Feline Bladder Problems

Feline bladder problems lead to more than pain or distress for cats. Severe instances that lead to urinary blockages can prove fatal. According to Cornell University, veterinarians group urinary problems in cats into an overall syndrome called feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD. These illnesses commonly involve bladder stones that form from mineral deposits. Cancer or nerve damage can also rob a cat of its ability to urinate.

  1. Symptoms

    • FLUTD includes several telltale symptoms. Cats suffering from this condition typically try to urinate more frequently and for greater periods of time than usual for them. They have to strain to produce urine, and the urine that results may contain blood. Cats that lick their genitals frequently, cry during urination or fail to use the litter box when they urinate should receive a veterinary examination checking them for FLUTD’s associated illnesses.

    Causes

    • FLUTD includes several different diseases that cause bladder problems for cats. Urinary stones that develop in the bladder can make urination difficult and painful. According to Cornell University, these stones develop when calcium oxalate and other mineral compounds form deposits in the bladder. Veterinarians who can find no clear cause such as bladder stones or cancer will diagnose a more general condition called feline idiopathic cystitis. Cats with this condition experience bladder discomfort and have difficulty urinating despite the absence of obvious stones or obstructions. VetInfo adds that nerve damage from trauma or disease can cause an inability to urinate.

    Complications

    • In some cases, urinary stones in the bladder can lead to a urethral obstruction. Male cats tend to get this condition more often than females. Cats suffering a blockage in the urethra have great difficulty passing more than a tiny amount of urine at a time. This condition grows increasingly painful for cat until a total blockage finally disrupts the fluid balance, causing unconsciousness and death from heart failure. Owners whose cats cannot urinate at all must take the cat to a veterinarian immediately for emergency treatment, according to Dr. Peter G. Knapp.

    Treatments

    • Treatment for FLUTD depends on the specific cause of the cat’s urinary difficulties. Bladder stones made of a mineral called struvite may dissolve in response to a special diet, but calcium oxalate stones require surgical removal, according to Cornell University. Cats who experience frequent urethral blockages might need a separate operation to enlarge the urethral opening. Veterinarians will also treat symptoms such as dehydration and pain while recommending a preventative treatment regimen.

    Prevention

    • According to Cornell University, owners can help their cats prevent or minimize future bouts of FLUTD by providing smaller and more frequent meals, plenty of fresh water, clean litter in multiple litter boxes throughout the home and a stable living environment. Dr. Knapp states that owners must also anticipate the possible need for lifelong preventative measures, adding that forcing fluids seems particularly effective against recurrences of FLUTD.