It has happened to all of us at one time or another. You've really got to go, but there's no bathroom available. You hold it and hold it for as long as you can, and you become increasingly uncomfortable. To make matters even worse, you begin to worry that you won't be able to hold it much longer, and that you will embarrass yourself by peeing in your pants in public!
Now, imagine that you finally find a bathroom and try to relieve yourself, and you can't. No matter how hard you try, or how much you squeeze, not a single drop of urine will pass. Your abdomen is now so full and painful that you feel like you're going to explode any minute. You're also beginning to feel sick to your stomach and you've got a pounding headache. Then the vomiting starts. I'm guessing that you are headed to the nearest emergency room ASAP!
This scenario is happening to cats every single day, and many of them are dying needlessly because their owners didn't realize that their cats were in need of immediate medical attention. Urinary blockage occurs most often in male cats because of their narrow urethras, but, on rare occasions, it can occur in female cats as well. Blocked cats are usually, but not always, very vocal because they are uncomfortable. They may keep going into and out of the litter box, or remain in the litter box for long periods of time with only a few tiny drops passed or no urine at all produced. Owners will often assume that their cats are constipated and will give them Laxatone (or a similar product) thinking that with a little time, the situation will correct itself. The problem is that these poor kitties don't have any time to spare. They may become increasingly lethargic and begin to vomit as their condition worsens. Their kidneys will become unable to remove toxic wastes from the bloodstream, and their urinary bladders may actually rupture. Unfortunately, many cat owners are not even aware that this sort of problem exits.
With this in mind, if you observe any of these behaviors in your pet, please seek immediate medical intervention. Perhaps your kitty may just be constipated, but better to err on the side of caution rather than risking a needless and painful death for your beloved pet.
Now, imagine that you finally find a bathroom and try to relieve yourself, and you can't. No matter how hard you try, or how much you squeeze, not a single drop of urine will pass. Your abdomen is now so full and painful that you feel like you're going to explode any minute. You're also beginning to feel sick to your stomach and you've got a pounding headache. Then the vomiting starts. I'm guessing that you are headed to the nearest emergency room ASAP!
This scenario is happening to cats every single day, and many of them are dying needlessly because their owners didn't realize that their cats were in need of immediate medical attention. Urinary blockage occurs most often in male cats because of their narrow urethras, but, on rare occasions, it can occur in female cats as well. Blocked cats are usually, but not always, very vocal because they are uncomfortable. They may keep going into and out of the litter box, or remain in the litter box for long periods of time with only a few tiny drops passed or no urine at all produced. Owners will often assume that their cats are constipated and will give them Laxatone (or a similar product) thinking that with a little time, the situation will correct itself. The problem is that these poor kitties don't have any time to spare. They may become increasingly lethargic and begin to vomit as their condition worsens. Their kidneys will become unable to remove toxic wastes from the bloodstream, and their urinary bladders may actually rupture. Unfortunately, many cat owners are not even aware that this sort of problem exits.
With this in mind, if you observe any of these behaviors in your pet, please seek immediate medical intervention. Perhaps your kitty may just be constipated, but better to err on the side of caution rather than risking a needless and painful death for your beloved pet.
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