guest publish by Lorie Huston, DVM
If your male feline is not able to urinate, he needs veterinary care immediately.
Feline urinary blockages are a true emergency as well as cats, especially male cats, that are not able to urinate need emergency veterinary care in order to save their life.
What Is Feline Urinary Blockage?
More accurately termed feline urethral blockage, a urinary blockage occurs when the urethra of the feline (the tube that runs from the urinary bladder with the penis as well as to the outside of the body) becomes obstructed with stones, crystals or sludge. This blockage results in your feline being not able to urinate.
A Blocked feline represents an emergency Situation
A urinary blockage will quickly ended up being a lethal issue for your cat. Without instant veterinary intervention to eliminate the blockage, your feline will likely die from this disease.
Essentially, in a typical healthy feline that is urinating, squander products that are created by the body are gotten rid of with the urine. When your feline is not able to urinate, he is likewise not able to rid his body of these squander products. In effect, a blocked feline ends up poisoning himself on his own waste.
Which Cats Are likely to ended up being Blocked?
Cats that establish urinary blockages are almost always male. In the male cat, the urethra narrows as it passes with the penis. This is where most obstructions occur. female cats are anatomically different than males as well as do not have this narrowing in the urethra. As a result, female cats seldom ended up being obstructed.
Any male feline has the prospective to ended up being obstructed. I see more obstructions in neutered male cats than un-neutered males. This may be because of the truth that the vast majority of my male feline patients are neutered though. I likewise see more overweight cats experiencing urinary blockages. however I have seen un-neutered male cats in perfect body condition ended up being obstructed as well.
Symptoms of Feline Urinary Blockage
Cats that are blocked will cry in pain as well as will make regular attempts to urinate either in the litter box or outside of the litter box. Vomiting is typical as toxicity develops. As your feline becomes more ill, he will stop eating as well as ended up being lethargic. Eventually, your feline may even reach a comatose state. Urinary blockages are often fatal for cats as well as the program of events can occur fairly quickly. Cats that are blocked can go from being healthy in the morning to being in serious condition by later that exact same day.
Treatment for Urinary Blockage
Treatment includes eliminating the obstruction, most commonly by passing a catheter with the urethra as well as into the bladder. The catheter may requirement to be left in location for a time after its placement to provide the inflammation in the urethra time to resolve. during this time, your feline will really be urinating with the catheter. Sedation is necessary in most instances in order to pass the catheter.
Supportive care in the type of intravenous fluids as well as other treatment as necessary to bring back typical kidney function will be necessary also. Your veterinarian may want to screen your cat’s blood values, especially the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as well as creatinine, to make specific that your cat’s kidneys are stabilizing. BUN as well as creatinine both provide measures of the amount of nitrogenous squander products present in the blood stream as well as are often utilized to inspect to inspect kidney function.
If stones are present in the urinary bladder, surgical removal may be recommended. Your veterinarian may suggest radiographs (x-rays) of your cat’s bladder to see if there are stones present. A urinalysis as well as culture/sensitivity of the urine will likewise likely be performed.
Your veterinarian may suggest putting your feline on a special diet plan when his healing has begun. There are industrial diets that can assist dissolve crystals as well as stones in the bladder and, depending upon your cat’s private situation, your veterinarian may suggest one of these diets. A canned diet plan may likewise be suggested to boost the amount of wetness consumed by your cat.
Encouraging your feline to drink water with the utilize of dripping faucets or water fountains is a great idea. Some people likewise add water to their cat’s food to boost water consumption.
Lorie Huston practiced veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a hectic little animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie was likewise a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care as well as pet health and wellness topics. She was the president of the feline Writers Association. Lorie Huston passed away in October of 2014 after ending up being critically ill.
Related reading:
How to prevent litter box problems
Chronic renal illness in cats
Ingrid King
Table of Contents
What Is Feline Urinary Blockage?
A Blocked feline represents an emergency Situation
Which Cats Are likely to ended up being Blocked?
