Cats Urinating Symptoms: Identifying Common Signs

Acute Kidney Failure

Acute kidney failure is a sudden onset condition that typically develops within a few days or weeks. Common causes of acute kidney failure in cats include:

Toxicities, such as accidental ingestion of antifreeze, poisonous plants, pesticides, cleaning agents, and certain medications.

Trauma, particularly fractures of the pelvis or bladder rupture.

Excessive bleeding or rapid dehydration leading to shock, often exacerbated by increased activity, vomiting, and diarrhea during hot weather, which can lead to a significant drop in body fluids.

Kidney infections.

Obstructions that alter blood flow to the kidneys and urine output.

Heart failure leading to low blood pressure, which reduces blood flow to the kidneys.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease:

Kidney infections and obstructions.

Congenital kidney abnormalities, such as polycystic kidneys in Persian kittens.

Bacterial infections, kidney tumors (lymphosarcoma is the most common, a type of invasive tumor affecting white blood cells).

High blood pressure.

Viruses.

Kidney amyloid deposits, among others.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure:

Abnormal Urination

One of the earliest signs of feline kidney disease is the production of large volumes of dilute urine. Cats may urinate more frequently, and in cases of acute kidney disease, cats may urinate less than usual.

Increased Thirst

As the body loses large amounts of water through diarrhea and dilute urine, cats with kidney disease become dehydrated and thirsty. Initially, they may drink more water to compensate, but eventually, the intake is no longer sufficient to replace the loss.

Nausea and Vomiting

When the kidneys fail to effectively excrete toxins, it can lead to a significant increase in vomitinducing chemicals in the blood. This may result in nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite in cats, potentially leading to weight loss if not addressed promptly.

Anemia

The kidneys produce a hormone (erythropoietin) that stimulates red blood cell production. This means that when the kidneys are damaged, the blood is affected as well. Additionally, sick cats often drink large amounts of water, which can dilute their blood, reducing the concentration of blood cells.

Increased Blood Phosphorus Levels

During kidney failure, as the kidneys' excretion ability decreases, the phosphorus content in the cat's blood will rise. Simultaneously, the calcium that neutralizes phosphorus in the blood will also increase. Most of this calcium is stored in the bones, and it can enter the bloodstream, leading to severe damage if the bones lack calcium.

High Blood Pressure

Some cats with chronic kidney disease may have hypertension, but the health issues caused by high blood pressure are relatively minor compared to other symptoms.

Urethral Obstruction, a pathological phenomenon characterized by urinary obstruction and urinary retention, can manifest in various diseases:

Renal Calculi: Present with renal pain, difficulty urinating, and hematuria. Urinalysis may reveal red blood cells, white blood cells, and renal epithelial cells.

Ureteral Calculi: Present with acute severe pain and vomiting. If both ureters are blocked simultaneously, it can lead to anuria, making it impossible to urinate.

Bladder Calculi: Present with frequent urination, hematuria, and a sensitive bladder on palpation. Urinalysis may show white blood cells, red blood cells, and bladder epithelial cells. If the calculus blocks the urethral orifice, it can cause anuria, leading to a distended bladder and potentially bladder rupture, which can lead to peritonitis and death.

Urethral Obstruction: When incomplete, it may be seen with frequent urination, urine that is intermittent or in drops. When complete, it can lead to anuria, causing the bladder to become distended and potentially rupture.

In this case, a male cat is presenting with dribbling urine, suggesting an incomplete urethral obstruction. An Xray can be used for diagnosis, and treatment may include an intramuscular injection of ampicillin at a dose of 2030mg per kilogram of body weight. For hematuria, a blood coagulant can be administered intramuscularly.