Urethral obstruction in cats
Urethral obstruction - otherwise known as a blocked bladder - is a problem that occurs almost exclusively in male cats and can be life-threatening. Urgent veterinary treatment is needed to 'unblock' the urethra and allow urine to pass. Commonly, the condition results from feline idiopathic cystitis or urinary stones (urolithiasis) and stress can play a role in its development.
Urethral obstruction (UO), which occurs almost exclusively in male cats , is a manifestation of LUT disease with life-threatening complications. 4 Diagnosis of the cause of LUTS and management of the LUT disease can be challenging for practitioners and frustrating for caregivers, and conflicting results in published studies add to the complexities.
2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of ...
The Guidelines set out a diagnostic approach to affected cats before focusing on the most common causes of LUTS: feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), urolithiasis, urinary tract infection and urethral obstruction . The aim is to provide practitioners with practical information on these problematic conditions.
The Guidelines set out a diagnostic approach to affected cats before focusing on the most common causes of LUTS: feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), urolithiasis, urinary tract infection and urethral obstruction . The aim is to provide practitioners with practical information on these problematic conditions.
Feline Urethral Obstruction
Feline urethral obstruction (UO) is a common disorder encountered in small animal emergency practice, with incidence estimates ranging from 1.5% to 9%. 1,2 The etiology of UO was long thought to be a physical obstruction , such as a urethral plug, calculi, stricture, or neoplasia. In a recent study, 3 however, causes of UO in 45 cats were found to be idiopathic (53%), uroliths (29%), and ...
Diagnosis of feline urethral obstruction is straightforward, but the difficulty lies in recognition of the problem at home, as cats are masters of hiding illness.
Urinary Blockage in Cats
The single most important thing for the obstructed cat is to have the blockage relieved. This is done by placing a urinary catheter through the urethral opening and either through the obstruction itself or using pulses of flushing solution to move the plug back into the bladder, where it can be dissolved. This procedure is often painful, and sedation will most likely be needed. Some cats are ...
Understanding urinary tract diseases and how to help cats at home: a guide for caregivers Lower urinary tract diseases are common in cats . In addition to veterinary treatment, changes in the cat's home environment to reduce stress can assist recovery when combined with diet changes and measures to increase water intake.
PDF FELINE URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION
FELINE URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION : THE BLOCKED CAT Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC Megan L. Brashear, CVT, VTS (ECC) Urethral obstruction is a common, yet challenging case for veterinarians and a potentially life-threatening manifestation of feline lower urinary tract disease.
Overview Male cats can easily develop obstruction of the urethra which is the tube draining urine from the bladder out of the penis. Obstructions are often the result of plugs of inflammatory material, mucus, crystals, small stones (called calculi) that have formed in the kidneys and have passed down into the bladder (see urinary stones).