Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs of urinary tract infections in cats - what to know
By Martinez-Ruzafa, Ivan et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features and risk factors for development of urinary tract infections in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 155 cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs) showed a variety of symptoms, with some not displaying any lower urinary tract signs at all. Factors that increased the risk of developing a UTI included urinary incontinence, previous urinary procedures, and certain health issues like gastrointestinal disease. Tests like urinalysis were used to confirm the infections, but they weren't always reliable. Understanding these risk factors can help pet owners recognize potential issues early and seek veterinary care.
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Abstract
The clinical and diagnostic features of 155 cats with urinary tract infection (UTI) and 186 controls with negative urine culture/s were characterized retrospectively (signalment, clinical signs, urinalysis, urine culture, concurrent diseases, lower urinary tract diagnostic/therapeutic procedures). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with UTI. Cats of all ages were affected by UTI with no sex/breed predisposition. Lower urinary tract signs were absent in 35.5% of cats with UTI. Pyuria and bacteriuria had sensitivities of 52.9% and 72.9%, and specificities of 85.5% and 67.7% for detection of UTI, respectively. Risk factors significantly associated with increased odds of UTI were urinary incontinence [odds ratio (OR)=10.78, P=0.0331], transurethral procedures (OR=8.37, P<0.0001), urogenital surgery (OR=6.03, P=0.0385), gastrointestinal disease (OR=2.62, P=0.0331), decreased body weight (OR=0.81, P=0.0259) and decreased urine specific gravity (OR=0.78, P=0.0055). Whilst not independently significant, renal disease and lower urinary tract anatomic abnormalities improved statistical model performance and contributed to UTI.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22710859/