Recognizing the Symptoms

Does your cat have difficulty urinating? Attempt to urinate but only produce small amounts? Vocalize during urination or urinate outside the litter box? Does it excessively lick its genital area? Have you noticed blood in its urine? If you observe one or more of these symptoms, your cat might be suffering from a lower urinary tract issue. Among possible causes, struvite crystals are common in cats. These small crystals accumulate to form sand-like deposits that irritate the bladder and urinary tract. In males, this can lead to a complete urinary blockage.

Risk of Severe Complications

When a blockage occurs, urine cannot be expelled, leading to toxin accumulation in the body. The affected animal quickly becomes lethargic, stops eating, vomits, and may experience severe abdominal pain. Without intervention within 24 to 48 hours, this condition can be fatal. Even with prompt treatment, permanent damage to the kidneys and bladder may occur. This type of blockage is rare in females, whose urethra is shorter and wider than males’.

Causes and Diagnosis of Struvite Crystals

Struvite crystals form when urine is too alkaline (pH above 7). Several factors contribute to their development, including poor-quality food, inadequate hydration, and genetic predisposition. To confirm the presence of struvite crystals and rule out other potential causes (inflammation, urinary infection, tumors, etc.), urine analysis and radiographs are essential.

Treatment and Prevention of Struvite Crystals in cats

If struvite crystals are confirmed, specialized diet therapy is required to dissolve them. This process generally takes about three weeks. During this period, close monitoring is essential, particularly for male cats at risk of blockage. If your cat is unable to urinate, consult your veterinarian immediately.

• Dietary Adjustments: Offer prescription canned food exclusively for the first month to increase hydration and dilute the urine. After this initial period, a combination of prescription wet and dry food may be introduced.
• Enhance Hydration:
  • Place multiple water bowls around the house
  • Choose ceramic, glass, or stainless-steel bowls
  • Fill bowls to the brim
  • Add ice cubes to water
  • Incorporate a few drops of tuna juice (water-based, not oil-based)
  • Consider using a water fountain

Absolutely avoid supermarket or pet-store brands claiming urinary support. These products are not formulated to dissolve crystals and may worsen the condition.

Veterinary Follow-Up

One month after starting the new diet, an initial urine analysis should be performed to confirm crystal dissolution and ensure urinary pH remains between 6 and 6.3. Your veterinarian will then advise on subsequent check-up frequency. Ideally, urine samples should be collected in the morning after a 12-hour fasting period.

For questions or consultations, please feel free to contact us.