Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for urinary tract signs in indoor cats
By Buffington, C A Tony et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2006·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Risk factors associated with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in indoor-housed cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that older indoor cats are more likely to show signs of lower urinary tract disease, which can include symptoms like frequent urination, straining to urinate, or blood in the urine. Owners also reported that these cats often displayed gastrointestinal issues and behaviors such as scratching, fearfulness, and aggression. The research suggests that these behavioral signs may be more important than just the cat's age or living environment. If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian for further evaluation and treatment options.
People also search for: indoor cat urinary problems · older cat frequent urination · cat straining to urinate treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between environmental and cat-related factors and lower urinary tract signs in indoor-housed domestic cats. DESIGN: Case-control study. Animals-238 healthy cats, 157 cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease, and 70 cats with other diseases. PROCEDURE: Data collected from owners of the cats were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, environmental variables, and physical and behavioral signs were analyzed by use of ANOVA and logistic regression analysis to assess which factors were associated with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease. RESULTS: The only demographic or environmental factors associated with lower urinary tract signs were older age and months owned. In contrast, cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease had significantly greater owner-observed gastrointestinal tract signs and scratching, fearful, nervous, and aggressive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lower urinary tract signs in indoor-housed cats may be more closely associated with cat-related factors than with demographic or environmental factors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16506933/