A diet designed to make your cat s urine more alkaline can help to prevent the crystals from forming.
Male crystals in cat urine images.
Urinary crystals are microscopic structures that can be found in the urine of many animals including cats.
Though the main symptom of crystalluria is the appearance of fine crystals in freshly expelled urine other symptoms from accompanying conditions may also occur.
Struvite crystals are microscopic crystals that are found in the urine of some cats.
Crystals in the urine are dangerous to cats causing infection and inability to urinate.
Many believe that this is due to cats eating commercial foods that acidify the urine.
Male cats are far more likely to form urine crystals than females but that doesn t mean females can t be affected.
It was formerly referred to as feline urological syndrome or fus.
Some normal animals can have crystals in their urine although sometimes they are indicative of an underlying issue especially if present in large numbers or accompanied by urinary symptoms.
The detection of urinary crystals is not synonymous with kidney stones or the clinical signs associated with them nor is detection of urine crystals irrefutable evidence of a stone forming tendency but there is some association with an increased risk for kidney stones in animals that are.
If the crystals form in to stones diets are not effective at dissolving them and they require more drastic intervention.
They require veterinary care and diagnosis to properly treat.
The crystals themselves can be perfectly normal but become problematic when they combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes.
Younger cats can develop crystals in their urine just as easily as older cats so age isn t really a factor.
Crystals in cats also known as feline crystalluria is a medical condition which involves the formation of crystals in the cat s urine.
Struvite specifically is a material that is composed of magnesium ammonium and phosphate.
Different types of crystals may develop if your cat isn t eating a proper complete and balanced diet.
Also any condition that changes your cat s urine ph such as kidney disease or long term medication use can cause crystals.
Flutd includes crystal formation in the bladder which might obstruct the cat s urethra.
These crystals which are microscopic in size tend to appear like fine sand and often occur as part of or because of other conditions.
A diet lower in.
Male kitties neutered or not can suffer from crystals in their urine though crystals occur more frequently in fixed ones.
Like with struvite crystals increasing your cat s water intake is essential to treat and prevent crystals and stones from forming.
Because crystals in the urine that are passed in the litter box may be missed by pet owners other symptoms may help pet owners discover something is wrong with their cat.