My cat has UTI symptoms. Should I try urinary chews first?

No, your vet must check your cat before he can prescribe any treatment for suspected UTI. UTI is not common in cats, most cats with symptoms of UTI actually suffer from a bladder inflammation that is stress related and the treatment for this condition is completely different than the treatment for UTI.

She probably has cystitis and not a UTI. It is not impossible that she has a UTI concurrently but I think cystitis is more likely. Antibiotics will not help that. She needs to be on pain meds and you need to de-stress the environment. This article has more in-depth information: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951488 I strongly recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for her. Usually these two things help too. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=117324 thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4

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

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Harry! Less than 5% of male urinary tract issues are from bacterial UTI's. The most common cause for urinary tract problems in cats are feline interstitial cystitis, crystals in the urine and bladder stones. We can not diagnose diseases over the internet or provide drug doses with out actually examining the patient as it is against the law. Since it is a very small chance he needs antibiotics my advice is to take a urine sample and Harry for an exam at the Vet. You can repost with his symptoms and we can try to provide advice. I wish Harry the best!

I would recommend to complete your question describing the signs to receive a specific answer from us Stress related (idiopathic type of inflammation), infection and presence of crystals are the most common causes of UTI (urinary tract infection). In absence of more detailed information of the signs, a clinical examination at your local veterinarian would be essential to confirm this suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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.

A UTI typically requires antibiotics for resolution. Pantaleona will need to be physically examined by your veterinarian. A sterile urine sample can be collected and submitted for urinalysis and a culture/sensitivity panel. This will confirm infection, identify the organism responsible and determine the best antibiotic to use in treatment. Your vet may recommend blood work to assess kidney function and abdominal xrays or ultrasound to assess the kidneys and bladder.