How to identify the cause and help a cat if he cannot pee on his own

A healthy cat with satisfactory maintenance and nutrition pees 3 to 5 times a day. Deviations from this norm may indicate an imbalance in water balance, which is easy to correct. To do this, you need to provide the animal with unhindered access to water at any time of the day.

However, there are accompanying signs that indicate the development of pathologies of the genitourinary system. They lead to difficulty urinating. Every owner should know about these symptoms in order to pay attention in time and provide competent assistance to the pet.

Norms of urination in cats and cats

The number of urinations per day in adult cats and female cats may vary slightly. This is due to the difference in the structure of the genitourinary organs of males and females. Due to the longer and narrower urethra, cats need to pee 3 to 5 times a day.

While cats need 2-3 times a day. This multiplicity does not depend on previous sterilization or castration, so any deviations from the norm should be perceived by the owner as an alarming signal.

Idiopathic cystitis

If, based on the results of a complete examination, the cause of the development of cystitis is not established, the doctor may make a diagnosis of “idiopathic cystitis,” i.e. “having no apparent identifiable cause.” However, this disease is an independent entity in cats and is quite widespread in the population.

Stress can provoke the development of idiopathic cystitis in cats. It is believed that the predisposition to idiopathic cystitis is congenital, and is associated both with defects in the mucous membrane of the bladder and with increased production of “stress hormones” - catecholamines and cortisol.

Why can't my cat pee?

The reasons why the cat was unable to go to the litter box may be external factors. Usually, after eliminating them at home, the process of urination returns to normal without medical intervention.

These factors include:

• insufficient water consumption;
• prolonged stay in a hot room or outdoors in the summer;
• a sudden change in diet (transferring cats to dry ready-made food);
• moving to a different climate zone;
• stress;
• surgeries on the genitourinary system.

Sometimes a cat cannot pee for a long time after abdominal surgery on the abdominal organs or intestines. This is due to the fact that during the administration of general anesthesia, the animal involuntarily empties the bladder, and the slowdown of all vital processes in the body during anesthesia prevents it from filling quickly.

Important! If two days after castration the cat still cannot pee or the cat does not go to the toilet in a small way, then you should contact a veterinarian.

But there are also pathological reasons that a cat cannot go to the toilet in a small way, in which a person must help the pet.

Urolithiasis disease. This disease often develops in cats that do not receive adequate physical activity, and the basis of their diet is dry food.

When a cat doesn't drink enough and doesn't urinate enough, crystals begin to form in the kidneys, which gradually form into stones. At the first stage of the disease, the animal begins to frequently go to the toilet in small portions, since sand and larger stones constantly irritate the mucous membrane of the bladder and urethra. But at the moment when stones get into the ducts and block them completely, cats cannot go to the toilet in a small way. Urine accumulates in the bladder and, if left untreated, leads to rupture of its walls.

Important! Problems with urination and digestion in cats arise when the owner makes a serious mistake and begins to feed his pet both natural and ready-made food. The imbalance of such a diet also often leads to allergic reactions, hair loss, eczema and other skin diseases.

Cystitis. Inflammatory processes in the bladder in cats and cats in the first phase of development provoke frequent urination and pets can go to the toilet a little every hour. But if left untreated, the disease enters the second phase, in which swelling of the urinary canal prevents the outflow of fluid and the cat cannot pee.

You should not treat cystitis in cats on your own, since the pathology that is not completely cured will constantly manifest itself in relapses. You should also find out the reasons for the development of the disease and its type.

The fact is that the struvite-induced form of cystitis is a harbinger of urolithiasis. Inappropriate treatment in this case will provide temporary relief, but will subsequently lead to the cat being unable to pee due to kidney stones.

Note! Experts identify an idiopathic form of cystitis, which presumably occurs against the background of severe stress. Therefore, if after a stressful situation the cat does not go to the toilet, you should urgently contact a veterinary clinic.

Anomalies of the development of the genitourinary apparatus in cats. Sometimes this pathology manifests itself in the first months of an animal’s life, when the kitten does not go to the toilet very often or the process causes difficulties for him. But there are cases where manifestations of congenital anomalies are observed in pets in adulthood.

At first, the cat begins to rarely go to the toilet in small ways without pain. But hypothermia or bacterial infections can trigger inflammatory swelling, which leads to a lack of urination for 2 or more days.

The reason that cats urinate little may be prostatitis. In the acute form of the disease, there is no full urination, but droplets of bloody discharge appear from the urethra, the animal’s posture indicates severe pain in the abdominal area.

In the chronic form, the cat does not go to the toilet very well, but does not show signs of anxiety.

Important! The risk of developing urolithiasis and other pathologies of the genitourinary system in cats increases after sterilization. Therefore, if a neutered cat cannot pee in the toilet, you should immediately visit a veterinary clinic for catheterization.

