Bladder infection in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. A bladder infection is a bacterial infection inside the bladder.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your cat rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

A bladder infection, also called a UTI or cystitis, is a bacterial infection inside the bladder.^[1] Being unable to pee can indicate a blocked bladder, which is a life threatening condition.^[1]

Signs

Pain and straining to pee
Blood in urine
Peeing more often
Peeing very small amounts
Peeing in strange places
Strong-smelling pee
Excessive cleaning around their private parts
Licking their private parts
A wet patch or blood around their private parts
Painful abdomen (tummy)

How a vet finds out

Blood tests
Urine tests
X-rays
Ultrasound

How vets treat it

Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatories
Pain relief
Diet change

What the experts say

“Treatment given for a UTI depends on its cause, but is likely to include: Pain relief. Anti-inflammatory pain relief (NSAID) is excellent at soothing bladder pain and inflammation. Bladder supplements.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can a cat have?

Signs can include pain and straining to pee, blood in the urine, peeing more often, peeing very small amounts and peeing in strange places.^[1]

When should I seek urgent veterinary help?

Call your vet for an emergency appointment if your cat is trying to pee but not passing any urine, as being unable to pee can indicate a blocked bladder, which is a life threatening condition.^[1]

How might a vet treat it?

Treatment may include pain relief; anti-inflammatory pain relief can soothe bladder pain and inflammation.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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