What is Pus in the Urine?
Pus in the urine in cats, or pyuria, is not an illness or disease in itself, but rather a clinical symptom of present health conditions. Pus in the urine is caused by an infection of bacteria, fungus, or yeast found somewhere in the upper or lower urinary tract system of the feline. The pus itself is a combination of white blood cells and proteins sent from the feline’s immune system to fight off the bacterial infection. The presence of pus in the urine is caused by noninfectious or infectious pathological processes that causes cell damage, inflammation, and an elevated immune response. Pus in the urine in cats is a sign that a feline is suffering from a severe infection that can only be diagnosed by a veterinary professional.
If you noticed that your cat’s urine has a strong odor and is cloudy in appearance, she may have a presence of pus in the urine. The change in the urine itself may be the only symptom a cat owner notices, as pus in the urine in cats is not a disease or illness, but a symptom of a larger condition at hand. A cat that has pus in his or her urine is an indication of an infection, as the pus itself is an abnormally large accumulation of white blood cells. The immune system only releases extra white blood cells when an infection is detected. Common causes of pus in the urine in cats could be a bladder infection, kidney infection, or infection of the reproductive organs.
Symptoms of Pus in the Urine in Cats
Pyuria is a symptom in itself and can be noted by urine with a strong, or foul odor paired with a cloudy appearance. Symptoms that often accompany pyuria have to do with the dominant feline health condition. Common symptoms seen in cats with pus in the urine can include:
- Cloudy urine
- Fever
- Pain during urination
- Dehydration
- Foul-smelling urine
- Polyuria (frequent need to urinate)
- Polydipsia (increased water intake)
- Inflamed vaginal or penile external organs
- White or yellowish discharge
- Redness of the urinary tissues
- Inability to urinate
- Depression
Causes of Pus in the Urine in Cats
There are many causes for pus in the urine in cats. Since pus is evidence of white blood cells released to destroy foreign elements that are attacking the body, pus in the urine is caused by infections in the upper or lower urinary tract system. The kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra, which are the main organs of the urinary system, could be infected by a species of bacteria or fungi. Stones can also affect these urinary organs and can be the underlying cause for the presence of urinary pus. Additionally, the reproductive organs, which eliminate the urine from the body, can also develop an infection with pyuria being the main symptom. The presence of trauma or the development of a tumor can affect all of these urinary organs, and in turn, cause pus to be present in the urine of a cat.
Diagnosis of Pus in the Urine in Cats
As pus in the urine in cats is a symptom and is not a diagnostic illness, the veterinarian will find pyuria in his/her diagnostic proceedings. The examination of urine, known as a urinalysis, is the common process through which a vet may detect pyuria. Upon examination of the urine, the doctor may note the presence of neutrophils (white blood cells) to be of a higher concentration and a urine culture may be requested. A urine culture is a laboratory test that will allow the particles of infectious material to grow in order to detect what type of material is attacking the cat’s urinary system.
Treatment of Pus in the Urine in Cats
The treatment of pus in the urine in cats is based on the condition the veterinarian found during diagnostics. Administration of an oral antibiotic is a common treatment method used with the presence of pus in the urine. The cytology test that pinpointed which strain of bacteria is causing the problem will determine which type of antibiotic the vet will prescribe. Intravenous fluids may also be given to your cat to reverse dehydration and encourage urination to further eliminate the infection from the body.
Recovery of Pus in the Urine in Cats
The prognosis for pus in the urine in cats lies dependent on the dominant health condition the feline was diagnosed with. Cats with bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections have a very positive prognosis as aggressive treatments usually correct this common urinary health problem. If the your veterinary noted the presence of a tumor, your cat may not have as high of a prognosis depending on how long the tumor has been allowed to manifest in the current location.
Pus in the Urine Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
I have a 4 year old short haired black cat she’s spaiyed and I think she has thick kinda pussy looking urine in the litter box. She has also put on a few pounds in the last year and she drinks lots of water and really enjoys eating anything you will give her. So I’m wondering if there could be a simple reason for this. She seems normal and happy and hasn’t lost her appetite or anything like that other than putting on a bit of weight and sometimes there seems to be a kinda sticky stuff that smells a bit on the back of her back legs looks like it’s from when she’s peeing. The only small problem is that I also have a 9 year old long haired male cat who has been a picky eater and drinks no water and pukes all the time so I’m not absolutely sure who’s pee I’m seeing but I’m pretty sure it’s the females. Also I should’ve mentioned the male cat is neutered. Thanks for any advice you could give I know it’s not much to go on but I appreciate any information you can give
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My small kitten of 2 1/2 months if extremely weak at this point and won’t eat anything. However when I went to check on her she was peeing a light green color. This is extremely concerning because she has nearly eaten anything. What does it mean?
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My cat is a male just turning a year, recently he would not eat his dry food at all 2 days went by, he was vomiting and then i noticed he was not going to the bathroom at all. I kept monitoring that and noticed he had pus in his urine. I googled it and read to try to give him moist food and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. I know i should have taken him to the vet but really can not afford too so i did the home remedy and he has eaten the moist food with the vinegar and hes going to the bathroom still pus but not as much. I guess my question is is it possible for this to be working? Need professional advice.
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My kitten is now 1 month old and it is having pus cell coming from urine its mother left itt out strave to death i saved it and now it is suffering from this infection any home remedy for my kitten first it was having constipation for15 days then doctor gave it medi now that is fine but pus cells are coming with urine
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If Pixel has pus in the urine, another round of antibiotics would be required; at that age they do not have strong immune systems and would require supportive care. This isn’t something to treat at home with some home remedy. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Thanks sir if u can recommand any medicine because we dont have any good doctor for pets here
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We have a 14 day old kitten that the stray cat momma abandoned 7 days ago. We have been stimulating her to poop and pee via a warm washcloth and it has been working well. However, yesterday and this morning I have noticed a pus-like raindrop sized goo on her urethra first thing in the morning that I have to clean off. Her urine besides that is clear. But the goo made me worried about a possible UTI especially because there is a possibility of cross contamination with her poo. We try to keep it as clean as possible. Changing tissues multiple times per cleaning while she is pooping. Should she be taken to the vet? She is still urinating well.
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