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The biggest nightmare for cats: urinary tract infections. Here’s how to reduce the risk.
Every year, in Italy alone, over 100,000 cats develop urinary tract problems.
In fact, after obesity, urinary disorders are the second most common condition.
That’s why it’s important to understand the causes of urinary tract diseases and how to prevent them.
As you read these lines, you’ll likely discover a few practical tips that will help you avoid worries, veterinary expenses, and above all, suffering for your cat.
Of course, there’s no miracle solution that can eliminate the problem entirely, but with the right precautions it’s possible to significantly reduce the risk.
Here are the steps to take according to scientific research:
- Water: fountain vs wet food
A water fountain may not help.
According to a study conducted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the fountain did not significantly increase cats’ water intake, nor did it promote urine dilution.
What does seem to be effective is adding water to your cat’s diet. The University of Cambridge tested a kibble-based diet, but with water added until it reached a porridge-like consistency, increasing the dry food’s weight by 3–4 times.
Cats fed this way showed a reduced risk of calcium oxalate stones compared with those fed drier diets. No improvements were found, however, regarding struvite.
This study therefore highlights the importance of a diet that includes liquids—pairing dry food with wet food, or adding water to kibble.
- The role of obesity in urinary tract disease
More than 50% of indoor cats in Italy are overweight. Italy, moreover, was the first country in the world to recognize obesity as a disease.
The University of California, Davis conducted a large study on as many as 9,062 cats on the relationship between obesity and urinary tract disease in cats.
The research showed that, unfortunately, there is a strong association between obesity and urinary tract disease.
Many other studies confirm the findings of the American university, further proving how important it is to keep your cat at a healthy weight.
Feeding your cat kibble that contains legumes and grains adds unnecessary calories, which means worsening body condition and increasing the risk of urinary tract disease.
It’s important to choose a food free from legumes and grains and rich in meat, like our Felinus air-dried food.
- Environmental stress
We created our brand by comparing the cat to a Roman emperor, because the cat is the true king of our home.
Could an emperor ever share their litter box with other cats?
Of course not—according to a scientific study conducted in Thailand that examined 3,486 cats.
According to this research, cats that have access to a personal litter box but also a shared litter box have a three times higher risk of developing urinary tract disease.
Environmental factors play an important role in preventing urinary tract disease.
The importance of environmental factors was confirmed by research conducted by Prof. Buffington at The Ohio State University (published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine).
According to this study, urinary tract disease is not only a bladder problem, but often the urinary expression of a systemic vulnerability linked to stress and environmental factors.
Many cats with urinary tract problems show alterations in their stress response.
The research therefore suggests that multimodal environmental enrichment (more resources and better distribution, predictable routine, reduced conflict, short and frequent predatory play, opportunities for control/vertical space) significantly reduces the risk of urinary tract disease.
The link between the surrounding environment and stress has also been recommended by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
The Canadian veterinary association recommends duplicated and distributed resources: for each social group (or for each cat, if they are not affiliative), in particular:
- Food: multiple stations, not in each other’s line of sight.
- Water: multiple spots far from food and litter boxes.
- Litter box: ≥ number of cats (ideally n+1), in quiet places with multiple access points.
- Rest/vertical space: shelves/towers up high, hideouts with multiple exits to avoid “exit blocking”.
- Scratching posts: different materials/orientations, near resting areas.
These measures reduce competition, chasing, blocking passageways, and anxious vigilance.
- The role of blueberries as a preventive aid for urinary tract disease
A recent study conducted by a team of French researchers and published in the Journal of Veterinary Research showed that blueberries can help protect cats from urinary infections.
The researchers observed that, when included in the diet, blueberries reduce the adhesion of E. coli bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract—one of the main factors behind recurrent cystitis in cats.
An important result that confirms that natural, targeted ingredients can truly make a difference in our cat’s everyday wellbeing.
It’s no coincidence, in fact, that in Felinus air-dried recipes you’ll find red berries among the ingredients, for their beneficial function at the urinary tract level.
- Conclusion
Follow the steps outlined in this article and choose a food that:
- Contains red berries that naturally help prevent urinary tract problems;
- Is free from unnecessary calories for your cat, such as those coming from legumes and grains.
Choose Felinus air-dried food, which could make the difference between a cat that suffers more and a healthy, calmer cat… by your side.