How to help a cat who hasn't walked for a long time

If the cat has not gone to the litter box for a long time, then you do not need to massage his stomach yourself, give him diuretics or drugs that help break down stones. In some cases, these measures are contraindicated and can only provoke rupture of the urethra or bladder, leading to death. The necessary measures must be determined by a veterinarian.

First of all, it is necessary to remove accumulated urine from the body. If the cause is a spasm of the urethra, then the animal is given an injection of an antispasmodic. In case of urolithiasis, catheterization is performed: a thin tube is carefully inserted into the urethra, then a warm sodium chloride solution is poured in, which gradually removes the stone that has blocked the mouth. This ensures the outflow of stagnant urine. If the stone is too large or the cause of the blockage is compression of the urethra by enlarged inflamed tissues or a tumor, then it will not be possible to install a catheter, an operation is performed:

• urethrostomy - the surgeon creates a new opening in the urethra and installs an indwelling urethral Foley catheter;
• epicystostomy - a hole is made in the bladder, a drainage is inserted into it, through which urine will flow out.

If the urethra is severely damaged (severe blockage, narrowing of the canal, large-scale tumor, etc.), amputation of the cat’s penis is recommended. This radical measure is carried out when other methods cannot ensure the rapid and unimpeded passage of urine, sand, and stones.

Clinical example No. 1: a 9-year-old Persian cat was admitted. 3 weeks ago, the owners of the animal began to notice an increase in the duration of urination. The last 2 days - urination stopped completely, there was a general depressed state and refusal of food and water. Catheterization failed due to a palpable obstruction in the urethra. Ultrasound revealed adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland compressing the urinary duct. The animal underwent retrograde cystography under fluoroscopic control. Within 24 hours, the patient’s condition stabilized, but after 24 hours hematuria (excretion of urine with blood) appeared. Catheterization was performed with saline solution. After stabilizing the animal's condition, urethral stenting and removal of the tumor were prescribed.

Depending on the diagnosis, medications are added to the emergency program. For example, for tissue hyperplasia, alpha-blockers and cholinomimetics (Ubretide, Aceclidine, etc.) are given. If urinary retention is caused by urosepsis, acute pyelitis, pyelonephritis, then an operation is performed to remove dead tissue, pump out pus, restore blood flow, normalize pressure, etc.

If the cause of urinary retention is in tumors, then after excretion of urine using urethrostomy or epicystostomy, the surgeon excises the tumor compressing the urinary tract

Clinical example No. 2: Musick is a mongrel, 7 years old, neutered, weight 6 kg. The owners said that the animal had not urinated for 24 hours, was lethargic and refused food. The owners also noted that for 5–6 days the cat behaved restlessly, licked itself frequently, and there were drops of blood in the urine. An x-ray showed a full bladder. An ultrasound revealed multiple stones, which made it possible to make a diagnosis of urolithiasis. Emergency catheterization under general anesthesia, lavage of the bladder with a sterile isotonic sodium chloride solution, and a drip with the antibiotic Cefazolin were prescribed. The cat was discharged from the clinic on the 3rd day. It was recommended to transfer the cat to dietary medicinal food aimed at dissolving struvite stones (duration of dietary therapy is 6 months).

After removing the cat from the emergency condition, measures are taken to eliminate the cause of the pathology. Therapy may include taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, etc. For urolithiasis, medications are given that break down and remove stones. In each case, medications are selected individually, taking into account the composition of the stones, gender, and age of the animal. A diet is required, as improper nutrition can again cause acute urinary retention. For example, special foods have been developed for cats with urolithiasis that help reduce the risk of new exacerbations (Hill's Prescription Diet, Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Feline UR Urinary, etc.).

Video: example of treating a cat with urinary retention

The main signs of the disease

The main sign that a cat cannot pee is when the animal walks around the tray and meows pitifully. Some owners notice that their pets sometimes behave in this way during heat. But you should distinguish between these reasons in order to promptly help a cat who cannot go to the toilet in a small way at home.

A sick pet exhibits the following clinical signs:

• depressed state;
• unnatural posture with an arched back, a bent neck and knees pushed forward;
• enlargement of the abdomen due to a full bladder;
• decreased or lack of appetite;
• increased body temperature;
• plaintive meowing or screaming during sudden attacks of pain.

If the cat begins to pee a little, then you should pay attention to the quality of the urine. It may change from a light yellow color to an orange or brown tint due to the presence of blood cells. Also, the urine will emit an unpleasant purulent odor, and its structure will become grainy due to crystalline inclusions or sand.

Note! Sometimes a sign that your cat can't pee is stretching out its back legs and licking the genital area for a long time. Also, if it is painful for a cat to go to the toilet in a small way, he lies down near the tray and meows pitifully, demonstrating his problem to the owner.

