Blocked Cats—Urethral Obstructions are Emergencies

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). The cause of the inflammatory materials and stone formation is not well understood, though viral infections and diet may play a role. Other causes are reported such as cancer, previous injury causing scarring, and trauma are also reported. Early neutering of cats does not cause reduction of urethral size as in some other species.

Signs and Symptoms

Most affected cats are within 1 to 10 years of age. Signs and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Initially cats may show signs of urinary tract inflammation and discomfort, including straining to urinate, frequent urination, blood in the urine, painful urination, and inappropriate urination (urinating outside of a litter box).

These bouts can resolve in 5–7 days but recur in many cats within 6–12 months. Symptoms are profound and life threatening if complete obstruction occurs and no urine can get out of the body.  Once cats become completely obstructed, they may attempt to urinate in the litter box but will produce no urine. The cat may cry, move restlessly, or hide because of discomfort, and eventually lose their appetite and become lethargic.  Complete obstruction can cause death of the cat in 3–6 days.  A cat with a urethral obstruction will have a large, painful bladder that is easily felt in the back half of the belly unless the bladder has ruptured.

Some risk factors have been evaluated for lower urinary tract disease in cats. Increased risk was found in cats that eat dry food, being kept indoors, nervous/fearful/aggressive behaviors, stress, and being in multi-cat household. The incidence of urinary obstructions is reportedly higher in the winter months. Bladder inflammation leading to mucous plugs (sometimes called “Feline Urologic Syndrome” or “FUS”) is more common in male cats. Congenital outpouchings of the bladder (“vesicourachal diverticuli”) can increase the risk of bladder infection, but they may also be a result of chronic inflammation.

Diagnostics

In cats with signs of urinary tract inflammation, blood work is evaluated to check kidney function and to determine if there is any evidence of infection or other systemic illnesses. A urine sample is evaluated for crystals and may be sent in for culture, although bacterial infections of the bladder are uncommon in cats. In cats with recurrent infections, x-rays of the belly may be taken to see if calculi (stones) or other material are present in the kidneys or bladder, and your primary care veterinarian may inject contrast material into the bladder during x-rays to see if there are any anatomic causes for straining and bloody urine, such as a bladder wall defect or a stricture (narrowing) of the urethra.

Treatment

Cats that have urinary obstruction require emergency treatment. Sedation or general anesthesia is needed in all but the sickest patients to allow placement of a catheter into the urethra to flush out the plug or force the stone into the bladder. The bladder is thoroughly flushed and drained through the catheter to remove any remaining sediment. The urinary catheter is then typically left in place for  a few days until urethral swelling subsides. Once the catheter is removed, the cat is then evaluated to make sure he/she can urinate freely before being discharged from the hospital. Your veterinarian may also prescribe pain medication, a diet change to decrease crystal-forming tendency, or other drugs to make the cat more comfortable and help he/she to relax.

In cats with bladder stones that can be flushed into the bladder, a cystotomy (surgical opening of the bladder) is performed to remove the stones.  Cystotomy is also performed in cats with congenital outpouchings of the bladder (“vesicourachal divericuli”).

If the obstruction recurs or cannot be relieved, a thorough work-up (including x-rays, cultures, and contrast studies of the bladder and urethra) should be performed before surgery is considered.

If your cat has multiple occurrences that cannot be unblocked or managed medically, and does not have any underlying conditions that could cause recurrence, your veterinarian may recommend a perineal urethrostomy (“PU”), or surgical widening of the urethra.  This procedure is intending to provide a permanent opening that allows crystals, mucus plugs, or small stones to pass out of the urethra; this minimizes the chance of re-obstruction.

Contact us today!