Crystals In Cat Urine Microscope

Struvite crystals are microscopic crystals that are found in the urine of some cats.

Crystals in cat urine microscope.

Struvite oxalate and urate. The microscopic crystals have the appearance of fine sand. Crystalluria is a medical condition where crystals are expelled into the urine. Crystalluria often occurs as part of another condition.

There are three common crystals and stones in cats. It appears that some diets may increase the risk of a cat developing urinary crystals stones and urethral plugs. Struvite specifically is a material that is composed of magnesium ammonium and phosphate. 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.

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. Urinary crystals are microscopic structures that can be found in the urine of many animals including cats. The crystals themselves can be perfectly normal but become problematic when they combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes. 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.