Symptoms of cystitis in cats

Cystitis in cats leads to difficult, painful urination (pollakiuria, stranguria). This condition can be accompanied by various symptoms:

• a sick cat often and for a long time visits the tray, leaving only small puddles or even drops of urine in it;
• restless behavior;
• obsessive states - for example, the cat often licks under the tail, does not allow touching the stomach;
• lethargy;
• decreased appetite;
• in acute cases, blood may appear in the urine.

Sometimes cystitis is perceived as incontinence - the owner sees that wherever the cat sat or lay, small puddles of urine remain. Urination may be accompanied by vocalization - meowing, and other sounds that the cat makes due to painful sensations.

Cats suffering from cystitis may decide that the pain when urinating is associated with the litter box - and then the owner’s bed, slippers, and upholstered furniture suffer. Therefore, any violation of the toilet behavior of a cat, especially an adult one that has not previously failed with the litter box, is a reason to consult a doctor. Owners often think that a cat that urinates in the wrong place is “revenge” for something, or is simply poorly educated - in fact, in most cases the problem is not related to behavior, but to cystitis. Therefore, before punishing a cat that went to the toilet in the wrong place, show it to the veterinarian.

What to do at home if your cat can't pee

The first thing to do if your cat cannot go to the toilet is to take him to the clinic. The doctor will be able to quickly assess the danger of the situation and take radical measures to alleviate the animal’s condition.

First aid

But sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that it is not possible to quickly bring your pet to the hospital. In this case, you should know what to do and how to provide first aid at home to a cat who cannot pee.

To relieve spasm and relax the smooth muscles of the ureters and bladder, male cats should be given an intramuscular injection of No-shpa or Papaverine.

Important! If a cat rarely goes to the toilet or has completely absent urination for more than a day, then giving diuretics is strictly prohibited.

If the cat cannot pee, then as therapy at home you can treat it with Cat Erwin, and also inject it with an antibacterial drug (Tsiprolet, Baytril).

This will help relieve spasm and reduce inflammation for a short period of time. This period should be used to take the cat to the clinic or call a veterinarian at home.

Important! You shouldn’t try to do something on your own if the cat hasn’t been able to pee for 2 days or is screaming in pain or won’t let you touch her belly. In this case, only immediate catheterization can save her from death.

Veterinarian actions

After examining the cat and making a preliminary diagnosis, the veterinarian carries out treatment. It can be roughly divided into 4 stages:

1. Preventing stretching and rupture of the bladder in a cat or cat that has not gone to the toilet for more than two days. To do this, a soft catheter with an attached closed system for collecting urine is inserted into the animal. For sterilized cats that periodically cannot pee after castration, a temporary catheter is placed. This is necessary to reduce the risk of developing ascending bacterial infections.
2. Stimulation of the bladder muscles. The most effective drug for this is Bethanechol. However, multiple side effects and the need for urgent administration of an antidote in case of intolerance make it possible to use it only in a hospital setting, under the strict supervision of a physician. Cisapride and Propanolol are considered safer drugs for cats. But their independent administration is also prohibited.
3. Decreased tone of the urethra and bladder neck. If the obstruction is not associated with anatomical developmental abnormalities, then a cat who has stopped peeing and does not recover for a long time after catheterization is prescribed muscle relaxants (Acepromazine, Diazepam) and alpha-adrenergic antagonists (Phenoxybenzamine, Prazosin).
4. Prevention of the development or relief of infectious processes in the lower urinary tract. They often cause systemic inflammation, which can be fatal. Therefore, a veterinarian must prescribe antibacterial drugs to a cat that has not gone to the toilet for the second day or more than 2 days.

Note! The optimal way to select antibiotics is to conduct a preliminary bacteriological study of urine to determine the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to certain drugs. In this case, you can achieve effective results and spend less time treating a cat that cannot pee.

Treatment options

At home, it is impossible to diagnose and carry out full effective treatment for a cat that cannot pee in the litter box on its own. This is due to the fact that in addition to conservative methods of therapy, surgical intervention is often used to eliminate this syndrome.

The most common indications for surgery in cats are malignant and benign tissue growths, as well as urolithiasis. A somewhat less common reason for performing surgery on a cat that rarely goes to the toilet is anatomical anomalies in the structure of the organs of the genitourinary system.

Diagnosis of cystitis in cats

To make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, a number of examinations and tests are required; usually, a diagnosis of cystitis can be made based on anamnesis, clinical signs, ultrasound of the bladder and clinical urine analysis.

It may also be necessary to:

• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity in a cat,
• clinical urine test,
• general clinical blood test,
• biochemical urine analysis.

In some cases, a bacteriological examination of urine (tank culture) is carried out - for this, a urine sample is taken into a sterile tube with a catheter or by puncturing the abdominal wall (cystocentesis). Other methods of collecting urine are not suitable, since many bacteria live on the surface of the skin and genitourinary organs, and the result will be unreliable. This analysis reveals the sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria to various antibiotics. This will allow you to accurately select an antibiotic for treatment, which is most important for chronic, difficult-to-treat cystitis in cats.

