Straining to pee isn’t always an emergency, but it can be. If your cat is having trouble urinating, what do you need to know to determine whether to make a vet appointment for later in the day or to rush them to an emergency clinic?
Let’s talk about this surprisingly common feline affliction.
0-30 minutes in: Notice Something Amiss
A few different things can cause your cat to have trouble urinating. Cystitis is usually the root cause; it generally refers to an inflammation of the bladder. Cystitis can be acute or build gradually, but it almost never resolves without medical intervention. Untreated cystitis can be very painful.
Your cat’s cystitis can be accompanied by any number of more serious issues, such as bladder stones or even a urethral “plug,” both of which can completely block urine flow.
The first sign you’ll notice if your cat is having bladder difficulties is, of course, an inability to urinate. This is likely to happen in or near your cat’s litter box and is sometimes confused with an inability to defecate. You may also see:
- Straining or obvious pain
- Small amounts of blood in the litter box
- Increased trips to and from the litter box
- Agitation or discomfort when touched
- Lethargy
- Hiding behavior
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from your friends at Vetted.
30 minutes – 1 hour in: Note the Severity
If your cat is having difficulty urinating, they need to be seen by a vet. The question is: how soon?
If your cat is male, it’s imperative you take him to an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Because of their anatomy, complete urethral blockages in male cats can be quite serious and sometimes even fatal.
If your cat is female, she still needs to be seen by a veterinarian within 24-hours. You should head to a vet clinic immediately if she’s showing any other symptoms such as lethargy or vomiting.
1 hour – 2 hours in: Take Your Vet’s Advice
If your cat’s urethral obstruction was serious enough to warrant an emergency vet clinic visit, there are any number of treatment options. Blood and/or urine tests may be taken, and radiographs or x-rays may be needed to identify stones or underlying issues.
Relieving the urinary block will probably require catheterization (begun while your cat is under anesthesia) for several hours or even days. In rare cases, emergency surgery may be required to remove particularly large stones or blockages.
After the immediate issue has been resolved, be sure to talk to your vet about how to prevent future bladder problems. Increased water intake, special prescription food, and a stress-free environment may be recommended to keep your cat’s bladder on track.
