Jeffrey Grill asked:
Why do cats get bladder stones? If you are a cat owner, it is important that you know the answer to this question. Unless you know what causes feline bladder stones, you cannot treat them and prevent them from recurring. So, in this article, we are going to take a look at the causes of feline stones.
Diet
If I were to give a short answer to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’, I would simply say ‘poor diet’. A diet rich in minerals, particularly magnesium, could cause struvite crystals in cats, although this is now rare, since all AAFCO certified foods (check the label of your food) are formulated to prevent these types of stones.
Too much of protein intake is also not advisable as it could cause bladder stones. Dry food should also be avoided as it concentrates your cat’s urine and increases the risk of bladder crystals significantly.
The most common type of stone is calcium oxalate, which can also form as a result of minerals in the diet and crystal concentration in the urine. Cat’s that suffer from these types of stones are often switched to a Prescription diet that has properly controlled levels of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and oxalate, which in turn will help to limit these building blocks of crystals.
Insufficient water intake
If your cat does not drink enough water, there is no need for you to look for the answer to the question ‘why do cats get stones’. It is obvious – insufficient water intake. If the urinary tract is not flushed regularly, the risks of stones increase significantly.
Lack of physical exercise
As surprising it might sound to some of you, lack of physical exercise is one of the answers to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’. Regular exercise increases fluid intake and reduces stress. In other words, it prevents dehydration and stress – two factors which increase the risk of stone formation in the bladder.
Bacterial infections
The presence of a bacterial infection usually affects the urine pH balance adversely and creates the ideal environment for the formation of bladder stones. Due to bladder infection, the minerals present in your cat’s urine crystallize and form bladder crystals. Infection also causes inflammation which constricts or makes it more difficult for crystals to naturally pass with the urine.
Genetic predisposition
One of the least known answers to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’ is genetic predisposition. Persian, Himalayan Persian, British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Havana Brown, Ragdoll, and Scottish Fold are some of the breeds that are vulnerable to this problem. If you happen to own one of these breeds, you need to be twice as careful as a normal cat owner.
The answer to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’, as you can see, is not simple. There are a number of factors that contribute to the formation of bladder crystals in cats. The good news, however, is that they can be treated and prevented as well. A combination of holistic diet, increased fluid intake, regular physical exercise, and natural homeopathic remedies is known to reduce the risk of feline bladder stones significantly.
Kansieo.com
Why do cats get bladder stones? If you are a cat owner, it is important that you know the answer to this question. Unless you know what causes feline bladder stones, you cannot treat them and prevent them from recurring. So, in this article, we are going to take a look at the causes of feline stones.
Diet
If I were to give a short answer to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’, I would simply say ‘poor diet’. A diet rich in minerals, particularly magnesium, could cause struvite crystals in cats, although this is now rare, since all AAFCO certified foods (check the label of your food) are formulated to prevent these types of stones.
Too much of protein intake is also not advisable as it could cause bladder stones. Dry food should also be avoided as it concentrates your cat’s urine and increases the risk of bladder crystals significantly.
The most common type of stone is calcium oxalate, which can also form as a result of minerals in the diet and crystal concentration in the urine. Cat’s that suffer from these types of stones are often switched to a Prescription diet that has properly controlled levels of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and oxalate, which in turn will help to limit these building blocks of crystals.
Insufficient water intake
If your cat does not drink enough water, there is no need for you to look for the answer to the question ‘why do cats get stones’. It is obvious – insufficient water intake. If the urinary tract is not flushed regularly, the risks of stones increase significantly.
Lack of physical exercise
As surprising it might sound to some of you, lack of physical exercise is one of the answers to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’. Regular exercise increases fluid intake and reduces stress. In other words, it prevents dehydration and stress – two factors which increase the risk of stone formation in the bladder.
Bacterial infections
The presence of a bacterial infection usually affects the urine pH balance adversely and creates the ideal environment for the formation of bladder stones. Due to bladder infection, the minerals present in your cat’s urine crystallize and form bladder crystals. Infection also causes inflammation which constricts or makes it more difficult for crystals to naturally pass with the urine.
Genetic predisposition
One of the least known answers to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’ is genetic predisposition. Persian, Himalayan Persian, British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Havana Brown, Ragdoll, and Scottish Fold are some of the breeds that are vulnerable to this problem. If you happen to own one of these breeds, you need to be twice as careful as a normal cat owner.
The answer to the question ‘why do cats get bladder stones’, as you can see, is not simple. There are a number of factors that contribute to the formation of bladder crystals in cats. The good news, however, is that they can be treated and prevented as well. A combination of holistic diet, increased fluid intake, regular physical exercise, and natural homeopathic remedies is known to reduce the risk of feline bladder stones significantly.
Kansieo.com
