Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease - Symptoms

Symptoms

Regardless of cause, there are a common set of symptoms, which includes frequent trips to the litter box (pollakiuria), prolonged squatting and straining during attempts to urinate (dysuria), small amounts of urine voided in each attempt, blood in the urine (hematuria) and urinating outside of the litter box. Owners with outdoor cats may not be able to observe the symptoms associated with litter box use and should watch for unusual behavioral changes.

A cat experiencing a urethral obstruction behaves similarly to any other cat with FLUTD. However, as time passes, the bladder fills up with urine and cause painful bladder distension. Kidney failure and uremia will follow within hours. The cat becomes increasingly distressed, and may howl or cry out in pain. The male cat may constantly lick at his penis and the penis may be protruded. The cat may seek seclusion, stop eating and drinking, begin to vomit, and become lethargic and eventually comatose as toxins accumulate in the bloodstream.

Urethral obstruction is a serious medical emergency which will lead to death if not treated in time. Any cat suspected of suffering from this condition should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.