A serious condition that can affect a male cat is “urethral obstruction” or a blocked bladder. This condition is caused by the accumulation of proteins, cells and crystals and other debris in the bladder. The debris becomes lodged in the urethra making it impossible for the cat to urinate. It affects male cats because they have a much longer and much narrower urethra than a female cat and so more susceptible to becoming blocked.
This condition isn’t common. When it does happens it’s painful for the cat and, despite trying really hard, the cat will be unable to urinate. Additional risk factors are male cats that are overweight, sedentary, middle aged, stressed or are “indoor” cats.
This is a life-threatening emergency for the cat. If left untreated it can cause acute kidney failure and death within 2-3 days if it not addressed appropriately.
Signs and Symptoms
Owners should be aware of the following signs:
- Repeated attempts to urinate without urine being expelled.
- Crying or discomfort when trying to urinate.
- Agitation and possible vomiting.
Owners may also notice an increase in frequency of urinating over the preceding few days and perhaps even some blood in the urine.
If your male cat is showing ANY of these signs it is very important that you seek veterinary advice immediately.
Resources
Learn more about this condition in cats
There is more information on how to manage stress in your cat here, and to understand more about stress and how it affects your cat, download our leaflet.
You can also help to ensure that your cat’s environment is meeting your cat’s needs. Download information on multi-cat households and if any of the information affects your cat, call the team today on 01772 639800 OR 01253 766352 or open a chat on PetsApp.