Symptoms of Feline Urinary Blockage
Treatment for Urinary Blockage
You may likewise like:
Urinary Tract illness in Cats
Urinary Crystals as well as Bladder stones in Cats
Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract healthy
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28 comments on Urinary Blockage: A serious issue in Cats
Ava says:
March 11, 2022 at 4:41 pm
My feline Blue was only 6 when he had this problem. He was in as well as out of the vets for over 2 weeks with this problem. In the end the kindest thing to do was let him go. This was in June last year as well as I still can’t get over it. The vets didn’t discover a definite cause as he likewise had a UTI they said. The vets stated anything such as diet, weight, stress etc might of triggered it. I can’t assist feel guilty though as I liked that feline with all my heart however for some reason I feel as if I triggered him to get the blockage. As the vet stated that stress was one of the reasons some cats get it I kept feeling that the times I told him off as well as stuff like that would of affected/caused it. I truly do miss him more than ever. I just don’t comprehend why him, He was only 6 years old.
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Brooke says:
December 26, 2021 at 5:07 pm
My feline was at the vet for four days because of blockage. They took his catheter out last night at midnight as well as this morning they called as well as told me he has not peed by himself overnight meaning he was blocked again. I had to put him to sleep this morning since I couldn’t pay for the procedure again. Is it typical to be blocked once again hours after the catheter was removed?
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Ingrid says:
December 27, 2021 at 5:20 am
I’m so sorry, Brooke. Unfortunately, it is not unusual for a feline to block once again after the catheter is removed.
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Brooke says:
December 27, 2021 at 11:45 am
Thank you, I just feel like if I kept trying he would still be here. I’m just so sad. They offered a surgical procedure that would widen the urethra for$1500 however it was just as well much. I question why they don’t offer that the very first time it occurs particularly when it’s likely to reoccur
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Ingrid says:
December 27, 2021 at 4:54 pm
I’m presuming you’re speaking about the PU (perineal urethrostomy) surgery. since this is a extremely tough surgical treatment for cats to go with as well as recuperate form, it is generally not offered as the very first option of treatment for a blocked cat.
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Em says:
November 6, 2021 at 11:18 pm
Hello, our 7 year old male orange tabby has been dealing with this for three years. He’s on hills’ c/d or s/d as well as takes fluoxetine as well as gabapentin daily. We haven’t had any type of scares since starting this treatment, thankfully. However, he’s extremely overweight. We add water to his dry food twice a day. We motivate play, however he commonly puts down as well as watches instead. What would you suggest ?
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Ingrid says:
November 7, 2021 at 4:57 am
I would take him off the dry food as well as feed canned instead. These tips will assist him lose weight:
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Kim says:
January 20, 2018 at 5:22 am
Our 5 year feline was not acting like himself yesterday afternoon however was still getting up as well as walking around, so I believed perhaps he just had a bit bug. He had been ill when a couple of years back as well as after a vet see he ended fine, so I figured this was one of those times. This morning when I got up he looked a bit sicker however like before he would walk as well as then lie down. I had to take my child to hospital since she was ill as well as later that day when I got house I went to inspect on him as well as he looked truly really bad. I took him to the vet as well as they told me that he was ill since he might not pee. I have three cats overall as well as I had no concept he wasn’t utilizing the litter box. So they tell me precisely what they requirement to do, by the time I got house which was 30 minutes later they called as well as stated that after they sedated him his heart stopped. I was devastated since I had no concept that it was deadly. At first
I blamed the office since they stated it occurred after they sedated him however all three cats go there every 4 months as well as get sedated as well as shaved. I feel so guilty since I didn’t take him sooner. I started reading up on it as well as he never had serious symptoms that I might see up until I got house from the hospital . He hid it extremely well, Tigger has always been a extremely laid back Cat. I have two more male cats as well as now that I understand this occurs to male cats I will look for any type of bit indication as well as rush them right away. I don’t understand if my guilt will ever go away. I am trulyheartbroken.
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Ingrid says:
January 20, 2018 at 6:15 am
I’m so sorry, Kim. It’s always difficult to lose a cat, however it’s devastating when it occurs like this. My heart goes out to you.
