Understanding What Causes Urinary Blockage in Cats

Urinary blockage in cats is a serious and potentially life - threatening condition. It occurs when there is an obstruction in the urinary tract, preventing the normal flow of urine. Understanding what causes this blockage is crucial for cat owners to ensure the well - being of their furry companions.

What is Urinary Blockage in Cats?

Urinary blockage, also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), occurs when there is a blockage in the urethra, preventing the cat from urinating. This condition is most common in male cats due to their narrower urethra but can affect both genders.

What Causes Urinary Blockage in Cats？

The causes of urinary blockage in cats mainly include the following aspects.

• Cystitis caused by infection

Bacteria traveling backwards through the urethra to the bladder causes an infection, also called bacterial cystitis.

• Spontaneous cystitis

Caused by emotions such as stress, tension and anxiety, some of which have no cause to be found.

• Urinary stones or crystals

Such as bladder stones, urethral stones, and ureteral stones, which cause blockage of the urethra and can also cause urinary closure.

• Bladder polyps, bladder tumors, and kidney disease

Cats with these diseases may also experience urinary incontinence.

Also Read: Bladder Stones in Cats

• Psychological reasons

Cats that are frightened or experience a stress reaction may cause urinary incontinence.

• Insufficient water intake

Excessive salt content in food and long-term consumption of high-mineral food may trigger urinary infections and lead to the formation of urinary stones.

• Physiological factors

When the weather suddenly turns cold, magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals tend to form in the cat's bladder, which can cause blockage of the urethra and lead to urinary incontinence.

• Disease causes

Male cats with injured or infected reproductive organs will feel pain when urinating and are reluctant to urinate, which may result in the formation of urinary incontinence. Diseases such as urethral stones, bladder stones and feline urethral syndrome may also lead to urinary incontinence.

• Environmental change

When a cat comes from a new environment to an unfamiliar area, it may urinate out of nervousness. But if the pooper scooper doesn't catch this problem in time, then this can lead to urinary incontinence as the cat adapts to the environment.

• Holding urine for a long time

Holding urine for a long period of time in cats may also lead to blockage of the urinary tract.

Symptoms of Urinary Blockage in Cats

• Frequent urination

The cat will make frequent trips to the litter box, but will only pass a small amount of urine each time or will not be able to urinate at all.

• Difficulty in urination

The cat may show pain or discomfort when urinating, such as howling, squatting in an abnormal position or urinating outside the litter box.

• Abnormal urine

The urine color may change to red or pink, which indicates that hematuria may be present.

• Abdominal swelling

As urine cannot be eliminated, the bladder will gradually swell, resulting in an enlarged abdomen.

• Change in mental state

The cat may exhibit a loss of appetite, depression, lethargy or hyperventilation.

• Vomiting

Urinary incontinence may lead to accumulation of toxins in the body, triggering vomiting.

• Licking of genitals

Cats may lick their external genitals frequently, which may be caused by urinary discomfort or urinary tract infections.

• Indiscriminate urination

Cats may urinate in inappropriate places, which may be caused by urination difficulties or urethral irritation.

What to Do About Urinary Tract Blockage in Cats?

⒈Prompt medical attention

Once you find that your cat has frequent urination, difficulty in urination, hematuria or frequently poses for urination without result, you should immediately bring your cat straight to the veterinary hospital. Professional veterinarians will quickly relieve the cat's pain and prevent kidney damage through catheterization and infusion.

⒉Catheterization

If the cat is unable to urinate on its own, it needs to be catheterized in the vet hospital to drain the urine from the bladder. This is a very critical step because prolonged urinary inactivity can trigger acute kidney failure or even bladder rupture.

⒊Infusion

After completing urinary catheterization, intravenous rehydration is often required to manage your cat's dehydration and reduce the risk of urinary toxicity.

⒋Medication

Treatment of Urinary Inflammation

Frequent urination; dysuria; hematuria; urodynia

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Depending on the cause, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and urination-promoting medications. 

⒌Dietary adjustments

Increase your cat's water intake by feeding wet food or adding water to the food to help dilute the urine and promote urination.

⒍Environmental Adjustment

Reduce stressors for your cat, keep the environment quiet and comfortable, use pheromone spray to help your cat relax.

⒎Hot compresses and massage

In an emergency, try applying hot compresses to your cat's bladder area with a towel dampened with warm water and gently massaging to stimulate urination.

⒏Avoid self-medication

Self-administration of human medications, such as Sanjin tablets or moneywort granules, to cats at home is not recommended as they may be toxic to cats and administration without veterinary guidance may delay the condition.

Before taking any emergency measures, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to ensure that the measures taken are safe and effective. If the symptoms of urinary incontinence in cats continue unabated, professional medical help should be sought immediately.

How to Adjust Diet in Cats with Severe Urinary Closure?

The main objectives of dietary adjustments in cats with severe urinary incontinence are to increase water intake, control mineral intake, adjust protein sources and levels, and the possible need for prescription foods or specific dietary regimens. Specific adjustments are described below.

