Stressed Cats Most Likely to Develop Urinary Problems – 5

Jessie & Jason are traveling with Blue, a cat that has a recently had a bout of bloody urine (hematuria). In the last few blogs, we’ve discussed:

• several causes for hematuria,
• feline urinary stones and crystals,
• diets and drugs for struvite and oxalate stones and crystals, and
• supplements for feline bladder problems.

In this blog, let’s cover a major contributor to feline bladder problems: stress.

Almost always, cats with bladder irritation, crystals, or stones are psychologically stressed.
A great deal of research has gone into what causes feline bladder problems, and while many contributing factors emerge--insufficient water intake, genetic predisposition common to Persian and Himalayan cats, etc--the single most important factor is stress. The idea that a pet may be stressed when all its needs are provided for is difficult for some cat families to understand. Some feel defensive when veterinarians suggest a cat is stressed, as if this means that the cat is not loved or not taken care of. The truth is that no matter how much we love cats, cat psychology and cat needs are not always clear to us humans. We may be providing everything we see as essential and miss something that cats require psychologically, and this predisposes them to become physically ill.

In Blue's case, the boxes, packing, and planning caused stress that manifest physically as a bladder problem. Jessie & Jason traveling from California to Vermont where they will marry, so this stress is unavoidable. What can they do to soothe Blue and lower her stress levels at while they are providing antibiotics to decrease bladder inflammation and increasing fluids?

To control stress in cats, we recommend using over-the-counter (OTC) “facial pheromones, ” such as Comfort Zone Feliway. These pheromones are available as sprays and as atomizers that disperse slowly into a room and are available on line and at most pet stores.

Two additional, and equally important, feline stress relievers are flower essences and homeopathic medications. Unlike pheromone products, flower essences and homeopathic medications are affected by how they are prepared and stored. Thus, while pheromones are widely available and nearly always helpful, flower essences and homeopathic medications are more difficult to find and helpful only when prepared and stored correctly. Think of them as being a bit like wine—it’s not too difficult to grow grapes and make wine, but special skills and storage are necessary to make wine that is exquisite.

One source of "exquisite" flower essence medications is www.SpiritEssence.com. Spirit Essence sells OTC remedies prepared by a veterinarian with special training and an innate sensitivity for cats.

The best homeopathic medications are obtained through a veterinarian and are not available over the counter because they are prescribed according to the nature of each individual cat. Although there are homeopathic medications available without a prescription that help some cats, few OTC homeopathics are exquisitely helpful.

By providing Blue with facial pheromones, flower essences, and homeopathics, Jessie & Jason increase the likelihood that their stressed cat will heal as they travel across country. Our hope is that they arrive safe and healthy after their 3,000 mile trip, have a wonderful wedding, and live happily ever after.