A Simple, Easy-to-follow, And Effective Six Step Plan To Prevent Cat Urinary Tract Problems

Cat urinary tract problems have become a lot more common these days for a number of reasons such as poor diet, insufficient water intake, and lack of exercise. They cause a great deal of pain and discomfort for cats. For a cat owner, few other things can be as difficult as watching his furry friend writhe in pain. The good news is that urinary problems in cats can be prevented easily.

A lot of people are under the misconception that cat urinary tract problems are genetic and cannot be prevented. While it is true that certain breeds are genetically predisposed to urinary problems, it does not mean that these problems are unpreventable. With the help of certain dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and natural remedies, they can certainly be prevented. In this article, I am going to share with you a simple, easy to follow 6-step plan to prevent urinary issues in cats.

Step one

If you are feeding your cat commercial pet food, make sure that it is AAFCO certified. Note that there are two levels of certification, a higher level and a lower one. Make sure that your cat's diet includes foods labeled "nutritional adequacy was validated by animal feeding tests based on protocols from the American Association of Feed Control Officials". It should also say "tested and found to be adequate". The lower AAFCO cat food standard is "formulated to meet AAFCO standards.

I'm not a big fan of home cooked diets for cats as their are 40 nutritional components in cat food that over time have been perfectly balanced to give your cat the best chance of staying healthy and fighting disease. That said, if you work with a veterinary nutritionist and use the correct dosage of supplements, then that approach would of course be ideal, however, it is very difficult to do. Go with a name brand food, as these companies have a long history and a reputation to protect, so they are going to do right by your cat (if they don't people like me are going to write about it and they'd be out of business).

Regarding organic foods, expensive foods etc, I always say do unto your cat as you would do for yourself. If you buy organic foods for your family, do the same for your cat, but remember, it still needs to meet the AAFCO certification.

Step two

Make sure your cat drinks plenty of water. It is one of the simplest ways to prevent cat urinary tract problems. Regarding tap, filtered and bottled water, do for your cat as you do for your family. If the tap water is high quality, like it is in my home, then tap water is fine for your family and your cat. As an extra step, a simple carbon filter such as Brita will help to keep any impurities out of the water.

Also, cat's prefer to get moisture or water from food than from drinking water directly. This is a behavior they picked up in the wild. Since canned cat food has more water than dry, a lot more, consider gradually switching if your cat is prone to cat urinary tract infections.

You can also add some berry based juice to the water in the morning. Berries have natural properties which keep infection from clinging to the bladder walls, helping to prevent any cat bladder infection problems.

Even providing an extra water dish in another area of the house can be helpful.

Step three

Keep your cat's litter box clean. Cats are well known for their sense of cleanliness. If the litter box is dirty, your cat might hesitate to use it and hold its urine in for a long time, which increases the risk of cat urinary tract problems considerably. So, clean the kitty litter box regularly and make sure your cat has a clean place to do its business.

Cat urinary tract infections commonly start when bacteria enters a cats body through the same tube that carries urine out of the body (the urethra). This is why frequent urination (due to water intake) and a clean litter box are essential.

Step four

Bathe your cat regularly. If your cat is dirty, bacteria can easily enter its body through the urethra. The presence of harmful bacteria in the urinary bladder could lead to several cat urinary tract problems. To avoid it, you should keep your cat clean. You can use a mild soap and shampoo, prescribed by your vet, to bathe your cat.

Step five

Exercise your cat regularly. Regular exercise strengthens your cat's limbs, stimulates its bladder, and improves its overall health. So, get some interactive toys for your cat to play with and make sure it stays physically active. This is an important step in this cat urinary tract problem prevention plan. Kong toys are great, since they hide a piece of food in the toy, giving your cat hours of play and mental stimulation.

Step six

Start giving your cat a small dose of natural supplements every day. Look for a high quality supplement that contains homeopathic remedies like Berberis Vulg, Cantharis, and Staphysagris. These remedies can strengthen your cat's urinary bladder, maintain the right urine pH balance, improve bladder control, and boost its immune system. They can also treat and prevent common cat urinary tract problems like incontinence and frequent urination. These supplements, when given every day, can reduce the risk of urinary problems to a great extent and make your cat healthier naturally.

The six-step plan looks pretty simple, right? It is easy to follow and has absolutely no side effects whatsoever. Most importantly, it is very effective. So, if you want to prevent cat urinary tract problems and keep your cat healthy, implement this plan immediately. The results, I assure, will surprise you.

By: Jeff Grill

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Jeff Grill is an editor of the Pet Health Guide, which has more information on how to prevent and treat. cat urinary tract infections and problems. The author also recommends this site for more information on natural cat urinary infection treatment approaches.