Understanding and Preventing Urinary Stones in Your Cat

How Dangerous Is Feline Urinary Stone Disease, and What Causes It?

Urinary stones form from mineral buildup, and can occur anywhere along the urinary tract. Stones can become hard masses that make it difficult for cats to urinate. Signs that may indicate a cat has urinary stones include prolonged urination, being unable to urinate at all, crying in pain while urinating, or sometimes blood in the urine. If left untreated, stones can lead to urinary tract infection, or even kidney failure.

Causes of "Urinary Stone Disease"

1. Improper diet -- food high in minerals, or food with an imbalanced acid/alkaline level, can cause mineral buildup in the urine, forming stones.
2. Insufficient water intake -- if a cat drinks too little water, their urine becomes highly concentrated, causing minerals to build up into stones.
3. Underlying health conditions -- cats with existing conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease may be more prone to developing stones.

Urinary stone disease is extremely dangerous if left untreated. So we should look for ways to prevent the risk of your cat developing this condition, or if you notice your cat showing abnormal symptoms, bring them to see a veterinarian right away for the fastest possible treatment.