Cat Loyalists already know that their pets are incredible – and that’s for a whole world of reasons. One of those is the story of their evolution: cats were once desert animals, and evolved to survive in water-scarce environments. That means: more highly concentrated pees, less frequent urination, and a much lower thirst-drive that relies on getting moisture from prey.
Unfortunately, this evolution can give our pets – who definitely don’t have to survive the desert these days – some trouble.
That highly concentrated urine means that minerals can clump together to form crystals or stones, and this can irritate the bladder wall. And that lack of thirst that allowed them to thrive in hot places? It doesn’t work as well with modern diets of dry kibble, which have a low concentration of water (8-10% as opposed to the 70-75% a cat would find in wild prey).
Let’s talk anatomy
There’s a few things about your cat’s body that can make things extra challenging:
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The urethra
Male cats’ urethras are shaped like a funnel – starting out wider and narrowing as it gets to the tip, which means crystals, mucus plugs and inflammation can easily block the exit. -
The bladder lining
In cats, this is reactive and easily irritated. Stress, dehydration, pain and minerals can all trigger inflammation and lead to Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, otherwise known as FIC (more on that below). -
The brain-bladder connection
The autonomic nervous system links these two together. Stress can create bladder wall inflammation and increased pain perception, and that pain can make your cat urinate less often – which creates more inflammation. It’s a cycle.
Common conditions to know about
Bladder conditions are something a lot of Cat Loyalists have to think about, and it can be hard to keep track of the acronyms. Here’s a quick summary to help:
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, or FIC
This is when the bladder becomes inflamed despite there being no infection, and cats are urinating more often, straining to urinate, and potentially passing small amounts of blood. It’s linked to stress, routine changes, anxiety, boredom and dehydration - so FIC is sometimes known as the “stress-bladder” condition.
Bladder crystals and stones
Cats’ concentrated urine can cause minerals to clump together and irritate the bladder lining or block the urethra.
Urinary blockages
This happens when crystals, mucus (or both) block the urethra and stop the flow of urine, and is usually the result of FIC. Symptoms include straining, crying out, or producing no pee despite trying to go. This can be life-threatening, and requires an immediate trip to the vet.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
This is an age-related decline in kidney function and can be caused by genetics, age, dehydration or past health events. Symptoms can be more urination, more drinking, loss of weight or a general lack of energy.
So, what can a Cat Loyalist do?
It’s important to understand that cats are prone to bladder issues as a result of evolutionary adaptation and biology – however there are a lot of things you can do to support your cat’s bladder health.
Food - keep an eye on kibble addicts
Dry cat food tends to be very low on water, so if your cat loves nothing more than a brimming bowl of kibble, you might want to offer high moisture treats or consider switching to a high moisture diet instead.
Water - make it easy for your cat to drink
When it comes to water bowls: the more the better. Give your cat every opportunity to hydrate, and experiment with bowls and fountains in different places to see what tickles their fancy (btw, some cats hate bowls that touch their whiskers). You can even offer broth or goat’s milk as an extra, hydrating treat. Delicious.
Stress – embrace a regular routine with plenty of movement
Stress creates bladder inflammation, which creates pain, which can make your cat pee less, which creates more inflammation. Stick to a predictable routine to keep stress at a minimum, and ensure your cat’s getting plenty of joy-giving exercise and movement.
Supplements - easy pees means joy
You can support a healthy urinary tract by adding a supplement into your cat’s routine. WellJoy™ Urinary+ contains D-Mannose to help stop certain bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall; Cranberry to reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune system; and DL-Methionine to acidify the urine and make it less of an environment for crystal and stone-formation. As an added extra, our signature GutBoost™ targets the health of the gut microbiome and improves your cat’s absorption of all these active ingredients.
Litter - add a ‘monitoring’ product
You can upgrade your cat’s litter by sprinkling in a booster such as World’s Best Cat Litter’s Health Check-In. This litter topper gives you a quick read on how your cat’s doing by turning blue when blood is detected in the urine. As a bonus, it saves you the laborious task of watching your cat every time they pee.
Environment - make it the best litter box on the planet
A few things are essential for happy pees. Cats want: a clean litter box, with litter they’re used to, in a quiet part of the home, that they don’t have to share with another cat. Cats love choice as well, so adding in an extra litter box will make your cat feel super-appreciated.
What symptoms should I be alert for?
Bladder issues often develop quietly and in most cases aren’t due to anything you’ve done or not done. However, cats are prone to them, so keeping an eye out for signs of bladder trouble means you can address it early on.
Here’s some things you might notice as they get older:
- Going to the litter box more often
- Doing frequent but smaller pees
- Crying when urinating
- Straining
- Having accidents outside the litter box
- Passing blood in their urine
- Drinking more
- Peeing more than usual
- Being restless
- Sleeping in unusual places
- Mild weight loss
- Appetite changes
- Being reluctant about being picked up
- Lethargy
Urinary issues can escalate quickly, and early treatment makes an enormous difference – so it’s better to talk to your vet sooner rather than later. They can advise on diet change and hydration as well as ways of managing stress, and adding in helpful supplements or medication.
All of that – together with your total, unwavering love and devotion – can keep your cat living a happy, comfortable life for years to come.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.