"Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective"

by Gregory M. Simpson

Sometimes you learn the hard way. My wife and I had little warning one Sunday morning of the crisis that would befall, and almost prove fatal, to the one year old cat we rescued from under our doorstep as a few weeks old kitten.
Coco Bear had developed Feline Lower Urinary Track Disease (FLUTD). One study indicates that five percent of cats presented to veterinary clinics are diagnosed with some form of FLUTD, although this was the first time for one of our cats.
For Coco Bear, a sandy deposit of crystals had formed, blocking the outflow track of the bladder, the urethra. If he had not been hospitalized that Sunday morning, he may not have lived through Monday.
Researching the topic showed that the average age of a cat with FLUTD is only four years. Cats prone to developing FLUTD usually experience their first episode by age three. Of all cats with FLUTD, 20% will have a urethral blocking, as did Coco Bear.
As the kidneys are prevented from removing wastes form the body, these warning signs may be seen: bloody urine, straining to urinate, urinating in unusual places like bathtubs or sinks, loss of appetite and dehydration, licking the urinary opening, depression, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Immediate emergency treatment is required to save the cat’s life for if the blockage persists 3-6 days, the toxin build up will result in death.
Veterinary literature explains that there are several predisposing factors to forming one or both kinds of crystals/stones (struvite and calcium oxalate). Males are at greater risk than females of developing a urethral blockage. Young cats are at greater risk for struvite formation, but the risk for calcium oxalate formation increases with age. Stress, obesity, and viral or bacterial infections may also be predisposing factors.
The food that a cat eats can influence the acidity or alkalinity of its urine. If the urine is relatively alkaline, struvite stones are more likely to form. They are less likely to form if the urine is slightly acidic. Important to note is that too high urine acidity may result in calcium oxalate crystals developing.
Struvite crystals are made of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. It is thought that high dietary levels of magnesium combined with alkaline urine increase the risk of struvite stone formation.
My veterinarian informed me that to care for cats that develop crystals/stones, to or prevent them from forming, cats should be fed a diet that provides urinary pH control to keep their urine continuously slightly acidic. The diet should also have a reduced but adequate level of magnesium. An optimum diet, combined with plenty of fresh water and exercise may prevent the development of FLUTD.
Don’t learn the hard way. Evidence has shown that the single most important factor in the prevention of FLUTD is achieving a slightly acidic urine pH in your cat. The right food is critical to a normal, healthy life. Everyone with companion cats should consult their veterinarians as to the optimum cat food to feed their felines.
By the way, after an eleven day hospitalization and a great deal of worry on our part, Coco Bear came home to recuperate and did fine – on his new diet!
For the animals,
Gregory M. Simpson
Gregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S., he is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.