Blocked Cat Is A Medical Emergency

Posted by Charla Dawson Feb 17, 2008

We've all had to stand in line at a public restroom. When your bladder is full the wait can be unbearable. There have been times when I felt like the bathroom stall was never going to be free, or worse yet I wouldn't be able to hold “it” any longer. Male cats that have a urethral obstruction feel quadruple the discomfort I just described. These poor cats have a distended, hard bladder and physically can not relieve themselves.

I cannot stress enough how uncomfortable and painful this condition is. Cats that are straining to use the bathroom need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. There is not much you can do for them at home and they are so painful by this point that they may scratch or bite anyone who tries to check their penis for debris.

The veterinary clinic I work for recently hospitalized a cat for a urethral blockage. This cat had a urinary catheter sutured in place for 3 days. The catheter has been removed and we have continued to hospitalize him and monitor his urine output. He is on what we call his “third strike”. Meaning if he blocks again (which I'm sure he will) he will under go a PU surgery. The surgery will remove his penis and prevent him from blocking in the future. The owners of cats that may get this surgery should know that it is not a fix for all bladder problems, but it may be the best option for cats that continue to become blocked.