A Life-Threatening Emergency: Urinary Blockages in Cats.
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Urinary blockages are one of the most significant and quickly debilitating medical conditions seen in cats, especially in male cats. As a feline pet owner, understanding and recognizing the clinical signs of urinary blockage can help save your cat's life.
FLUTD
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a general term used to describe several different conditions that affect a cat’s bladder or urethra. FLUTD encompasses the conditions associated with urinary tract infections, bladder stones, urethral obstructions, feline idiopathic cystitis, inflammation or mucus plugs. A urinary blockage can occur when a cat is unable to release urine due to an obstruction in the urethra. Obstructions can be caused by crystals, stones, inflammation or mucus plugs. While this condition can occur in cats at any age; it is predominantly seen in middle-aged cats that are overweight and less active. The risk of lower feline urinary tract disease is four times higher in overweight cats than in normal weight cats (Piyarungsrik., 2020). Male cats have a much narrower urethra than female cats and thus are more prone to urinary blockage.
Why is it so dangerous
When a cat cannot urinate, toxins that are normally eliminated through urine begin to build up in the body therefore leading to:
🐱Kidney failure
🐱Dangerous electrolytes imbalances
🐱Heart complications
🐱Death, if left untreated for 24-72 hours
Symptoms to watch for with Urinary Blockages in Cats
Cats are notorious for hiding their illnesses therefore subtle changes are important to monitor:
Frequent trips to the litter box, with very little urine or no urine production
Straining in the litter box
Vocalizing while trying to urinate
Hiding or lethargic
Urinating outside of the litter box and sometimes blood can be seen in the urine
Loss of appetite or vomiting
⚠️ Important: Straining can look like constipation, but it may be a urinary blockage. When in
doubt, seek veterinary care immediately.
What are some conditions that Causes Urinary Blockages?
Stressful environment
Urinary crystals or bladder stones
Diet/ obesity
Poor hydration
Indoor lifestyle with limited stimulation
Underlying UTI
Diagnostics:
If urinary symptoms are being shown and a blockage is suspected, your veterinarian will
perform a physical exam, to check for enlargement or pain in the bladder. Diagnostic testing will include blood work to evaluate kidney function as well as electrolyte levels and a urinalysis to examine the urine to look for crystals or bacteria that would indicate a urinary tract infection. Completing radiology or an ultrasound can also be warranted to identify
bladder stones or additional abnormalities.
Treatment for FLUTD:
Treatment must be done by a veterinarian and often includes:
Emergency stabilization (fluids, pain control)
Sedation for placement of a urinary catheter and flushing out the blockage
Hospitalization for monitoring
Prescription urinary diets (Royal Canin Urinary SO, Hills Urinary Care c/d, Purina ProPlan UR)
In severe or recurrent cases, surgery may be recommended.
Can It Be Prevented?
While not all cases are preventable, you can significantly reduce your cat’s risk by doing the following:
💧 Encourage hydration (water fountains)
🥣 Feed a high-quality or prescription urinary diet
🧘 Reduce stress (enrichment, routine, safe spaces)
⚖️ Maintain a healthy weight
🧼 Keep litter boxes clean and accessible
Prescription diets for cats are created to dissolve any mineral crystals, regulate urine
pH, lower phosphorus levels, and promote hydration status
When to Call Schroeck Veterinary Care
If you notice your furry pet seems off, straining in the cat litter box not producing any urine are acting painful when you pick them up, this is an emergency. Don't wait for it out and see if it gets better immediately give us a call 321-482-4838.
Resources:
Piyarungsri, K., Tangtrongsup, S., Thitaram, N., Lekklar, P., & Kittinuntasilp, A. (2020, January 13). Prevalence and risk factors of feline lower urinary tract disease in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Scientific reports. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6957472/
