Is your pet making frequent trips to the litterbox producing little urine, straining when attempting to urinate, and/or being vocal about relieving himself? These are classic signs of urinary tract obstruction - a medical emergency requiring immediate care. If your cat is not peeing, VEG ER for Pets emergency animal hospitals open 24 hours every day to address this emergency. You're cat will receive immediate attention from an ER vet, who will triage your pet and discuss what might be going on with your pet.

For any cat emergency, remember VEG is always open. Emergency is all we do, so we do it best!

Urinary blockage in cats

While our feline family members may have their quirks (food snubs, litter preferences, etc.), their litterbox habits are a window into their health and something all cat parents  should be aware of.

Yes, this is a medical emergency for cats

A cat that cannot urinate may be experiencing a life-threatening emergency. Urinary tract blockages can be fatal within hours without treatment; if your cat has not peed within 12 hours, treat this as a critical medical emergency requiring immediate care. 

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If you find your cat isn't peeing or has very little urinary output, it's time to see the emergency vet team at VEG ER for Pets. Open 24/7, no appointments needed, no waiting.

What is a urinary blockage in cats?

A urinary blockage in your cat can happen when the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body) becomes clogged by urethral plugs composed of crystals, mucus, proteinaceous debris and inflammatory cells associated with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). Less commonly, urinary stones (uroliths) can lodge within the urethra and cause an obstruction. 

The urethra is a small tube in any cat, but it is especially narrow in shape in male cats, which increases the risk of blockages. Some studies show that up to 10% of male cats will have a urinary tract blockage at some point in their lives. 

Can blockages lead to kidney failure? 

Here's what happens when your cat’s urethra is blocked

If your cat can’t urinate, you might be wondering what this means for your cat. A blockage in the urethra prevents your cat from emptying its bladder. Toxins rapidly build up in the bloodstream triggering a host of health threats. 

If your cat hasn’t peed in 12 hours or worse, if your cat hasn’t peed in 24 hours, this is an emergency that needs vet attention quickly.

Here’s how problems progress in merely 12-24 hours:

1. The blockage causes urine to be trapped in the bladder.

2. The kidneys continue to produce urine, rapidly stretching the bladder. The pressure and stretching cause tissue inflammation and intense pain for your pet.

3. The trapped urine builds until it can no longer exit the kidneys. This results in renal failure, where the kidneys are no longer able to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. 

4. Metabolic waste like creatinine, urea, and nitrogen build in the bloodstream, causing uremia where high levels of toxins, normally filtered by the kidneys, are present. 

5. Dangerous levels of potassium build in the blood (hyperkalemia).  High potassium levels directly affect the heart, disrupting its electrical conduction system which can result in life-threatening arrhythmias, slow heart rate (bradycardia), and cardiac arrest. 

6. As the bladder continues to be put under pressure, it can tear and rupture, leaking urine into the abdominal cavity. 

7. High potassium and kidney failure can singularly or collectively result in a fatality.

Prognosis of a cat with a urinary blockage

If treated appropriately and in a timely fashion in a hospital setting and barring complications, the prognosis is excellent, with a 91%-94% survival rate.

You should note that recurrence is fairly common, with 15%-40% of cats re-blocking, and often doing so within the first week of treatment. Your vet will go over treatment options and home care in detail with you. 

What causes urinary blockages in cats?

Types of blockages: urethral plugs and FLUTD

• The leading cause of urinary blockages in cats is urethral plugs. These soft masses are a mixture of inflammatory cells, blood clots, mucus, proteins, and crystals. 

• Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) encompasses many diseases, including  Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), which can cause severe inflammation of the bladder, can trigger blockages during flare-ups, where stress and inflammation can cause the urethra to spasm or fill with mucus and block urine flow. FIC is the most common cause of FLUTD.

  
  

Risk factors for blockages

• As previously noted, male cats are more susceptible to urinary blockages due to their anatomy and narrow urethra. 

• Female cats can get FIC as well as male cats,(which includes mucus plugs and crystals) but because the paths of their urethras are shorter and straighter, they don’t usually cause obstructions. In female cats, blockages are most often due to urinary stones. 

