Are UTIs Contagious?

lucidblue

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My boyfriend's cat has a UTI, can my cat get it from him if they are around each other or share a litter box?
 

pushylady

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No I don't think it's a contagious virus or anything. I believe it's when the naturally occuring bacteria in the cat's system gets out of whack. Diet and excessive weight are what causes urinary tract infections.
 
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lucidblue

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Good to know. Thank you.
 

nutmeg

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Originally Posted by pushylady

No I don't think it's a contagious virus or anything. I believe it's when the naturally occuring bacteria in the cat's system gets out of whack. Diet and excessive weight are what causes urinary tract infections.
I'm new at having cats.. does UTI cause red eyes and a fever?
 

hissy

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That sounds more like an URI than a UTI Has the cat been seen by a vet?
 

hissy

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also UTI is Urinary Tract Infection URI Upper Resp. Infection
 

smokiethecat

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does getting a cat spayed-the actual surgery,recovery-increase a female cats chances of getting a UTI...or a male's chances either? I don't mean in the long run,I mean like a direct result of having that area messed with and the stress of the surgery......
 

hissy

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I can only speak from my experience, I have had so many cats get spayed and neutered and they never got an UTI as a result of it. One of the main reasons for UTI is your cat is not drinking enough water. Usually the cats on a dry only diet will come down with UTI's as a general rule unless they are drinking lots and lots of water. In the wild, a cat's diet is prey when they can catch it and they get their water from the streets, in puddles and what have you. If your cat isn't drinking water, invest in a cat fountain, or get several large glass bowls and put cleaned aquarium rock on the bottom and then fill that bowl with water. Sometimes, cats perceptions will trick them into thinking the bowl of water in front of them is empty. The rocks give it depth and so they will usually drink from that if they are not drinking otherwise.
 

nutmeg

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Originally Posted by hissy

That sounds more like an URI than a UTI Has the cat been seen by a vet?
I meant UTI.. I took the kitten to the vet yesterday. She had a fever of 104.1 and the rim of her eyes are red. The vet gave her an injection and put an ointment in her eyes. He gave me the ointment and amoxy to take home and administer it to her (which is not easy). My other kitten doesn't show any symptons but my neighbors cat got the same thing this morning, in one eye. The cats get together sometimes so it sounds like this could be very contagious. Is it a serious illness? Should I be concerned?
 

hissy

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Your vet could best answer that question, as no one here can see your cat or judge for themselves what is wrong. We are all cat lovers, but no one here is a vet.
UTI symptoms are generally the cat visiting the litter pan multiple times a day straining to pee, and unable to, or only peeing small amounts. Sometimes they scoot across the carpet, or pull their hair out in chunks by their tail chasing the pain. Fever can be part of the infection.
 
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