Do You Know How Urinary Blockage in Cats is Treated?

Just imagine if your feline friend developed a cat urinary blockage.  This condition is a serious complication of feline lower urinary tract disease, also known as FLUTD.  It's often caused by cat bladder stones blocking the urethra so your male cat can't pass any urine.

Why Does This Happen To Male Cats?

A cat blockage is rarely seen in female cats.  This is because the urethra in females is much shorter and broader than it is in males.  Although this puts females at greater risk for cat bladder infections, this does protect them somewhat from a feline urinary blockage. 

Because male cats have a much smaller urinary opening than females do, it doesn't take a very big feline bladder stone to cause urinary blockage in cats.

How Your Vet Treats A Urinary Blockage In Cats

If your cat is unable to pass any urine, or can pass very little, this is an emergency.  Your cat's kidneys stop functioning when the urine has no place to go, which allows toxins to build up in the body very quickly.  This toxin build-up causes death within a few days if it's not treated.

Your vet will insert a catheter to allow the urine to drain out of the bladder.  Your cat will probably need to stay at the animal hospital for a few days, as the catheter may be stitched in place.  Treatment may include flushing the bladder with fluids to wash out any bladder stones that are present. 

Your cat will be given fluids, either by IV or under the skin, to prevent dehydration.  He'll also be assessed for any problems related to the toxic build-up in his system.

Most cats can go home after a few days.  But you'll need to feed your cat a special diet for the rest of his life to prevent bladder stones from forming again.

What If The Blockage Happens Again?

If your cat continues to have problems with a cat urinary blockage, surgery may be the next step.  This operation, called a feline perineal urethrostomy, enlarges your cat's urinary opening to prevent blockages from recurring. 

This operation only prevents cat blockage, not FLUTD.  A cat who has had this operation is more likely to develop feline bladder infection and bladder stones.  He should have urine cultures done three or four times a year to be sure he's not suffering from a feline lower urinary tract infection.

Prevent Cat Bladder Stones

You can nip this problem in the bud by preventing cat bladder stones in the first place.  Cats with very concentrated urine are more prone to developing stones. 

The key is to feed your cat canned food instead of dry.  Cats are meant to get most of their water from the food they eat.  A high quality canned food has a moisture content closer to what a cat in the wild would eat.  A cat who is always fed dry food is probably chronically dehydrated.

Be sure your cat always has access to plenty of clean, fresh drinking water.

Herbal and homeopathic remedies for cats are now available.  These remedies are especially formulated to treat and prevent cat urinary problems.  It's essential to purchase these safe, effective remedies from a well-known company with a great reputation for manufacturing the highest quality pet products.

Now that you have this information, you can take steps to protect your kitty from ever experiencing a cat urinary blockage.