Crystals In Cat Urine Microscope

There are three common crystals and stones in cats.

Crystals in cat urine microscope.

The crystals themselves can be perfectly normal but become problematic when they combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes. The development of crystals and stones is mostly dependent upon the ph of the urine and the concentration of minerals in the urine. Crystalluria is a medical condition where crystals are expelled into the urine. It appears that some diets may increase the risk of a cat developing urinary crystals stones and urethral plugs.

The microscopic crystals have the appearance of fine sand. In some urine samples they do not have irregular protrusions but have smooth borders and can resemble calcium carbonate although these do not occur in the urine from dogs and cats. The detection of urinary crystals is not synonymous with kidney stones or the clinical signs associated with them nor is detection of urine crystals irrefutable evidence of a stone forming tendency but there is some association with an increased risk for kidney stones in animals that are. Urinary crystals are microscopic structures that can be found in the urine of many animals including cats.

Crystalluria often occurs as part of another condition. Struvite crystals are microscopic crystals that are found in the urine of some cats. Some normal animals can have crystals in their urine although sometimes they are indicative of an underlying issue especially if present in large numbers or accompanied by urinary symptoms. Though crystalluria isn t always indicative of an accompanying condition or illness such as a urinary tract infection or kidney stones the formation of crystals puts the cat at an increased risk of these problems.