Is your cat suddenly making frequent trips to the litter box? Is he straining or meowing when he tries to urinate?
He may be affected by lower urinary tract disease, most commonly in the forms of urinary obstruction and
feline idiopathic cystitis.
Feline urinary obstruction (UO) is an acute obstruction of the urinary tract, and although this disease can affect
any cat, it is most common in males.
It can be caused by stones, but usually the cause is a plug of inflammatory debris and crystals, which is part of
the common syndrome called feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). FIC is an inflammation of unknown cause
affecting the lower urinary tract. Factors that may play a role in the development of FIC include viruses, diet
(dry food diets with high mineral content), stress, strict confinement, and genetic factors (long-haired cats seem
to be more affected).
What To Watch For
Usually cats with urinary tract infection and/or obstruction show typical signs of discomfort. They will strain
and make frequent and prolonged attempts to urinate, but the amount of urine passed is quite small. Affected
cats will groom their genital area excessively, and sometimes they will urinate outside the litterbox.
Occasionally, there will be blood present in the urine. You should take care not to mistake these symptoms for
constipation and if you notice any of the following, consult your veterinarian.
Blood in the urine
Increased frequency of urination
Straining to urinate
Distressed meowing while urinating
Increased grooming of the genital region
Urinating in inappropriate locations – often in cool smooth surfaces such as bathtubs and sinks
Complete urinary obstruction can develop into a life-threatening emergency within a period of 48 hours. The
following symptoms constitute a medical emergency and signal that you should call your veterinarian
immediately.
Frequent unsuccessful attempts to urinate
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Reluctance to move
Preventative Care
There are several things you can do to lessen or prevent the occurrence or recurrence of urinary obstruction.
Some of these include:
Provide your pet with a clean litter box at all times and frequent opportunities to urinate.
Provide plenty of fresh clean drinking water. Some manufacturers offer products such as a pet waterfall to
encourage water consumption by cats.
Help your pet maintain a healthy body weight and prevent obesity by proper feeding and diet.
Feed a canned food product if at all possible.
Try to minimize stress for your pet by keeping the environment as stable as possible. Provide scratching posts,
climbing toys, toys to chase, and don't introduce new animals to his environment.
Carefully monitor your cat for signs of recurrence.
Complete urinary obstruction can develop into a life-threatening emergency with 48 hours.