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Incontinence in cats may affect the urinary or digestive tract, resulting in urinary or fecal incontinence. It can occur for many reasons, some of which could be congenital or present since birth.
Incontinence can result in a lot of cleaning and odor control for you and discomfort for your cat. Cat diapers are one of the options for dealing with incontinence, but they have pros and cons. Keep reading while we cover everything you need to know about cat diapers for your incontinent cat.
What Is Incontinence?
Cat urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine and it can be caused by many conditions, including urinary tract infections, increased water consumption, weak bladder sphincter, spinal cord disease, spinal injury or old age.1 Some of these conditions can be treated, making the incontinence temporary, while others can be permanent, requiring lifelong management.
However, sometimes what looks like urinary incontinence is actually a voluntary act of urinating in inappropriate places. The causes of this may be behavioral, stress-related, territorial marking, lack of house training in very young animals, or senile loss of the same in very old cats suffering from feline cognitive decline.
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Urinary incontinence is usually described as wet patches where the cat is sleeping or resting, where the cat is not aware that it happened. Before assuming your cat is suffering from urinary incontinence, get them checked over by the vet who can establish the most likely cause for this condition, or rule it out, if there is another health issue causing similar signs, such as kidney and liver disease, diabetes and others.
- Ectopic ureter, a congenital defect where there is an abnormal connection between a kidney and the urinary bladder
- Other congenital abnormalities, such as those affecting the urethra, reproductive organs, or the spine and spinal cord
- Traumatic injury to the spinal cord and nerve damage
- Tail pull injury, again damaging the nerves that control the bladder, sphincter, and urethral functions
- Urethral blockage, where the cat is not able to urinate but the urine overflows at the site of the blockage
- Urinary tract infections, in some cases
- Wet hair on the lower abdomen and around the back end
- Wet spots or puddles in the house, often where the cat was sleeping
- Involuntary urine leakage
- Inflammation of the skin around the genital area and the inside of the back legs
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Licking the genital area excessively
- Moisture around the vulva or penis
Bowel incontinence in cats is a little different and refers to the loss of the ability to control bowel movements. Bowel incontinence can present with small amounts of feces that the cat seems unaware of, or full bowel movements that your cat understands but can’t control. Similar signs may also occur if the cat is suffering from diarrhea and cannot control their bowels. This means they have the urgency to go to the toilet when least expected and often outside of the litter box if not easily accessible. This is not genuine incontinence and will resolve in the majority of cases when the cause of the diarrhea is managed.
There are two types of bowel incontinence:
- Reservoir incontinence is a condition of the rectum that prevents your cat from storing or holding feces. It can result from inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or frequent diarrhea.
- Sphincter incontinence is a loss of control of the anal sphincter, the muscle that closes the anal opening. This can cause feces to leak out. Anal wounds and masses, damage to the surrounding nerves, and spinal cord injuries can cause sphincter incontinence.
The signs of bowel incontinence can be mild or severe, but may include:
- Leaking small amounts of feces without awareness
- Frequent accidents
- Bowel movements in strange places
- Redness or inflammation of the rectum
- Excessive anal licking
- In cases of spinal or nerve damage, difficulty walking, and urinary incontinence
Your veterinarian can examine your cat, take radiographs, and perform blood and urine tests or other tests or diagnostic procedures to determine the underlying cause of the incontinence. Depending on the cause, some types of incontinence can be treated with medication or surgery.
Using Cat Diapers for Incontinence
If your cat’s incontinence can’t be treated, the treatment may take a while, in case of nerve damage, or the treatment isn’t helping, diapers can be an option to keep your home and your cat clean. Speak to your vet about other options of trying to manage your cat’s incontinence.
- Disposable: These diapers are single-use and effective because they’re adjustable. However, they can get expensive.
- Cloth: These diapers are washable and eco-friendly, making them more comfortable for your cat. They may be more difficult to adjust and require frequent washing.
- Wraps: These aren’t really “diapers” but wraps designed to help with urinary incontinence. They stay on better than other diapers and don’t restrict your cat, but they don’t help with bowel incontinence.
All types of cat diapers have their pros and cons.
- Cat diapers can be a good way to control the messes of some incontinent cats and keep them clean. They also give your cat dignity and independence to go when needed, preventing infections.
- In addition, cats with mobility issues may benefit from diapers, especially in cases of hind-end paralysis. These cats tend to drag themselves around, which can lead to skin irritation and even wounds on their hind legs. Diapers provide a layer of protection for their coats and skin.
- Cat diapers can be useful if you’re dealing with an incontinent cat, but they still have some downsides. The most obvious is that some cats hate wearing them, which can turn a simple task into a daily hassle.
- Cats are also talented at getting diapers off, so you could still end up with a mess. Be sure to try different diaper brands to see what works best. You could also try to get your cat adjusted to the diaper a little bit at a time.
- If your cat ends up wearing a diaper for too many hours for any reason, their skin may get inflamed and irritated due to contact with urine or feces. This can predispose them to a skin infection or even a urinary tract infection. Diapers should be changed regularly and inspected for leakage while ensuring they are durable and able to soak in any urine or feces your cat is passing involuntarily.
- If put on too tightly, diapers can cause pain and discomfort tfor your cat, or may lead to skin wounds.
Conclusion
Dealing with incontinence can be challenging for you and your cat. If medical treatment isn’t working as well as expected, consult your vet. Using cat diapers can help some cats feel more comfortable and dignified while minimizing the mess. Be sure to evaluate your options for cat diapers and see what works best for your needs.
Featured Image Credit: Yaroslau Mikheyeu, Shutterstock
