Introduction to the Urinary System

Cats are adapted to low water intake. Their ancestors came out of the deserts and savannahs where water was scarce, and the system has not changed during subsequent domestication. This means that cats have very concentrated urine normally. The down side of this is that all the extra material floating around in the concentrated urine can settle out and make crystals and debris plugs.

Sometimes the lining of the bladder gets irritated as well. This happens when the normal lining protector system that keeps the strong urine at bay is reduced during times of stress or illness.

Domestic cats in fact need to have lots of fresh water offered at all times to counteract their tendency for urinary system problems!

Some cats like cold water (toilet visitors), others like it at room temperature. Whatever the preference, make sure the water dish is always filled with fresh water at the preferred temperature! Change it at least once daily because cats are not just finicky about food, they are finicky about their water. It is important to monitor cats closely for water consumption and urine production because when things go wrong in the urinary department, it can get serious pretty quickly in some instances!

The urinary tract is a complex system, with more functions than just the making and delivering urine. The kidneys and the storage and drainage system for the liquid body waste works very hard throughout the lifetime of the cat, and many types of disease can occur.

Cancers, cysts, toxic or infectious insults, inherited or congenital defects in function or structure, and degenerative conditions can all lead to malfunction. Because of the many roles the kidneys play in balancing the body system health, problems in the tract can have many effects in organs all around the body!

Follow the links on the right hand side for more information about specific urinary system conditions in cats.