Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections in Cats

Eggertsdottir, A. V., H. S. Lund, et al. (2007). "Bacteriuria in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease: a clinical study of 134 cases in Norway." J Feline Med Surg 9(6): 458-65.

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common diagnosis. Idiopathic cystitis is considered the most common cause, with bacterial cystitis traditionally accounting for less than 2% of cases in cats under the age of 10 years. In this retrospective study, 134 cats that presented with signs of lower urinary tract disorders were included in a project at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. All the cats had a physical examination, blood samples were collected for haematology and clinical chemistry, and a full urinalysis with culture was performed. The urine samples were collected as voided mid-stream urine samples, by catheter or by cystocentesis. Of the 134 cats included in the study, 37% were diagnosed as having obstructive and 63% as having non-obstructive FLUTD. In total, 44 cats (33%) were diagnosed with bacteriuria. No significant difference was found between the sampling methods performed with regard to bacteriuria. This study indicates that bacteriuria may have been underdiagnosed in Norwegian cats with clinical signs of FLUTD. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of the causes of FLUTD in Europe and the USA.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Dru Forrester, S. and P. Roudebush (2007). "Evidence-based management of feline lower urinary tract disease." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 37(3): 533-58.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Eggertsdottir, A. V., H. S. Lund, et al. (2007). "Bacteriuria in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease: a clinical study of 134 cases in Norway." J Feline Med Surg 9(6): 458-65.

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common diagnosis. Idiopathic cystitis is considered the most common cause, with bacterial cystitis traditionally accounting for less than 2% of cases in cats under the age of 10 years. In this retrospective study, 134 cats that presented with signs of lower urinary tract disorders were included in a project at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. All the cats had a physical examination, blood samples were collected for haematology and clinical chemistry, and a full urinalysis with culture was performed. The urine samples were collected as voided mid-stream urine samples, by catheter or by cystocentesis. Of the 134 cats included in the study, 37% were diagnosed as having obstructive and 63% as having non-obstructive FLUTD. In total, 44 cats (33%) were diagnosed with bacteriuria. No significant difference was found between the sampling methods performed with regard to bacteriuria. This study indicates that bacteriuria may have been underdiagnosed in Norwegian cats with clinical signs of FLUTD. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of the causes of FLUTD in Europe and the USA.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Dru Forrester, S. and P. Roudebush (2007). "Evidence-based management of feline lower urinary tract disease." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 37(3): 533-58.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Prognosis for Cats with Urethral Obstruction

Gerber, B., S. Eichenberger, et al. (2008). "Guarded long-term prognosis in male cats with urethral obstruction." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 16-23.


This study, from the University of Zurich, evaluated 45 male cats with urethral obstruction or lower urinary tract signs due to urethral obstruction. Follow-up information from telephone interviews was available for 39 cats. Of the 22 cats with idiopathic urethral obstruction, 36% re-obstructed after a range of 3-728 days (median 17 days). Of the 10 cats with urolithiasis, 30% re-obstructed and of the 7 cats with urethral plugs, 43% re-obstructed. Most cats (51%) experienced recurrent signs of lower urinary tract disease, including obstruction. The most common reason for euthanasia was recurrent obstruction and was the end result for 21% of the cases.
>> PubMed abstract


Related articles:
Gerber, B., F. S. Boretti, et al. (2005). "Evaluation of clinical signs and causes of lower urinary tract disease in European cats." J Small Anim Pract 46(12): 571-7.
>> PubMed abstract


Houston, D., A. Moore, et al. (2003). "Feline urethral plugs and bladder uroliths: a review of 5484 submissions 1998-2003." Can Vet J 44: 974-977.
>> PubMed abstract


More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Gerber, B., S. Eichenberger, et al. (2008). "Guarded long-term prognosis in male cats with urethral obstruction." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 16-23.


This study, from the University of Zurich, evaluated 45 male cats with urethral obstruction or lower urinary tract signs due to urethral obstruction. Follow-up information from telephone interviews was available for 39 cats. Of the 22 cats with idiopathic urethral obstruction, 36% re-obstructed after a range of 3-728 days (median 17 days). Of the 10 cats with urolithiasis, 30% re-obstructed and of the 7 cats with urethral plugs, 43% re-obstructed. Most cats (51%) experienced recurrent signs of lower urinary tract disease, including obstruction. The most common reason for euthanasia was recurrent obstruction and was the end result for 21% of the cases.
>> PubMed abstract


Related articles:
Gerber, B., F. S. Boretti, et al. (2005). "Evaluation of clinical signs and causes of lower urinary tract disease in European cats." J Small Anim Pract 46(12): 571-7.
>> PubMed abstract


Houston, D., A. Moore, et al. (2003). "Feline urethral plugs and bladder uroliths: a review of 5484 submissions 1998-2003." Can Vet J 44: 974-977.
>> PubMed abstract


More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More

Trends in Urinary Tract Stones in Cats

Cannon, A. B., J. L. Westropp, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of trends in urolith composition in cats: 5,230 cases (1985-2004)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 231(4): 570-6.

This retrospective case series looked at 5,230 urinary tract stones submitted to the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (University of California, Davis) from 1985 to 2004. Over the past 20 years, the ratio of calcium oxalate stones to struvite stones has increased significantly. However, this trend may be changing. In the last 3 years of the study period, more struvite stones were submitted than calcium oxalate stones. The most common location for both struvite and calcium oxalate stones was the bladder, but the number of calcium oxalate stones from the upper urinary tract increased significantly over time during the study period.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Picavet, P., J. Detilleux, et al. (2007). "Analysis of 4495 canine and feline uroliths in the Benelux. A retrospective study: 1994-2004." J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 91(5-6): 247-51.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Cannon, A. B., J. L. Westropp, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of trends in urolith composition in cats: 5,230 cases (1985-2004)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 231(4): 570-6.

This retrospective case series looked at 5,230 urinary tract stones submitted to the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (University of California, Davis) from 1985 to 2004. Over the past 20 years, the ratio of calcium oxalate stones to struvite stones has increased significantly. However, this trend may be changing. In the last 3 years of the study period, more struvite stones were submitted than calcium oxalate stones. The most common location for both struvite and calcium oxalate stones was the bladder, but the number of calcium oxalate stones from the upper urinary tract increased significantly over time during the study period.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Picavet, P., J. Detilleux, et al. (2007). "Analysis of 4495 canine and feline uroliths in the Benelux. A retrospective study: 1994-2004." J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 91(5-6): 247-51.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More