• Diet and dehydration are key factors in urinary blockages. Cats fed only dry food may be under-hydrated, causing their urine to become highly concentrated and more prone to crystal formation.

• Indoor cats that are inactive and/or overweight also face a higher risk of developing urinary tract blockages. 

• Stress greatly affects your cat’s overall health. Changes to your kitty’s home environment (moving to a new home, adding another cat, pet or child to the home) can trigger stress-induced FIC.

• In multi-cat households, it can be easy to overlook who is actually using the box. Learning your cat’s litterbox routine and being observant about your cat's use of it can help you with early detection.

• Neutering your cat does NOT increase risk of developing urethral blockages. In fact, studies have shown that urinary tract obstructions occur at an average age of 3.6 years in intact males as opposed to 5.5-5.7 years of age in neutered males. 

• The average age of urinary tract obstructions in all cats is between 3-7 years of age.

• Neither pregnancy nor spaying in female cats increases their risk of urinary tract obstructions.

• Older cats are more at risk for developing stones as blockages, rather than urethral plugs.

Hiding is just one sign that your cat may have a urinary tract blockage. Learn the signs so you can spot this life-threatening problem and seek vet care immediately.

If your cat is not peeing, learn the signs of urinary tract blockage in cats

Early medical intervention is the most important action to take to help your cat survive a urinary tract blockage. Bring your cat to your nearest VEG ER for Pets at once if you even suspect your cat may have a blockage.

Cats are masters at hiding their pain and illnesses, and may seem “perfectly fine” during the early onset of a urethral blockage, where you may notice they are going to the litterbox often but peeing very little.

Do not adopt a “wait and see,” approach if your cat isn’t urinating. Even a few hours’ delay can permanently damage vital organs in your cat such as their kidneys. If your cat shows ANY of the signs below, consider it an emergency and get your cat to the ER immediately.

Signs and symptoms of cat's urinary tract blockage

• Frequent trips to the litterbox

• Little or no urine output

• Urine that is tinted pink or red, or looks cloudy

• Vocalization at the litterbox - crying, howling, or meowing while trying to urinate

• Straining to urinate - this can look like rigid crouching or a hunched posture for a prolonged period, and is often misinterpreted for constipation

• Over-grooming genitals (an attempt to ease pain if occurring with other signs)

• Urinating outside of the litterbox

• Lack of appetite - won’t eat or drink water

• Vomiting, drooling

• Lethargy

• Hiding

• Hard, painful belly

FAQs: cat's urinary tract blockage

If you've read this far, no doubt you are concerned about your cat's situation. Here, we'll answer the most common questions about urinary blockages in cats to help you recognize if your cat is experiencing an emergency. As always, all VEG cat hospitals are open 24/7 to answer any medical questions you may have.

Frequently asked questions about blockages in cats

Why is my cat squatting but not peeing?

Familiarizing yourself with your cat’s urinary and bowel habits is a good way to keep on top of things if something changes. 

• An adult cat typically pees between 2-4 times a day, whereas a kitten with its smaller bladder urinates 4-6 times. The urine clumps in the litter should range in size from a  golf ball to a tennis ball.

• A cat should not go more than 12 hours without peeing, but there are circumstances where your cat may not urinate for long periods of time like during travel or a move.

• If you see your cat:

  •  visiting the litterbox frequently

  • hunching or straining

  • vocalizing/crying when attempting to go

It can be easy to mistake these behaviors for possible constipation, but if you check the litter for urine output and find little to none, you can assume a possible urethral blockage and should take your cat to the ER immediately. 

How can I tell if my cat has a UTI or a urinary blockage?

The most distinguishing characteristic between a UTI and a blockage is urine output. If your cat has a UTI, it may make frequent trips to the litterbox (just as if it had a blockage) but there would be urine output. It could be very small which would make it that more difficult to determine if it’s a UTI or blockage, since some cats with blockages may produce minimal amounts of urine when the blockage first occurs. 

A UTI should still be treated as an emergency, since inflammation from bacterial infections can trigger spasms, mucus plugs and stone/crystal development, all of which further result in blockages. 

Please don’t wait or try to diagnose at home - the sooner your cat receives treatment for either case, the better. 

Can I treat my cat’s urinary blockage at home?

