Dr. Dan Christian specializes in small animal medicine, with special interests in behavior and nutrition. He has been instrumental in establishing animal behavior residencies for veterinarians at leading veterinary schools and developing innovative programs with veterinary organizations in the United States. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. During his professional career, Dr. Christian earned the American Association of Feline Practitioners Award. He has also appeared as a guest on television and radio pet health programs nationwide, and to has authored numerous articles for pet health magazines.

Q: My female two-year-old, very active and playful cat, with a good appetite, is having short, frequent urination. This has been going on for three or four days. What can we do for this?

A: Keeping a close watch on litter box activities is probably one of the most important things we can do for our cats. Your watchful eye has detected a problem we frequently see in cats -- a lower urinary tract infection. The first signs are usually increased trips to the litter box, and may also include urinating outside the litter box; you may notice bloody urine in cats with more serious conditions. Female cats may continue to urinate, but with discomfort and increasing frequency. For male cats, this situation becomes very serious and life-threatening, because they may be completely blocked and unable to urinate at all.

The most important thing is to have your veterinarian determine the source of infection right away, and begin treatment accordingly. He or she will also want to rule out the possibility of bladder stones, which may form as a result of long-term irritation. The condition normally responds well to a course of antibiotics and dietary modification. For all cats prone to urinary tract infections, keep in mind that feeding a complete and balanced wet cat food (canned or pouch) is important, as the increased water consumption helps, especially with cats who are not big water drinkers. Remember to always be vigilant as you have been about your cat's the litter box activity and catch these conditions in the earliest possible stage.