My cat has a UTI. What can I do at home until I see the vet?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Martha, I'm sure she's not feeling well. One thing you can do at home is encourage her to drink or take in more fluids. If she eats canned food, add more water to the food, or if she doesn't usually eat wet food you may want to start switching her to a wet food diet. Be sure to check with her veterinarian if she should be on a prescription diet for urinary issues before making any long term food changes. Do not give her any pain medications at home or any antibiotics you may have access too. Many human medications are toxic to cats. The best thing to do is to get her to the veterinarian as soon as they can get you in. I hope she's feeling better soon.

In cats with urinary irritation, wet food is preferable to help reduce urine concentration and flush out the bladder. I strongly recommend a urine exam in order to determine exactly what is going on and to guide the most appropriate treatment (infection/inflammation etc). A sample can be collected using special urine collection litter which does not absorb urine. Petco provide a home kit for detecting UTI which can help to monitor such conditions

No, apple cider vinegar will not slow down the UTI, and he won't eat it due to the taste. Water mixed with wet food is better than chicken broth because chicken broth has salt in it, which can be dehydrating. I do recommend water mixed with his wet food to flush his bladder, that is the best option for him.

While there is nothing I'd recommend doing at home I do think it might be best to see your vet sooner - I'm wondering if a drop off appointment might be an option. If not you may even want to consider seeing an emergency veterinarian. While it is unlikely that a female cat will develop a urethral obstruction a week is a long time for her to be uncomfortable from a urinary tract infection or inflammation.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If it truly is just a urinary tract infection and she is not obstructed and otherwise doing well then it should not be an issue waiting until tomorrow morning. If she seems too uncomfortable or becomes obstructed, she may need to see a veterinarian before then like tonight to at least start medications for pain and antibiotics. Best of luck!

What seems to be UTI in cats are in 99% of the time a condition which is actually a bladder inflammation, it's not an infection and for this reason it is not treated with antibiotics. it is treated with special prescription diet for urinary problems, anti inflammatories and other supplements such as Cystophan. the cause of this condition is usually due to stress, so you might want to check this out as well.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If possible, try and take Apollo to your nearest vets before Monday. UTI in cats is painful and unpleasant but what is more, in male cats it can easily turn into urethral blockage, which is a medical emergency. There is not much that you can do at home to help Apollo, I am afraid. Increasing water intake can alleviate the UTI symptoms to some degree, so you should give Apollo wet food or moisten up his kibbles with warm water. for the next few days