Urinary Blockage - What is it?

Many people are unaware of this serious health issue that is most common in neutered male cats, especially if they are overweight and consume dry cat food. I wanted to share information about this life threatening issue because if the signs are there and you can catch it early, it can not only save you money, it can save the life of your cat.

Blockages occur when the urethra (the narrow tube that carries urine out of the body) gets clogged. This is most common in male cats due to their narrower anatomy.

Symptoms to watch for:

• Straining, crouching, or spending extended time in the litter box with no pee produced
• Crying, yowling, or acting distressed when attempting to urinate
• Excessive licking at their genital area
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Vomiting, refusal to eat, or extreme lethargy
• A very hard, painful abdomen (firm as a baseball)

A cat urinary blockage (urethral obstruction) is a life-threatening emergency. If your cat is straining to pee, producing little to no urine, crying in pain, or vomiting, get them to an emergency vet immediately. A blocked cat can suffer kidney failure or a ruptured bladder within 24 to 48 hours.

Romano's Blockage

After noticing some excessive licking to the genital area late in the evening, I made a point to monitor Romano in the litter box to make sure he was able to pass urine. The next morning he strained to pee so hard that he farted and then had a small bowel movement. Immediately after exiting that litter box, he entered another one and went right back into the squat position to try and urinate. This was a telltale sign of a blocked urethra and I was on the phone with the vet in a matter of seconds. Thankfully I was able to drop him off asap to be examined & they confirmed the blockage. They put him under lite anesthesia and were able to clear it, but then had several mucus plugs re-clog his urethra. A catheter was placed to allow him to pass anymore stones or plugs and he had to stay overnight so they could leave it in. He was also given antibiotics for a urinary track infection & pain meds after having the catheter in overnight. Thankfully his blood work showed only one slightly elevated level in his kidneys, which was expected after having a blockage. His urinalysis revealed that he had a lot of struvite crystals present.

What are Struvite Crystals?

Struvite crystals are microscopic minerals made of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. While low levels are normal, high concentrations can clump with mucus to form life-threatening urethral blockages or bladder stones. Thankfully, special vet prescribed urinary food will break up the struvite crystals and prevent more from forming. But it is also crucial to make sure your cat is getting a lot of hydration (mixing water into their wet food is a great method to insure they are getting adequate amounts). 

Romano update