No. The blockage must be removed by a veterinarian. Blockages don’t dissolve or go away on their own.

At VEG ER for Pets, your cat will receive urgent, compassionate care, and you can stay by your pet's side the entire time.

Treatment for cat’s urinary blockage

• Treatment usually involves a hospital stay for your cat for 1-3 days. 

• Our vet will sedate your cat to place a urinary catheter to relieve the obstruction and flush out the bladder.

• While in the hospital, your cat will receive IV fluids to ensure electrolyte levels are correct and that his kidneys are functioning properly.

• Your vet will provide you with medications for your cat that may include pain relievers. 

• Your vet will most likely prescribe a special urinary diet for your cat. These foods help regulate pH in urine and help to dissolve crystal structures (calcium or struvite) before they become obstructions. 

• Your cat will be highly susceptible for re-blocking in the first 2 weeks post treatment. Be vigilant about follow up care instructions from your VEG vet or primary care vet. 

• If your cat has repeated episodes of obstructions, your regular vet may refer you to a specialist to perform a Perineal Urethstrostomy (PU), a surgical procedure that permanently widens the urethra, lessening the risk of future blockages. 

At-home care for cat's urinary blockage

Immediately after cat's hospital release 

Because your cat will be particularly vulnerable to a recurring blockage for the first few weeks after hospitalization, strict monitoring and lifestyle adjustments are essential.

Make sure you:

• Administer all the meds your vet prescribed. Don’t stop giving them because your cat “seems better.” If your cat is having issues with any meds or if you’re having trouble administering them, talk to your vet for solutions. Don’t simply stop the meds.

• Use a notebook or your phone to track your cat’s litterbox habits. Note frequency, time of day/evening, general amount and how easily your cat urinates. It’s not unusual to see a little blood in the urine for the first day or so, but it’s critical that your cat is passing urine without issues. 

Ongoing cat care for blockage

Because cats have a relatively low natural thirst drive, maximizing hydration is an important factor in avoiding recurrences of urinary tract blockages. Here are some things to try:

• Ask your vet about wet urinary-supportive cat foods instead of dry kibble.

• Make sure you have multiple water bowls around the house, and note their placement. Some cats won’t eat or drink from bowls placed near litterboxes.

• Thoroughly wash the bowls daily and refresh water several times a day. 

• Try a cat fountain. Many cats prefer moving water as opposed to stagnant water, and fountains can often trigger their thirst instinct. It also allows sensitive cats to drink without getting their whiskers too wet as they might from a bowl. Keep water fountains apart from food bowls. Instinctively, cats tend to avoid water near food sources in the wild to avoid contamination from carcasses.  

• Create an optimal litterbox environment. If you have a multi-cat household make sure you have a litterbox for each cat plus one extra. Keep the litterboxes scrupulously clean (scoop daily/wash with soap and water weekly), and use unscented, low-dust litter. 

• Ideally, place the litterbox somewhere you can observe your cat’s litterbox use and behavior. If the litterbox location is out of the way, consider placing a monitor or camera to help you observe your cat. 

• Keep an eye out for warning signs of an impending blockage recurrence. Seek vet care immediately if you have even an inkling of concern. 

• Create and maintain a calm, stress-free environment for your cat to minimize the chance of FIC, which can be triggered by stress. 

• Make sure you have an established routine for your cat, and stick to it. Continuity will make your cat feel secure, easing anxiety and stress. 

• Ensure your cat can access quiet hiding spots, and vertical spaces (cat trees, or blankets/pads by window sills). 

• Consider using calming pheromone diffusers where your cat spends a lot of time. 

• Avoid using harsh smelling cleaning products or air fresheners in areas where your cat spends a lot of time. 

• Spend time with your cat doing things he enjoys - playing, partaking in enrichment activities, petting, and cuddling. Strengthening your bond with your pet is enjoyable and stress-reducing for your cat - and you!

VEG ER for Pets is open 24/7 to help with urinary blockages and other cat emergencies

Urinary tract blockages are serious medical crises that require the kind of skilled emergency care you’ll find at VEG ER for Pets. We’re here for you 24/7, including weekends and holidays, to provide your cat with the life-saving care and comfort he needs. No appointment is ever needed but you can also call any time with questions.