All in the family

Cleo grooms her daughter Cinta

Are the cats in your household stressed by each other? 

In their natural state cats live with their relatives - their mothers, siblings and offspring. We expect them to live in close quarters with total strangers and then wonder why they mark indoors, have bladder problems and overgroom - all signs of stress.

You know your cats consider each other family if they sleep together and groom each other, paying particular attention to each other’s heads. When all the cats in your household think of each other as family stress levels are low. 

More often in multi-cat households each cat considers the other as just another tenant of the house and would rather not share dining, toilet and rest areas. When forced to share tension levels between the cats will rise and fall. Occasionally we see outright aggression between housemates. Sometimes the only sign is the occasional spray of urine up the curtain or recurrent cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).

Check out your cats’ sleeping arrangements. If they are sleeping separately and not grooming each other with complete ease then make sure you have multiple resources available so that each ‘family’ can eat, drink and toilet in private. If you have three cats who do not groom each other then you will need feeding and water bowls, and a litter tray in three separate areas.

Animal herbalist

Cats who prefer herbal treatments or have chronic problems will be pleased to hear that animal herbalist Nicki Froescheis has moved to Canberra. Nicki has European postgraduate training in herbal treatment for pets.
Nicki says that herbal treatment is useful for chronic diseases such as arthritis, bladder inflammation, palliative treatment for cancers, immune disorders, dementia and skin diseases as well as many other problems. Herbs are not much help in life threatening conditions or problems which come on suddenly.
Nicki assesses each individual patient and tailors the herb formula accordingly. Appointments can be made with Nicki on 0404 127 973 and she will arrange to meet you at Hall Vet Surgery.

Urine problems

Indoor cats  straining to urinate and not producing much but bloody urine have bladder problems. Some exhibit their frustration and pain all over the house.

The urinary passage of male or desexed male cats can block up with crystals and mucous. If your cat is tense and restless then he may have a blockage and you must contact a vet immediately before the bladder bursts.

Stress causes bladder inflammation or cystitis in some cats.

Kidney or bladder infections and bladder stones cause similar signs.

When you come to the vet surgery we examine your cat for urinary blockage and shock. Then we analyse your cat’s urine for infection, crystals and mucous plugs. We might order an X ray or ultrasound to rule out bladder stones.

If we find no sign of blockage, infection or stones then  we conclude that your cat has Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) or Interstitial Cystitis (FIC).

Contributing causes:
No single cause of FIC has been identified. However, several factors have been shown to increase the risk of FIC. These include:

• Stress
• Indoor confinement
• Dry food
• Obesity
• Low water consumption
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Frequent meals

How can you prevent further episodes of FIC?

• Introduce a predominantly wet food diet such as food in sachets or cans, or raw meat. If your cat prefers dry food you may have to introduce the new foods gradually. Add a little of the wet food to the biscuits and gradually increase the amount of wet food. Alternatively sprinkle the biscuits with water and increase the amount of water added over a few weeks until the biscuits are soft and wet.
• Increase your cat’s water intake. You might try adding more water to the food or offering water flavoured with chicken stock. Some cats like running water. Pet fountains are available in many pet stores. Cats often like drinking water from the shower recess or basin. Provide water in a variety of bowls in different shapes, sizes and textures to identify your cat’s preference. If rain water or filtered water is available your cat may prefer it to tap water.
• Encourage frequent urination. Provide at least one litter tray per cat plus one more filled with the preferred litter and in private locations.
• Reduce stress in your cat’s life. Some cats are very sensitive to their environment and may respond to any changes by becoming nervous or fearful and developing problems such as cystitis. A comfortable quiet hideout for resting, such as a cupboard, quiet bed or sofa, or on top of the refrigerator, is essential for all felines. Some nervous individuals may require a refuge in a quiet, sheltered part of the house away from other pets and people, and furnished with the necessities of life.
• Minimise interaction with other cats for fearful individuals. Check out the Indoor Cat website for signals that your cat is on edge. You may have to provide a feeding point, litter tray and hideout for each cat to minimise the tension.
• A Feliway diffuser may help to reduce stress in many situations.
• Enrich your cat’s environment. When we confine our cats indoors they become dependent on us not only for their physical needs and environment but for their emotional and intellectual needs as well. Cat scratching posts, toys that mimic prey, tunnels, outside runs and a variety of high spots and hideouts will keep your cat happy and stimulated. Your company is important. Even an old cat will appreciate a game with a ribbon on a stick or a glittery ball. Make your cat work for food by hiding it in various locations around the house or in food puzzles such as plastic containers with holes cut in the sides. The Indoor Pet website has lots of suggestions.

Bladder problems

We have seen an upsurge in the number of bladder problems and blockages in young male cats this winter. Cats don’t like braving the rain and the mud to toilet and some male cats don’t urinate often enough. Crystals and mucous then plug up the urethra and prevent the passage of urine.
The urethra is the passage urine takes from the bladder out through the penis. It is very narrow in male cats and easily blocked in some individuals.
If you see your male cat straining to urinate, licking his penis a lot or squatting repeatedly he needs immediate veterinary attention. Blocked cats soon lose their appetite and become weak because of the build-up of toxins in the blood. If they are left too long they become dehydrated and weak and go into shock.
We treat blocked cats as an emergency. They need a drip and relief from a very full bladder as soon as possible. If left blown up for too long the bladder can burst making the cat even more toxic.
A catheter into the bladder is left in place for a day and treatment to prevent re-blockage is started.
There are many other causes of blocked urethras. Some cats block up when stressed or anxious. Others refuse to toilet outside or in certain litter trays because of rival cats or fear of disturbance. Whenever the urine doesn’t regularly flush the urethra the risk of blockage in male cats increases.
To increase the amount of urine produced we must increase fluid intake. Cats do not have a very strong thirst drive. They ingest most of their fluid needs in their food so the easiest way to increase fluid intake is to increase the amount of wet food in the diet. Canned and sachet food, and raw meat are great because they contain the same amount of water as natural prey like mice, rats and birds.
Water fountains or water flavoured with chicken stock also help increase fluid intake.
Avoid dry cat kibble or biscuits because they cause low level chronic dehydration, induce concentrated urine and may increase the chances of a blocked urethra.

A word from above

Coco surveys the world from the top of the bunk bed

Cats need high places.  Perhaps to preserve their natural superiority, perhaps to see danger coming, perhaps so that they can watch without being seen ... who knows?
All I know is that cats who don't have high perches or hiding holes can show signs of stress.  Every day I see them with bladder inflammation, excessive grooming, urine marking and other signs of feline stress.
Does your cat have a hidey hole, high or low?