Feline Urinary Obstruction
Obstruction or blockage is usually due to small stones which form in the bladder then pass into the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis, so that the cat is unable to urinate freely.
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Signs
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Your cat will visit its litter box frequently, squatting to produce urine but failing to do so and may cry out in pain. It may lick the area below its anus repeatedly and you may see the tip of the penis protruding. You must call your veterinarian immediately and seek emergency treatment.
Cause
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Blockage occurs most commonly in overweight male cats that do not have an active lifestyle, that drink very little and are fed dry food. These cats produce concentrated alkaline urine in which crystals can develop and grow into stones or uroliths. The commonest stone seen is made of struvite or triple phosphate crystals.
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Diagnosis
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Your veterinarian will be able to feel a painful over-full bladder and will admit the cat. He may have to take X-rays to determine the site and size of the stones and blood tests to see if any kidney damage has occurred.
Treatment
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With the cat under anesthetic, your veterinarian will try to push the stones back up the urethra by using a catheter and water pressure to relieve the obstruction. If the stones are small, he will flush repeatedly until they are all removed but he may have to operate to remove large stones from the bladder. If he cannot relieve the blockage, he may have to surgically remove the end of the urethra and penis to enable free flow of urine.
Maintenance
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Commercial diets are available which keep the urine slightly acidic and prevent struvite crystals from forming. Your cat should be encouraged to drink more fresh water by increasing the number of bowls available and possibly flavoring the water. Increasing your cat's activity and reducing its weight may also make it less likely to block up again. Unfortunately up to 30 percent of cats may have another obstruction within six months.
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References
- Photo Credit cat image by milemarsovac from Fotolia.com
