Cat Urological Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatme

Among the most common lower urinary tract disorders in cats, urethral obstruction stands out, often leading to lifethreatening postrenal azotemia. This condition predominantly affects male cats, with female cats rarely being affected. Additionally, many cats may experience nonobstructive lower urinary tract diseases, which typically resolve on their own within 7 to 10 days.

Signs of Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats:

Cats may exhibit signs of depression, loss of appetite, and frequent attempts to defecate in the litter box. Their urine output is notably low, and upon palpation, their bladders may be found to be filled with a significant amount of urine.

When a cat develops a lower urinary tract syndrome, if urine is retained in the bladder for an extended period, the cat can suffer from dehydration, electrolyte imbalances (such as hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia), and metabolic acidosis, which can lead to kidney failure. These metabolic abnormalities can also trigger vomiting. The cat may die approximately 3 to 6 days later, usually due to uremia rather than bladder rupture. Therefore, when encountering cats with nonobstructive FLUTD, a urinalysis should be the first step in clinical diagnosis.

If the urinalysis shows no abnormalities, preventive antibiotics can be administered, and it is crucial to ensure adequate hydration and closely monitor the cat's daily urine output and condition. If the urine pH is outside the normal range, prescription cat food designed to correct urine pH can be provided. Crystals detected in the urine may indicate the presence of bladder stones.

Treatment for Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats:

In cases of kidney failure, the initial treatment involves catheterization and securing the catheter to the cat's tail skin. For cats, if urine cannot be excreted within 12 hours, it often leads to acute kidney failure. With proper treatment, acute kidney disease generally has a favorable prognosis, whereas chronic kidney disease typically has a poor outlook.

In addition to routine conservative treatments, which include intravenous administration of cefepime, NaHCO3, energy supplements, and furosemide (Lasix), as well as intramuscular injections of epinephrine, the catheter is usually removed after 3 days, and the cat returns to normal urination. After 3 days of intravenous treatment, symptoms of difficulty urinating are significantly reduced, and the cat begins to eat actively and appears in good spirits. Following this, oral antiinflammatory medication is prescribed, along with feeding urinary acidifying paste to support the cat's urinary health.