Who is Affected?

• Cats of any gender or breed can be affected by a urinary tract infection. However, according to VetInfo.com, male cats are more prone to developing UTIs than their female counterparts.
  
  

Causes

• Feline urinary tract infections are commonly caused by bacteria or viral infections. However, a UTI can also be caused by bladder stones, tumors, injury, trauma, stress, dehydration and certain foods.
  
  

Symptoms

• Some of the most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include frequent urination, blood in the urine and a refusal to urinate in the litter box. There may also be cries of pain when grooming the genitals or during urination.
  
  

Diagnosis

• A physical exam will be performed by the veterinarian to check for a full bladder and take a sample. A urinalysis will be done to check for red and white blood cells, bacteria and crystals.
  
  

Treatment

• The results of the urine test will determine treatment options for the cat. For example, if crystals are present, then a diet change may be necessary to reduce the offending minerals causing the crystals. If a bacteria is causing the infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.