Reviewed by Dr Katie DavisonBVMS MRCVS - RCVS Recognised Advanced Veterinarian
This is one to read before you ever need it. A cat that is straining to urinate but producing little or nothing - especially a male cat - may have a blocked bladder, and that is a genuine, life-threatening emergency.
A complete blockage can become fatal within a day or two, so knowing the signs and acting fast really can save your cat's life.
Call us immediately if your cat is…
If you see these signs, phone us straight away on 07 870 2696 - don't wait to see if it settles:
- Straining in the litter tray with little or no urine coming out
- Going in and out of the tray repeatedly, or crying while trying to go
- Licking at their back end persistently
- Restless, hiding, off their food, or vomiting
- A firm, painful tummy, or becoming weak and unresponsive
Why male cats are most at risk
Male cats have a long, narrow urethra that can block completely with crystals, mucus or inflammation - part of what vets call feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). When the bladder can't empty, waste products that should leave in the urine build up in the bloodstream instead, which quickly affects the kidneys and heart. Female cats get urinary problems too, but a complete, life-threatening blockage is far more common in males.
What happens at the clinic
A blocked cat is an emergency admission. We relieve the obstruction (usually by passing a urinary catheter under sedation or anaesthetic), get them onto intravenous fluids to flush the toxins out, and manage their pain. Most blocked cats stay in hospital for a few days while we make sure everything settles and they're urinating on their own again.
Treated promptly, the outlook is good. The delay is what's dangerous - which is why any cat straining to pee needs to be seen the same day, not tomorrow.
Reducing the risk
Once your cat is over the crisis, we'll talk about lowering the chance of it happening again - often through diet, encouraging water intake, and reducing stress, which is a surprisingly big trigger for urinary flare-ups in cats. We're here to help you put a plan in place.