What is Urinary Tract Obstruction?
Obstructions in the urinary tract can be formed a mixture of mucus, crystals, proteins, bladder stones, and other types of debris. This will form a urethral blockage, which will not go away without veterinary attention. Urinary tract obstruction must be dealt with immediately, as it can be fatal.
Urinary tract obstruction is usually prevalent in adult male cats, though female cats can also experience blockages in rare cases. These obstructions will start off in the kidneys and pass down to the bladder, eventually making their way into the urethra.
Urinary Tract Obstruction Average Cost
From 404 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,500
Average Cost
$1,800
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Symptoms of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Cats
Total urinary tract obstruction can lead to kidney failure and death in as few as 3-6 days. If your cat is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, it is imperative to consult your vet right away, particularly if your cat is attempting to urinate but passes little or no urine.
- Difficult or strained urination
- Frequent urination
- Blood present in the urine
- Urinating outside of the litter box
- Yowling during urination
- Enlarged or bloated belly
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Dehydration
Causes of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Cats
The causes of urinary tract obstruction are not fully understood by veterinarians. In some cases, the obstruction develops suddenly; in others, it may take several days or even weeks. Some cases of incomplete obstruction can clear up within a week. However, there is a high risk of recurrence within 6-12 months in these cases.
There are some suspected causes of urinary tract obstruction:
- Dry food diet
- Cat is kept primarily indoors
- Anatomical defect in bladder or urethra structure
- Nervous, anxious, or aggressive temperament
- High levels of stress
- Living in a multi-cat household
- Cat is middle-aged or overweight
Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Cats
Be sure to let the vet know all your cat’s symptoms. The vet will likely ask you about the duration of the symptoms, your cat’s diet, and stress factors that may have contributed to obstruction. As urinary tract obstruction is a serious condition; make sure you answer all the vet’s questions as honestly as you can to help them determine the best course of treatment.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, your vet will conduct a blood test to determine kidney function. This will help identify whether or not there are any underlying kidney diseases which may be causing the obstruction. Your vet will also take a urine sample and conduct a urinalysis, examining the sample for crystals and stones. If the issue has recurred, an X-ray may also be performed to identify stones in kidneys and bladder.
If the cause is anatomical and there is blood present in the urine, your vet will take a contrast urethrogram. This will involve a contrast injection in the cat’s bladder, solely for the purpose of highlighting the bladder in an X-ray. This will show if there are any defects within the bladder, including a narrow urethra.
Treatment of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Cats
Treatment will begin right away. The first step your vet will take is administering anesthetic and inserting a catheter into the urethra. In some cases, this can be a solution to the problem. The bladder will be flushed through the catheter, which will be left in place for a few days to allow remaining debris to drain.
The insertion of the catheter may push the obstruction back into the bladder with the help of a saline flush and the use of a water-based lubricant. Once the obstruction has been flushed back into the bladder, the vet will perform a cystotomy, a surgical procedure which will open the bladder. The stones will then be removed.
If the obstruction has caused trauma in the urethra, or if the condition is recurring, the vet may have to perform a urethrostomy. This type of surgery will involve creating a new opening in the urethra, allowing for easier urination. Depending on the severity of the blockage, the new opening may be a temporary solution, or a permanent one.
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Recovery of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Cats
Your cat will likely be kept in the veterinary hospital for a few days so that your vet or surgeon can ensure that the condition is improving. Cats that undergo surgery will be sutured and have to wear a pet cone, or e-collar, for about two weeks to prevent them from biting at the surgery site.
It is very important that you monitor your cat closely in the two weeks following surgery. If your cat causes any trauma to the sutures or surgery site, this can cause bacterial infection or recurrence of the blockage. However, as long as the surgery is successful and healing goes smoothly, the blockage is unlikely to come back.
Your vet will schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor your cat’s condition.
Urinary Tract Obstruction Average Cost
From 404 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,500
Average Cost
$1,800
Top
Urinary Tract Obstruction Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
American Wire
Oliver
16 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Always Hungry
Our cat Oliver has always had a urinary blockage problem. We've had him over 16 years now and has not had an episode in well over 5 years. He's been on the same type of food prescribed by a Vet. He has been loosing a lot of weight now and looks of course old but he is still active. He is always hungry and doesn't seem to like his food at all. He tries to eat our other cats food all the time. Can we try giving him other food to see how he does? Will the urinary blockage come back at his age?
July 22, 2018
2 Recommendations
If Oliver is prone to urinary stones and had a chronic problem in the past it is possible that the issue will recur if fed regular cat food; there may be other factors which may be causing him to not want to eat his prescription food including spoilage, contamination among other issues. You should check in with your Veterinarian to ensure that there is no other underlying cause affecting Oliver given his age. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 23, 2018
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Mixed cat
Shadow
11 Months
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Drinking Ating Urinating
Not Drinking Eating Urinating
What should a surgery for urinary blockage normally cost. It's the cats first time having an obstruction. I was told 2400 is more normal for cats who are on the 2 or 3rd obstruction.
May 28, 2018
2 Recommendations
It depends on the type of surgery being done (cystotomy or perineal urethrostomy) and other factors of the surgery; for perineal urethrostomy costs may be as high as $4,000 or more depending on add ons to the surgery and for cystotomy $2,400 is a reasonable price. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 29, 2018
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Burmese
HaGaw
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
It started with some dry vomit heaves, it was out of the ordinary enough for me to get up and check out the situation. There was a small puddle of very yellow fluid. I originally thought the liquid was something like bile expelled by the cat when vomiting. I now speculate it was urine.
We took the cat, a 13yo European Burmese, into emergency vet clinic initially and they drew blood and administered fluids. We took Big Meow home and monitored him. 24hrs later, no food, no water, no pee/poo, constant sleeping. We brought Big Meow back into the vet hospital.
I thought he was a goner. Apparently it was a urinary tract obstruction. He made it through surgery. I am so relieved. I’m hopeful I can give my big meow hugs soon.
Common
Negroidul
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
Hello.
I have a 3-year-old common male cat, Negroidul. He had a fit of urinary lithiasis when he was a kitten. No recurrence since then. I was told to feed him with Royal Urinary every day. I also add wet food from KiteKat.
I have two female cats, neutred, and it is very unpleasant for Negroidul because he is not sterilized. Some vets adviced me not to undertake the operation because the risk for urinary tract obstruction is very high and he will start having serious urinary problems after the intervention. Other doctors told me exactly the opposite, that it is much better to sterilize him and also urged me to stop feeding him with Royal Urinary as it is medical food and I have been feeding him for too long.
Please advice.
Thank you.
Common
Negroidul
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
No Symptoms
Hello.
I have a 3-year-old common male cat, Negroidul. He had a fit of urinary lithiasis when he was a kitten. No recurrence since then. I was told to feed him with Royal Urinary every day. I also add wet food from KiteKat.
I have two female cats, neutred, and it is very unpleasant for Negroidul because he is not sterilized. Some vets adviced me not to undertake the operation because the risk for urinary tract obstruction is very high and he will start having serious urinary problems after the intervention. Other doctors told me exactly the opposite, that it is much better to sterilize him and also urged me to stop feeding him with Royal Urinary as it is medical food and I have been feeding him for too long.
Please advice.
Thank you.
Urinary Tract Obstruction Average Cost
From 404 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,500
Average Cost
$1,800
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