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Sherri Brawn says:
December 4, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Kim;I am so extremely sorry that this occurred to you! Please don’t blame yourself, since this type of issue comes on super fast. Our 3 year old “Chunkie” was absolutely fine last night when we went to bed, as well as by 9:00 a.m. this morning he was being rushed into surgical treatment at our vet’s office. His bladder was totally blocked, as well as the vet stated that he was actually so close to death it would have occurred within 3 hours, perhaps less…. God bless you my dear, I hope you discover it in your heart to not blame yourself… <3 Reply lynley says: January 5, 2018 at 5:51 pm We took our feline to the vet with bladder blockage, he had been vomiting as well as was meowing in pain. The vet tried to eliminate the blockage with a catheter under anaesthetic, however was not able to. What would prevent the removal of the blockage with a catheter? We had to put our feline to sleep which we discovered extremely distressing as whatever I am reading suggests this issue is extremely curable in cats. Reply Ingrid says: January 6, 2018 at 6:03 am I’m sorry about your cat, Lynley. It’s unusual that a blockage can’t be eliminated under anesthesia. I understand it’s not going to bring your feline back, however you might ask to have your records reviewed by one more vet to get a much better comprehending of what may have happened. Reply Angie says: April 18, 2017 at 7:01 am Hallo I have a 14-year-old male feline who is prone to blockage. Last month he got 10-day pills as well as got one more blockage soon after that, now he is once again on 16-day pills. The veg stated that I requirement to get a few of his pee for the test. Well, that’s not easy. The vet suggested that I empty a liter box for the feline to pee, however he just won’t go into that empty box to pee…I question if blood test would work too…also, I feed thim grain free canned food (mixed with 2 tablespoons of water) as well as I likewise provide him some boiled poultry breast as a snack. So if he truly had a kidney problem, can I still feed the feline poultry breast? Isn’t as well much protein poor for the kidney? thanks in advance! Angie Reply Ingrid says: April 18, 2017 at 8:01 am I’m presuming the pills you mention are antibiotics, Angie? Your vet can get a urine sample from your feline via cystocentesis (by inserting a needle directly into his bladder, it’s a simple procedure that does not need sedation) if you can’t get one at home. the most important thing for cats with urinary problems is feeding a wet diet, as well as you’re already doing that. Boiled poultry breast should be fine as a treat. From what you’re describing, your feline does not have kidney disease, however even if he did, protein limitation is not suggested up until the extremely latter stages of the disease. Here’s more info on what to feed a feline with kidney disease: Reply Angie says: April 18, 2017 at 10:05 am THANK YOU so much for your timely reply, Ingrid. Yes, those pills are antibiotics. as well as he usually got 2 injections, plus pills. Yes, I have been feeding cats just canned food since years, that’s why I question he has urine blockages so often..ok, he had when 3 years ago, then twice last month..and it’s not a issue at all for him to take pills, however the taxi drive is a abuse for him. I don’t understand whether he has a kidney issue or not, however the vet had hinted that it might be kidney or bladder stone. Thank you so much for the link to kidney issue too, Ingrid. Angie Reply Jo says: May 17, 2016 at 9:51 pm The vet put my feline on hills c/d for blockage as well as he has been okay ever since. The food has saved his life. We were rushing him to the vet about when every three weeks for about 6 mos. extremely difficult on the cat. He just kept getting blocked. He has been on the food for 3 years as well as no blockages sonce we started the food. Reply Maria says: March 29, 2012 at 8:09 pm I understand however theres alot of things that r going wrong with him as well as they dont understand wat his temp is extremely high as well as he might go into organ failure now as well as his blood is at a toxic level. I hope he is going to be alrite has any type of one else had these problems? Reply Maria says: March 28, 2012 at 7:26 pm I have a 4yr old male feline that is in the vet now as well as has been for four days they keep doing tests as well as xrays to determine wat the issue is, he has a catheria tube in him he hasnt eaten for four days as well as cant urinate by himself y r these vets taki