Did you know that when cats get anxious or upset, they can get irritated bladders?  When people and dogs get anxious or upset, they can get irritated stomachs, which leads to nausea, diarrhea, and even vomiting.  Cats can have the same feelings of anxiety or distress, but their bladders, rather than their stomachs, tend to get targeted.

An irritated bladder in a kitty can lead to a urinary tract or a bladder infection.  Both of these conditions require veterinary attention and are treated with antibiotics.  Signs that your cat may be struggling with an irritated bladder include frequent visits to the litter box, straining while in the litter box, or urinating outside of the litter box.  Unfortunately, urinating outside of the litter box, or “inappropriate urination,” is one of the most frustrating signs of a urinary tract or bladder infection or of anxiety.  Not too many things smell worse than cat urine!

Prevention and quick action are the keys to minimizing the chances of inappropriate urination.  Clean the litter box frequently; if you notice several very small clumps of urine when your cat normally leaves a couple of large clumps, a preemptive trip to the vet might be in order.  If your cat does urinate outside of the litter box, blot up the mess immediately with a towel or paper towel and apply a commercially available cat urine neutralizer.  Do not apply water, as water will spread the odor-causing minerals contained in the cat urine and make it more difficult to neutralize the odor.

Your vet will be able to determine if your cat’s upset bladder is from a physical problem or a metal problem, although it may take some trial and error to pinpoint the exact treatment.  Be patient and loving and your cat’s litter box habits will be back to normal before you know it.

The APS Education Committee works to educate the Durham and Triangle communities on all animal related issues.  If you would like to volunteer for the Education Committee or if you would like a humane educator to make a presentation to your classroom or community group, please contact the APS Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@apsofdurham.org or 560-0640.