⒈Increase water intake

• Prioritize wet food: Wet food has a high water content, which can help dilute urine and reduce the risk of crystal formation. If your cat doesn't like water, consider feeding wet food or raw bone-in meat to increase water intake.
• Provide a fresh water source: make sure your cat has fresh, clean water to drink at all times. You can use a pet-friendly water fountain or place water bowls in multiple locations around the home to encourage your cat to drink more water.

⒉Controlling Mineral Intake

• Reduce high sodium foods: high sodium foods may increase your cat's water intake, but they may also adversely affect kidney function, so they need to be used with caution1.
• Limit high-protein foods: high-protein diets increase urate excretion and decrease the solubility of crystals, so intake of animal offal and fish needs to be controlled, especially pure meat freeze-dried.

⒊Use of prescription foods

• Prescription foods for the urinary tract: Prescription foods often contain specific nutrients that can help dissolve or prevent crystals and stones in the urinary tract.

⒋Increase fiber intake

• Dietary Fiber: Fiber can help maintain proper function of the digestive system, promote intestinal peristalsis, and indirectly aid in the health of the urinary tract. This can be achieved by feeding cat food containing fiber or adding fiber supplements.

⒌Avoid stimulating foods

• Stimulating foods: spicy, greasy or foods with a lot of additives may stimulate the cat's urinary system and should be avoided.

⒍Supplement with specific nutrients

• Vitamin B: Vitamin B can help repair the mucous membranes of the urinary tract and bladder. Drugstore-bought vitamin B supplements can be added to your cat's food in moderation.
• Cranberry Powder: Cranberry powder contains anthocyanins, which are beneficial to the urinary system and may reduce the chance of urinary recurrence.

Precautions

• Avoid milk and its products: the lactose in milk may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and even stone formation in cats, so it is not suitable as a drink for cats.
• Control the intake of snacks: especially snacks high in phosphorus and protein such as dried chicken jelly, which may induce the re-formation of stones.

When adjusting the diet of cats, it is recommended to do so under the guidance of a veterinarian to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the dietary regimen. At the same time, dietary adjustments should be combined with other therapeutic measures (e.g., medication, catheterization, etc.) to achieve the best therapeutic effect.

FAQs

Cat litter itself does not directly cause urinary tract blockage in cats, but it may indirectly cause urinary tract problems if the litter is dusty or if the cat has an allergic reaction to a certain type of litter. The following is a specific analysis.

Indirect causes of urinary tract blockage due to cat litter

• Dust problem

When the cat litter is dusty, the cat's urine may splash dust during urination. This dust may enter the cat's urethra and irritate the urethral mucosa, triggering inflammation. Prolonged inflammatory stimulation may lead to hyperplasia and thickening of the urethral mucosa, thereby increasing the risk of urethral blockage10.
For example, some poor quality bentonite cat litter may cause this condition in cats after use if the dust is not well controlled.

• Allergic reactions

Some cats may be allergic to certain cat litter ingredients, such as certain chemical fragrances, deodorizers and other added ingredients. The allergic reaction may cause the cat to lick the urethra frequently, resulting in redness and swelling of the urethra, affecting normal urination, and in severe cases, may trigger urinary blockage.

How to stimulate a cat to pee?

I. Environment and exposure aspects

• Familiar Litter Box

Make sure the litter box is clean, comfortable and in a quiet location. Cats may hold their urine because the litter box is not clean or is not ideally located. Place the litter box in a familiar place that is easy for the cat to reach, such as a corner away from noisy appliances and low traffic.

• Gentle petting

Gently stroke your cat's abdomen, starting just below the sternum and gently massaging down along the abdomen. This gentle stimulation may encourage the cat to urinate, but pay attention to the strength to avoid excessive force causing discomfort to the cat.

II. Diet and water intake

• Increase water intake

Encourage your cat to drink more water, which can be done by providing fresh, clean water, such as using a flowing water dispenser. Increased water intake helps promote urine production. Cats can also be fed foods with high water content, such as canned wet food, which can help increase the amount of water in the cat's body more than dry food.

III Medical assistance (if there is an underlying health problem)

• Consult the veterinarian

If the cat does not urinate for a long time, there may be health problems such as urethral blockage and cystitis. It is necessary to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian may give medication according to the situation, such as using diuretic drugs to stimulate the cat to urinate.

• Hot compresses (under the guidance of the veterinarian)

In some cases, such as when a cat has mild bladder discomfort, hot compresses can be applied to the bladder area of the cat under the guidance of the veterinarian. A warm (but not overheated) damp towel is gently applied to the cat's lower abdomen, which helps to soothe the bladder muscles and may encourage urination.

 

Conclusion

Urinary blockage is a serious medical emergency that can have life-threatening consequences for your cat. By understanding the common causes, recognizing the symptoms early, and seeking prompt treatment, you can help ensure your cat remains healthy and happy. Regular veterinary visits and a proper diet are key to preventing urinary blockages in the future.