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Home Remedies for UTIs in Cats

Cheryl Whitten

August 20, 2023

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Technically reviewed by:

Charisse Cartin

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UTIs can cause stress and discomfort for your cat. While healthy cats with a strong immune system can fight a mild infection on its own, a moderate-to-severe infection requires treatment from a vet. These home care tips and home remedies for UTIs in cats can provide some relief.

How Can I Treat My Cat’s UTI at Home?

Lower urinary tract infections can happen for many reasons, including bacterial infections and anatomical (structural) problems. A few treatments and home care changes may help ease symptoms [1].

UTI Meds for Cats

Elevated white blood cells in cat's urine during a UTI signal infection-fighting response, but untreated UTIs can escalate into serious health issues.

It’s best to treat bacterial UTIs with antibiotics. To be sure that you are dealing with a urinary tract infection, you can use an at-home cat urine test kit to check for white blood cells and nitrite in the urine. An increased level of white blood cells indicates an active immune response, whereas an increased level of nitrite in the urine is a sign of bacteria in the urinary tract. If your test is positive, then it is likely a urinary tract infection. It is best to follow up with your vet for additional testing to find the specific type of bacteria causing the infection to get a prescription for antibiotics [2]. Antibiotics are generally the best and quickest way to resolve a bacterial infection; however, it is important to use an antibiotic specific to the bacteria causing the infection.

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While healthy animals can fight a mild infection on their own without the need for an antibiotic, moderate-to-severe infections generally require antibiotics for effective relief and prevent recurrent UTIs.

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Over the counter (OTC) UTI meds are different from antibiotics. OTC meds generally alleviate UTI symptoms, such as pain and fever. They do not get rid of the bacteria. You could use over-the-counter fever and inflammation reduction medicines to alleviate UTI symptoms. Read more about over-the-counter UTI medicines in this article.

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Increase Water

Fluids help flush the urinary tract of debris and bacteria while also helping dilute the urine. Ensure your cat has access to fresh, clean water at all times [3]. Place water bowls in convenient areas around your home or use a water fountain to encourage drinking [4].

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Increased fluid intake helps to dilute the urine and flush out debris and harmful bacteria out of the urinary tract.

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Staying optimally hydrated is one of the best at home remedies to flush out pathogenic bacteria.

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Offer Canned Food

There is some evidence that canned food can be helpful during UTI.

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There is some evidence that changes in diet may help urinary health [1]. In particular, canned food may be helpful during a UTI. These foods are generally rich in water, which can increase water intake and help dilute urine [5].

If your cat is experiencing recurrent UTIs, it would be wise to watch her diet. Canned foods that are specifically prepared for cats that experience recurrent UTIs may be helpful.

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How to Prevent UTIs in Cats

Cats are clean animals and sensitive to food and environmental changes. A consistent routine, regular urine testing, and good home care practices may help prevent a UTI.

To help prevent UTIs in cats, maintain a consistent routine, conduct regular urine tests, and provide good home care.

Keep the Litterbox Clean

Dirty litterboxes can stress your cat and make it susceptible to a UTI. Clean the boxes at least twice a week and keep them in a quiet area with enough space to move around. That way, your cat can use them without stress [6].

Ensure Consistent Diet

Your cat may develop UTIs if the diet is inconsistent. Feed your cat frequent, small meals, and ensure the food is low in magnesium. Cats with a history of struvite stones may easily develop stones after consuming too much magnesium. Most cat food is low in magnesium, but talk to your vet if you’re unsure [3].

Avoid Urine Acidifier Cat UTI Drops

Urine acidifier supplements used to be a popular method for treating UTIs in small animals [7]. However, these drops or tablets can cause too much acid in the urine, leading to metabolic acidosis, mineral imbalance, and kidney problems [3]. Talk to your vet first before using UTI drops or urinary acidifiers.

‍Practice Regular At-Home UTI Tests for Cats

Monitor your cat’s health with regular urine testing, especially if your cat has chronic infections. Cat UTI test strips check for white blood cells, nitrite, glucose, ketones, proteins, pH, and urine concentration, among other things. These may help you spot changes in metabolism early on, so you can quickly take any abnormal results to your vet for follow-up. Proactive health screening is a proven strategy to prevent infections. detect potential health issues early on, and address them before they become more severe and costly to treat.

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By promoting preventive measures and enabling timely interventions, at-home testing can potentially reduce the need for expensive hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and long-term treatments associated with advanced stages of diseases.

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Try Petnox-10 At-Home Urine Test Strips for Cats

At-home urinalysis with clinical-grade cat urine test strips such as Petnox-10 by Diagnox is a simple and reliable way to monitor your cat’s urinary health, especially if there is a history of UTIs. Get quick and easy-to-interpret results and gain peace of mind. Try Petnox-10 today.

References

[1] B. Naarden and R. Corbee, “The effect of a therapeutic urinary stress diet on the short-term recurrence of feline idiopathic cystitis,” Veterinary Medicine and Science, vol. 6,1 (2020): 32-38 [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[2] P. Dowling, “Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections,” Merck Veterinary Manual. [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[3] CUCVM Staff, “Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease,” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[4] Cats Protection Staff, “8 tips to encourage your cat to drink more water,” Cats Protection. [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[5] C. Villaverde and M. Chandler, "Commercial vs. Homemade Cat Diets: What you need to know.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2022;24(5):415-428 [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[6] Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Staff, “Litter Boxes,” The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. [Accessed August 2, 2023].

[7] R. Gollakner, “Ammonium Chloride,” VCA Animal Hospitals. [Accessed August 2, 2023].

About the Author

Cheryl Whitten

Cheryl Whitten is a health writer with a background in allied health care as an herbalist and clinical aromatherapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Athabasca University and certificates from the University of Maryland and Wild Rose College. She writes for leading health and lifestyle websites with a focus on health, wellness, and consumer products.

About the Reviewer

This blog was

Technically reviewed by:

Charisse Cartin

Charisse Cartin is a talented and dedicated editor who has contributed significantly to this blog.

The blog was also reviewed by the Diagnox content team. Diagnox Staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, content writers, and healthcare professionals with an expertise to create and review high-quality, informative, accurate, and easy-to-understand content for both professionals and everyday readers. Our staff follows strict guidelines to ensure the credibility and authenticity of the information, reviewing them independently and verifying them by various scientific and technical sources to ensure accuracy. Our review team believes in delivering knowledge free from bias to improve public health and well-being.

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