It is amazing how Ginger pulled through after having endured a urine tract obstruction.
So many male cats die because of this ailment and it is frustrating to think that so much of it could be avoided.
Ginger was brought in semi collapsed and barely moving, and when I started examining him, I was very much in the dark as to what to expect because he had been temporarily living away from home so his owners were unable to provide first-hand information as to how he had got to this state.
Until, I felt the tell-tale sign, an oversized and full bladder. Ginger was suffering from a urine tract obstruction; put simply, he couldn’t pee at all.
Anyone with cats who have experienced this problem, and I know there are many, will understand how painful this condition can be.
Sadly, many of you also know that in some cases the condition becomes so serious that it cannot be resolved and the cat dies or needs to be put down.
The usual first symptom that something is not quite right is when your cat starts visiting the litter tray more often than usual, or when they spend more time in the litter tray than normal.
It occurs because they are having difficulty urinating and keep trying to relieve themselves. In such cases, the sooner you take your cat to your vet, the better the chances of survival.
Urine tract obstruction forms part of a condition known as feline lower urinary tract disease, better known as FLUTD. Most cases of obstruction are due to inflammation of the bladder and tract, urethra plugs and bladder stones which, in the case of cats, often come in the form of fine sticky sand that causes obstruction of the water ways.
FLUTD can also be present in female cats.
It occurs mostly in cats that do not drink enough water for the amount of dry food they eat.
Cats which are not good drinkers and eat mostly or wholly dry foods are the ones that are most at risk of FLUTD.
It is not necessary to give dry food to cats; in fact, dry food is more of a convenience for us than it is for the cat’s benefit. It is always a good idea to get kittens used to eating wet or canned food.
If dry cat food needs to be given, it is important that this be of a good quality and fed as a minority portion of your cat’s daily intake.
If your cat has a history of FLUTD, or if they are poor drinkers, then dry food is best avoided for the sake of your cat’s health. Always make sure your cat has a fresh supply of drinking water. There are also special water fountains available for cats that prefer running water.
Other factors often mentioned as predisposing FLUTD are cats that are neutered, overweight, middle-aged, that do not exercise much and have restricted litter trays.
Stress can also play an important role in predisposing a cat to suffer from FLUTD. There are a number of options a veterinarian can opt for to treat this condition.
Dr Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.
thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com