Coping with Feline Urinary Blockage: Symptoms & Solutio

What is Urinary Blockage?

Urinary blockage is not a disease itself; it is a symptom, essentially characterized by difficulty in urination.

When the bladder contains urine, it cannot be expelled due to various factors such as

weakness in the bladder's detrusor muscle, obstruction in the urethra (which can be caused by conditions like ureteral narrowing, stones, wall inflammation or swelling, muscle spasms, or extrinsic compression),

and an imbalance between bladder contraction and urethral opening. This leads to the retention of urine in the bladder but an inability to expel it, with metabolic waste also remaining in the body.

What are the consequences of urinary blockage?

The longer the duration of urinary blockage, the greater the risk of developing urinary tract infections, cystitis, fainting, bladder dysfunction, kidney damage, and in the most severe cases, hyperkalemia leading to heart failure and death.

How to Identify Urinary Blockage in Cats?

1. Frequent urination: Cats may frequently go to the litter box, but the amount of urine produced is significantly reduced or even absent, often mistaken for constipation.

2. Excessive licking of the genital area: Cats may excessively lick their genitals to alleviate discomfort, showing an unusual focus on grooming the lower abdomen.

3. Hematuria: Sometimes, blood can be found near the genital area.

4. Dysuria: Cats may cry or howl during urination.

5. Unusual urination: Cats may urinate in places other than the litter box, possibly due to pain associated with the litter box, and the amount of urine may be small.

6. Vomiting: Due to the inability to expel metabolic waste, cats may vomit due to uremia.

Cats may also show signs of depression, decreased appetite, changes in personality, increased aggression, and signs of weakness, drowsiness, or coma. Urinary blockage is not exclusive to cats; dogs can also experience it, which is easier to detect since dogs are taken outside for walks.

Causes and Treatment Methods for Urinary Blockage in Cats?

Since urinary blockage is just a symptom, it cannot be used alone to make an accurate diagnosis. As mentioned earlier, there are many possible causes, and it requires accompanying examinations.

However, the longer the delay, the worse the condition, the higher the cost, the longer the treatment course, and the poorer the prognosis.

Among them, crystalline cystitis and spontaneous cystitis require the most cooperation and followup from pet owners. Being deceived by temporary improvement and not following medical advice can easily lead to recurrence.

Preventive Measures for Urinary Tract Problems in Cats?

The management of specific diseases varies depending on the pet's actual condition, and it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice.

Increase daily water intake, encourage cats to drink on their own, provide multiple water bowls, running water, canned food mixed with water, and keep food and water bowls away from the litter box.

Reduce stimuli (new people, new objects, new environments, etc.), improve sensitive emotions (daily desensitization training), manage the environment, and ensure adequate playtime.

Prevention is the key to cats' health. For more information on how to prevent urinary blockage in cats, you can watch How to Prevent Cat Urinary Blockage.

Remember

Observe the size of the urine clumps and frequency of urination daily. If there are any abnormalities, be more vigilant! If you cannot handle it at home, seek medical attention promptly!