Urinary Incontinence in Cats
The cat will have 'accidents', particularly when resting. He will not have urinated deliberately, but because of his condition the urine will dribble out involuntarily when he is lying down.
Causes
There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence, which may include faulty urethral valves, congenital defects of the cat's urinary system, urolithiasis (crystals or `stones' of insoluble calcium in the urinary system), cancer or prostate problems (in male cats). Urinary incontinence is seen particularly in older queens.
What to do
When taking your cat for veterinary examination, provide a fresh sample of your pet's urine for testing; this will reveal if any diseases are causing the problem. It is unfair to punish or reproach a cat for incontinence. The cat's bed is likely to become soiled, so bedding must be changed and cleaned at regular and frequent intervals, preferably daily.
Treatment
Surgery may be needed to treat faulty urethral valves, congenital defects of the cat' urinary system, urolithiasis, cancer or prostate problems (in male cats), while drug therapy may be used to improve the effectiveness of the urethra in sealing the flow of urine. Urinary incontinence is not life- threatening in itself but, because some of the possible underlying causes may be serious, it is better to seek veterinary advice sooner rather than later.
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