Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is actually comprised of a number of different diseases that all cause very similar symptoms in an affected cat. FLUTD used to be referred to as feline urologic syndrome- or FUS- also.
Symptoms of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Cats suffering from feline lower urinary tract disease may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Straining while urinating
- Frequent attempts to urinate
- Producing very small amounts of urine quite frequently, sometimes as often as every few minutes
- Pain or even crying when urinating
- Urinating outside of the litter box
- Bloody urine
Causes of feline lower urinary tract disease include urinary tract infections, crystals or stones in the urinary bladder and lower urinary tract, physical abnormalities in the lower urinary tract (such as tumors) and even stress.
Diet is thought to play a large role in the development of FLUTD and encouraging water consumption can be helpful in preventing or treating feline lower urinary tract disease as well.
Blocked Cats and FLUTD
Cats that have an obstructed urethra are often referred to as blocked cats. The urethra is the part of the urinary tract that connects the bladder to the outside of the body. It is the structure through which urine leaves the body.
In male cats, the urethra is a tubular structure that runs from the bladder through the penis and near the end of the penis the urethra becomes very narrow. In female cats, the urethra is also tubular and runs from the bladder to the vagina where it exits the body.
Typically, only male cats experience a blocked urethra. Only rarely do female cats become blocked because their urethra does not become narrow at its ending as it does in the male cat.
Symptoms that Your Cat is Blocked
If your cat is blocked, he will not be able to pass urine. Blocked cats normally struggle to express their bladder by continually straining and pushing to urinate. They are very uncomfortable and may cry in pain or become irritable when handled.
Essentially, a blocked cat is unable to get rid of the wastes that are naturally produced by his body. As a result, these waste products begin to build up in the cat’s blood stream. As the toxins in the blood stream increase, your cat will become lethargic and will start to vomit. If the obstruction is not relieved, your cat will die.
Urethral obstructions can become dangerous very quickly and can be fatal for your cat within a very short period of time. If your cat is unable to urinate, you have a true emergency. You need to seek veterinary care for your cat immediately if you wish to save your cat.
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