagnose what urinary problem is occurring with your pet.

It should be noted that figuring out the symptoms of a cat urinary issue can be much easier than determining the cause. Sometimes, the best course of action for the health of your cat is to start treatment for a specific symptom rather than spend a lot of additional time trying to pinpoint why it is happening.

Treating Cats for Urinary Issues in Cincinnati, OH

Urinary issues in cats are often complex, but the good news is that they’re also treatable. A simple urinalysis can often be used to determine how to relieve your cat’s discomfort and get them back to a healthy routine. Mariemont Veterinary Clinic has urgent treatment for cat urinary problems in Cincinnati and for felines from the Middletown and Newport areas. If your cat is in distress, call us for an appointment.