Cat urinary tract problems are among the most common health issues in cats, particularly affecting male cats. When you notice your cat has blood in urine, frequent urination, or urinating outside the litter box, these may be warning signs of cat cystitis or other urinary tract diseases. This article provides a detailed explanation of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) causes, symptoms, treatment methods, and preventive measures to help you protect your cat's urinary health.

What Is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)?

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is an umbrella term for a group of conditions affecting the cat's bladder and urethra. FLUTD is one of the most common reasons for veterinary visits, and male cats are particularly susceptible to serious conditions like urethral obstruction due to their longer and narrower urethra.

Common Types of FLUTD

Causes of Cat Urinary Tract Problems

Causes of cat cystitis and other cat urinary tract problems include:

Main Causes

• Insufficient Water Intake: Cats don't drink much water; highly concentrated urine easily forms crystals
• Stress and Anxiety: Environmental changes, multi-cat conflicts, noise, and other psychological stressors
• Dietary Factors: Mainly dry food diet, imbalanced mineral intake
• Holding Urine: Dirty litter box or improper placement causing cats to hold their urine
• Obesity: Reduced activity increases urinary tract problem risk
• Age and Breed: More common in middle-aged cats (2–6 years old)

Male Cats vs Female Cats

Male cats are more prone to life-threatening urethral obstruction due to their longer and narrower urethra. While female cats rarely experience obstruction, they can still develop cystitis and blood in urine.

Cat Urinary Tract Problem Symptoms: 10 Warning Signs

Below are common symptoms of cat urinary tract problems that owners should watch for closely:

Urination Abnormalities

• Frequent Urination: Frequently going in and out of the litter box, only producing a small amount or a few drops each time
• Blood in Urine: Urine appears pink, red, or brown (normal should be pale yellow and clear)
• Difficulty Urinating: Straining while squatting but unable to urinate
• Painful Urination: Crying out or making distressed sounds while urinating
• Urinating Outside the Litter Box: Suddenly urinating in inappropriate places

Behavioural and Physical Changes

• Excessive Licking of Genital Area: Frequently licking the genital area due to discomfort
• Abdominal Pain: Resisting or crying out when the lower abdomen is touched
• Decreased Appetite: Reluctance to eat due to pain
• Lethargy: Reduced activity, hiding
• Vomiting: May occur especially with urethral obstruction

Male Cat Urethral Obstruction: Emergency!

Male cat urethral obstruction is the most critical urinary tract emergency. If unable to urinate for 24–48 hours, it can lead to kidney failure or even death.

Urethral Obstruction Warning Signs

• Frequent attempts to urinate but no urine produced at all
• Painful cries when attempting to urinate
• Distended bladder: A hard, ball-like mass felt when touching the lower abdomen
• Extreme lethargy, weakness
• Vomiting, complete loss of appetite
• Low body temperature, slowed heart rate

⚠️ If you notice the above symptoms, bring your cat for immediate veterinary care – this is an emergency!

Diagnostic Methods for Cat Urinary Tract Problems

Veterinarians diagnose cat cystitis and other urinary tract problems through the following examinations:

• Urinalysis: Checking urine pH, crystals, red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria
• Urine Culture: Identifying bacterial species and antibiotic sensitivity
• Blood Tests: Assessing kidney function, electrolyte balance
• X-ray: Checking for bladder stones, urethral obstruction
• Ultrasound: Assessing bladder wall thickness, stone location
• Palpation: Assessing bladder size and pain level

Treatment Methods for Cat Urinary Tract Problems

Treatment plans depend on the cause and severity:

Medical Treatment

Urethral Obstruction Treatment

Male cat urethral obstruction requires emergency treatment:

1. Emergency Assessment: Bladder palpation, blood tests to assess kidney function and electrolytes
2. Gas Anaesthesia: Relaxes the urethra, reduces pain
3. Catheterisation: Inserting a urinary catheter to flush the urethra and remove the obstruction
4. Indwelling Catheter: Sutured in place for 3–5 days to allow bladder inflammation to subside
5. Intravenous Fluids: Corrects kidney failure and electrolyte imbalance
6. Hospitalisation and Monitoring: Monitoring urine output and kidney function every 4–6 hours

Surgical Treatment

• Bladder Stone Removal: Larger stones require surgical removal
• Perineal Urethrostomy: For male cats with recurrent obstruction, widening the urethral opening

Dietary Management

Veterinarians may recommend switching to urinary prescription diet:

• Alters urine pH to reduce crystal formation
• Reduces mineral (magnesium, phosphorus) concentration
• Increases water intake
• Common brands: Hill's c/d, Royal Canin Urinary S/O

Preventing Cat Urinary Tract Problems

Prevention is better than cure. The following measures can help reduce cat urinary tract problem risk:

Increase Water Intake

• Provide a water fountain to encourage drinking
• Place water bowls in multiple locations around the home
• Feed primarily wet food to increase water intake
• Add water to dry food
• Use unsalted chicken broth to encourage drinking

Litter Box Management

• Number of litter boxes = Number of cats + 1
• Clean daily, complete litter change weekly
• Place in quiet, private locations
• Use litter types your cat prefers

Reduce Stress

• Provide adequate hiding spaces and elevated resting spots
• Use Feliway pheromone spray to reduce stress
• Avoid sudden environmental changes
• In multi-cat households, ensure proper resource distribution (food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes)

Regular Check-ups

• Annual urinalysis
• Monitor your cat's urination habits and frequency
• Cats with urinary tract history need more frequent check-ups

Cat Urinary Tract Problems FAQs

Petcore Veterinary Clinic Cat Urinary Tract Services

Petcore Veterinary Clinic provides comprehensive cat urinary tract disease diagnosis and treatment services:

• Urinalysis: pH, crystals, bacteria testing
• Blood Tests: Kidney function, electrolyte assessment
• X-ray/Ultrasound: Bladder stone, urethral obstruction diagnosis
• Catheterisation Treatment: Emergency urethral obstruction management
• Hospitalisation and Monitoring: Fluid therapy and post-operative care
• Medication Prescriptions: Pain relief, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics
• Prescription Diet Advice: Urinary health dietary guidance

Contact Us

• Yuen Long Clinic: G/F, 30A Fuk Tak Street, Yuen Long, N.T. | Phone: 2394-7300
• Sai Kung Clinic: Shop 2, 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, N.T. | Phone: 2394-4228
• WhatsApp: 9889-5518
• Website: www.petcore-vet.com

If your cat shows blood in urine, frequent urination, difficulty urinating, or other cat cystitis symptoms, please bring your cat for examination as soon as possible. Male cat urethral obstruction is especially an emergency, and timely treatment can save lives. The professional team at Petcore Veterinary Clinic is always ready to provide quality medical care for your beloved cat.