Sometimes a biopsy of the bladder wall is used to establish a definitive diagnosis.

Special diet

After establishing the reason why the cat cannot pee and carrying out treatment, you should make the right choice of ready-made cat food or change the diet from natural products.

Among industrial cat foods, preference should be given to holistic ones. But the high cost and difficulties in purchasing sometimes become an obstacle for owners. Therefore, they can be replaced with super premium food.

Important! Sometimes owners have a hard time getting their pets to switch to holistic. This is due to the lack of flavor enhancers and flavoring agents that are added to lower class feeds.

In case of urolithiasis, the diet of cats that eat natural food should be adjusted depending on the type of stones. To do this, you need to consult a veterinary nutritionist or attending physician, who will base his recommendations on laboratory data.

For any type of stone, cats can be given pureed baked apples and pears.

How to treat cystitis in cats

Treatment of cystitis includes the use of painkillers (it is important to remove pain as a source of stress), antispasmodics, antimicrobials, diuretics (often herbal), and, if necessary, hemostatic drugs.

Self-treatment at home without the supervision of a doctor is strictly not recommended - the symptoms of cystitis are very similar to the symptoms of urolithiasis and a number of other, rarer pathologies, and treatment for these pathologies varies significantly. Sometimes owners begin to give their cats antibiotics on their own, based on human standards, information from the Internet, or the treatment of other animals - as a result, instead of bacteria, which with proper treatment could be eliminated once and for all, a microflora is obtained that is very resistant to cheap and accessible antibiotics, and permanent relapses, and treatment becomes much more expensive and lengthy. It can also be dangerous to use antispasmodics on your own - for example, no-spa, the most popular antispasmodic, which is often recommended on forums, can lead to fatal poisoning if overdosed in cats. With timely consultation with a doctor and proper diagnosis, treatment will take much less time and money, and your pet will avoid many complications.

If the cause of cystitis is large stones in the bladder (urolithiasis) or a neoplasm of the bladder wall (tumor or benign polyp), surgical treatment is indicated.

In each individual case, treatment will be prescribed by a doctor based on the cause of cystitis and the severity of the disease. The doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes a treatment regimen; the rest of the treatment can take place at home, mainly by giving oral tablets and injections.

Video diagnosing cystitis in a cat:

General information

Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat has problems urinating.

Blockage of urination occurs when there is an obstruction of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the tray. When a urethral blockage occurs, it is difficult or impossible for a cat to empty its bladder, making the condition life-threatening. If your pet is having urinary problems (see list below), don't delay visiting your veterinarian.

Home care for cystitis in cats

In addition to drug therapy, it is necessary to choose a suitable diet for a sick cat, aimed at reducing urine concentration. For the same purpose, it is important to increase your cat's fluid intake. You can place bowls of clean water in several places, offer your cat a drinking fountain, try adding water to the food, or, as a last resort, force your pet to drink more. Sometimes a switch from dry food may be indicated (since cats may have an impaired sense of thirst, they may not drink enough water) to a wet or homemade diet (for cystitis, a veterinary nutritionist should prepare a homemade diet) so that the cat receives additional moisture from food.

Rest is very important for a sick cat. Stress both independently provokes the disease and aggravates cystitis caused by other reasons. Food, water and litter box should be in places where the cat will not be disturbed. You cannot scold or punish a sick cat if, in search of a “safe place,” it once again misses the tray. If there are several animals in the house, evaluate their relationships: it may be necessary to separate them from each other.

Cystitis in cats is an insidious disease that requires long-term treatment and is prone to relapse. Unfortunately, if a cat has had cystitis once, it may happen again after some time. Timely identification of the problem and proper treatment will prevent cystitis from becoming chronic.

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What to Expect at a Veterinary Visit

By gently palpating your cat's abdomen, your veterinarian may be able to identify an enlarged, hard, and often painful bladder from which urine cannot be emptied manually. Once a urine blockage is identified, emergency assistance and stabilization of the animal's condition is required. Blood and urine tests are usually recommended to help identify any underlying causes as well as complications associated with urethral blockage. Radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound may be recommended to identify stones in the urinary tract or other underlying problems.

The most important thing is that the blockage of the urethra must be removed in a sick cat, usually under strong sedation or general anesthesia (anesthesia). A urinary catheter or thin tube is inserted into the urethra to help clear the obstruction and restore the flow of urine.

. The urinary catheter may be left in place for one to several days, depending on the severity of the obstruction and associated complications. During this time, many supportive treatments may be given, including intravenous fluids, pain relievers, antispasmodics, and antibiotics or other medications to help relax the urethra to encourage the flow of urine.