09/05/2026
🚨 CAT PARENTS: LET’S TALK ABOUT URINARY HEALTH! 🚨
We’ve seen several cats with urinary issues this past week, so we wanted to share some tips to help keep your kitty’s urinary tract healthy! A kitty urinating inappropriately outside of the box can be SO frustrating but it’s the key point that something might be wrong. 🐱💧
💦 1. Encourage WATER intake!
Good hydration is one of the best ways to support urinary health. Consider adding more water bowls around the house, using a cat water fountain, or feeding wet food to increase moisture intake.
🥫 2. Consider incorporating WET FOOD
Canned food has a much higher moisture content than dry kibble and can help increase your cat’s overall water intake.
🧼 3. Keep litter boxes CLEAN
Cats can be picky! Scoop litter boxes daily and keep them in quiet, easily accessible areas. A general rule is one litter box per cat, plus one extra. If you have 2 cats, that means you need at LEAST 3 boxes!
⚖️ 4. Maintain a healthy weight
Overweight cats can be more prone to certain urinary and metabolic problems. Keeping your cat at a healthy body condition is an important part of overall wellness.
😿 5. Reduce STRESS
Stress can play a major role in feline urinary problems. Changes in the household, new pets, moving, dirty litter boxes, or lack of environmental enrichment can all contribute. Give your cat safe hiding places, vertical spaces, playtime, and a predictable routine. Using pheromone diffusers can really help decrease daily stress.
👀 6. Know the WARNING SIGNS!
Watch for:
• Frequent trips to the litter box
• Straining to urinate
• Urinating outside the litter box
• Blood in the urine
• Excessive licking of the urinary area
• Crying or vocalizing while urinating
• Producing only small amounts of urine
🚨 IMPORTANT: If your cat is repeatedly trying to urinate but little or no urine is coming out, this is an EMERGENCY, especially in male cats. A urinary blockage can become life-threatening very quickly.
And remember, not every cat showing urinary symptoms has a UTI. Cats can develop several different urinary conditions, including bladder inflammation, crystals, stones, and urinary obstruction. A urinalysis, lab work, an x-ray, or even a urine culture might be necessary if problems persist. 🔬🩺
If your kitty is showing ANY changes in their urination habits, don’t wait it out. Early evaluation can make a big difference! ❤️
🐾 Healthy bladder = happy cat = happy cat parents
Lizzie here loves her black cats, but she’s a huge sucker for Maine C***s. Did you know we see over a dozen pure bred Maine C***s here at Brookside Veterinary Hospital? They’re SUCH COOL cats!!
