Kat

Bladder grit or kidney problems in cats

Blaasgruis of nierproblemen bij katten

Bladder grit or kidney problem in cats?


Through the website, but also in conversations directly with cat owners, we regularly receive questions about bladder grit, bladder problems, struvite, kidney disease and/or kidney problems in cats. There is often confusion between the bladder and the kidneys. We have food for bladder and/or kidney problems:
- Denkacat Hypo Struvite is for cats with bladder grit problems.
- Denkacat Kidney Support is food for senior cats and cats with reduced kidney function.

The difference between the bladder and the kidneys


The kidneys make urine. The blood with waste products passes through it and is filtered. After the urine is formed in the kidney, it goes to the bladder. The formed urine goes via a flexible tube (urether) to the bladder where it is (temporarily) stored. Excess substances or waste products leave the body via urine.
When the bladder is full, it needs to be emptied and for this the cat pees in the litter box.

How do you recognize bladder or kidney problems in cats?


If the cat goes to the litter box often, this is not normal. This can be caused by difficulty urinating or if a lot of urine is produced that needs to be urinated. Once in the litter box, the visit also lasts longer than normal. If this is longer, the cat crawls away and meows in a tone that we experience as pitiful. In all cases of urinary problems, you should go to the vet. They can find out what the cause is and start a treatment. As owners, we can recognize the behavior in the litter box well and it provides the first information if something goes wrong.

When do cats have bladder or kidney problems?


Bladder problems


A blockage of the urethra can be caused by struvite crystals (bladder grit) blocking the urethra. A crystal gets stuck in the rigid urethra and the urine can no longer pass. The urethra is the tube that drains from the bladder to the outside. A stuck bladder stone can also occur. This is rarer. Urinating with struvite is painful.
Especially in male cats that are castrated at a young age, a blockage of the urethra can occur. The blockage is usually caused by small crystals (bladder grit) that have formed in the urinary bladder. Crystals can easily form in the bladder from various minerals (phosphate and magnesium) that clump together. If the uric acid is low (low PH), these crystals are difficult to form. Proper nutrition Denkacat Hypo Struvite can help prevent the formation of struvite. This food lowers the pH/acidity of the urine, causing the struvite crystals to dissolve and the ureter to not become blocked.
Denkacat Hypo Struvite
The bladder infection will cause pain when urinating. The cat will then frequently urinate small amounts of urine and go to the litter box often. In the bladder there is an inflammation of the inner wall that causes pain when pressure is exerted on the bladder.
If you have these symptoms, go to the vet the same day. A blocked urethra is a painful and dangerous condition. The vet can intervene very well and with the right diet ( Denkacat Hypo Struvite ) a recurrence of the problems will be prevented.
If crystals in the bladder are the cause, the cat will have to follow a modified diet after treatment. In the case of struvite crystals, which we call bladder grit, the diet will acidify the urine to prevent crystals from forming in the urine. There will then be no more crystals in the urine that can block the urethra and the cat will no longer suffer from it.

Kidney problems


If there is a problem with the kidneys, the cat will go to the litter box more often to urinate. With a kidney disorder, the kidneys filter the blood less well and more fluid is let through. These cats also drink more. So more urine is produced than normal.
You should then go to the vet. The vet will perform tests (urine examination) for these symptoms to determine the condition. In the event that the kidneys are no longer able to function fully, the vet will recommend a so-called kidney diet. This diet food is composed in such a way that the kidneys are less burdened. This food has a different composition than a standard adult food. This has to do with minerals and the protein (meat) amount in the food. This food contains a low protein and phosphate content for the relief of the kidneys. Denkacat Kidney Support is food that supports the kidneys and slows down the deterioration of the kidneys. The food is then given for the rest of the cat's life. Denkacat Kidney Support is special food for a kidney diet. With a kidney diet, the cat's life expectancy is extended.
Denkacat Kidney Support
Follow us on Social Media
fb logo and Instagram logo

Reading next

Berner Sennen
Rhodesian Ridgeback hoeveel mag hij eten?

Leave a comment

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Do you have another question?

Introduce him to our vet!