Feline Urological Syndrome
Feline urological syndrome is frequently seen with male cats and commonly presents as a partial or complete urinary blockage. Cats having difficulty urinating should be brought into the veterinary clinic immediately as this can be life threatening when completely blocked. Feline urological syndrome is different than a urinary tract infection, but may have similar signs.
Cats can form crystals in their urine, which can clump together and block the urethra (tube from the bladder where urine exits) or even form into stones. Because the diameter of the urethra in male cats is narrow to begin with and they are more prone to blocking, we recommend waiting until male cats are at least six to seven months old before neutering them to give the urethra a chance to reach its full diameter.
Common signs of blocked cats are lethargy, no urination, or attempting to urinate frequently and only urinating small amounts. This can occur in the litterbox or outside of the litterbox. If cats cannot urinate this is life threatening as they cannot eliminate waste materials from the body and the kidneys become damaged. The kidneys are one system the body has for filtering waste and damage affects this process. There is also risk of the bladder rupturing, which is life threatening as well.
Cats that are blocked are hospitalized at the clinic and may have a urinary catheter placed to help keep their bladder empty. Once their urine stays yellow (and not red) the catheter will be removed and your cat will continue to be observed to see if he is able to urinate on his own. Once able to urinate normally, your cat will be discharged. If your cat blocks again, they will have another urinary catheter placed and your veterinarian will discuss next steps with you.
Cats will also be started on a special food while hospitalized that keeps their urine at a specific pH to discourage crystals from forming. They will need to be fed this food for the rest of their life or they may block again. Most cats take to the food well, but if your cat will not eat the food let your veterinarian know as soon as possible. There are other options available, but feeding is usually the easiest one.
Occasionally cats will continue to block despite food changes. Sometimes we need to try a special medication and other times we must resort to surgery when food and medication fail to resolve the problem. This procedure is called a perineal urethrostomy and essentially reroutes the urethral opening from the penis to between the scrotum and anus (similar to the location of a female cat’s urethra). All surgeries carry risks and is not a 100% guarantee. There are also postoperative complications that may arise. Your veterinarian will discuss with you if this surgery may be warranted and what you will need to be aware of.
Cats with this condition can lead normal, happy lives and can expect normal lifespans barring other medical conditions as long as they are correctly managed.
Cats can form crystals in their urine, which can clump together and block the urethra (tube from the bladder where urine exits) or even form into stones. Because the diameter of the urethra in male cats is narrow to begin with and they are more prone to blocking, we recommend waiting until male cats are at least six to seven months old before neutering them to give the urethra a chance to reach its full diameter.
Common signs of blocked cats are lethargy, no urination, or attempting to urinate frequently and only urinating small amounts. This can occur in the litterbox or outside of the litterbox. If cats cannot urinate this is life threatening as they cannot eliminate waste materials from the body and the kidneys become damaged. The kidneys are one system the body has for filtering waste and damage affects this process. There is also risk of the bladder rupturing, which is life threatening as well.
Cats that are blocked are hospitalized at the clinic and may have a urinary catheter placed to help keep their bladder empty. Once their urine stays yellow (and not red) the catheter will be removed and your cat will continue to be observed to see if he is able to urinate on his own. Once able to urinate normally, your cat will be discharged. If your cat blocks again, they will have another urinary catheter placed and your veterinarian will discuss next steps with you.
Cats will also be started on a special food while hospitalized that keeps their urine at a specific pH to discourage crystals from forming. They will need to be fed this food for the rest of their life or they may block again. Most cats take to the food well, but if your cat will not eat the food let your veterinarian know as soon as possible. There are other options available, but feeding is usually the easiest one.
Occasionally cats will continue to block despite food changes. Sometimes we need to try a special medication and other times we must resort to surgery when food and medication fail to resolve the problem. This procedure is called a perineal urethrostomy and essentially reroutes the urethral opening from the penis to between the scrotum and anus (similar to the location of a female cat’s urethra). All surgeries carry risks and is not a 100% guarantee. There are also postoperative complications that may arise. Your veterinarian will discuss with you if this surgery may be warranted and what you will need to be aware of.
Cats with this condition can lead normal, happy lives and can expect normal lifespans barring other medical conditions as long as they are correctly managed.
