Have you ever wondered if there’s any life threatening medical conditions that your cat can develop that could be prevented?  The answer is urinary blockages.  A urinary blockage is a serious condition that occurs when a cat’s urethra becomes blocked and they cannot pass urine.  This can lead to complications such as kidney failure, infection, and even death if left untreated.  This can happen in female and male cats, but it is much more common in males due to the narrower structure of their urethra.  Urinary blockages are often caused by a combination of crystals, stones, or mucus; but crystals are the most significant contributing factor.  Microscopic minerals naturally present in urine, such as magnesium, ammonium, calcium, etc.  If they build up and solidify they turn into crystals and stones.  These crystals can get lodged in the long, narrow, urethra of male cats, preventing urine from passing. 

Symptoms that your cat may be suffering from a urinary blockage include; 

• Straining or vocalizing during urination
• Urinating outside of the litter box
• Frequent attempts to urinate with little to no urine produced (going back and forth multiple times to the litter box)
• Blood in the urine
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Increased licking of genital area
• Lethargy or hiding
• Swelling of abdomen 

It is crucial to seek immediate veterinary care if you notice any of these symptoms in your cat. 

There are multiple ways to avoid a urinary blockage in your cats (specifically male).  The first is by feeding a moisture rich diet.  Moisture intake is one of the biggest factors in preventing urinary tract issues in male cats.  Cats naturally have a low thirst drive, and they are designed to get most of their hydration from their diet, not from a water bowl.  When their diet is too dry (mostly kibble), their urine becomes more concentrated, which increases the risk of urinary crystals and stones forming.  At least 70-80% of a cat’s diet should be moisture rich (wet, canned, rehydrated- freeze dried).  If you decide to feed kibble to your cat, it should ideally only take up 10-20% of total calories.  Making wet food the foundation of your cat’s diet will significantly help reduce their chances of getting a urinary blockage.  You can also add water to their wet food for even more hydration, or bone broth.  Adding a water fountain as an option instead of just a water bowl can encourage your cat to drink more, since they are naturally more drawn to moving water.  If a fountain is too costly, you could always flavor the water bowl with a little bit of tuna juice or bone broth to make it more enticing.

Stress also plays a big factor in feline lower urinary tract disease and can trigger blockages.  Make sure your cat has a stable routine; feed, interact, and play on a schedule.  Make sure you have plenty of vertical space such as cat trees and shelves in your home.  Daily play helps relieve stress and keeps weight down.  If your cat has anxiety, a plugin pheromone such as feliway could help.  The general rule for litter boxes is to have one per cat + an extra one, so if you have two cats you should technically have three litter boxes.  Keep the litter boxes clean, scoop them daily (this also helps you as the owner to keep an eye on what’s happening in there!)  Make sure you place the boxes in a quiet, low stress area.  Another factor that can contribute to urinary issues is obesity.  Regular exercise through play keeps their metabolism high and urinary health better regulated.  Make sure you are taking your cat to their annual physical exam with their veterinarian.

Get urgent care from your closest vet clinic if you notice any of the symptoms listed above.