My cat is straining to urinate frequently. Should I go to the vet?

This may sound odd, but luckily she is a female. Male cats can develop an obstruction of the urethra relatively easily, as the urethra is very narrow and can get plugged with inflammatory cells, debris, stones, and the swelling of the urethra itself can become obstructive. A urethral obstruction is an emergency, because life threatening electrolyte abnormalities can start to occur that can result in cardiac arrest, also the bladder can actually rupture. Having said all of that, this problem is rare in female cats. Its possible that a stone could get lodged in the urethra, but their urethras are shorter and wider than that of male cats so we just don't see it much at all in females. She very well may have a significant amount of inflammation in her urinary tract that is making her feel like she constantly has to go even when shes not producing anything. My best recommendation would be for you to try to palpate her bladder at home. When you put your hands around the back part

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Echo. He needs to see an emergency veterinarian this evening. While he could have cystitis or inflammation in the bladder, he could also be experiencing a urinary tract obstruction. A blockage would inhibit urine from passing and this can be life threatening. The veterinarian will perform an examination and feel his bladder. X-rays of his abdomen may be necessary as well. From there a treatment plan can be determined based on whether he is experiencing an obstruction or not. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like he has a urethral blockage so he needs to be examined by a veterinarian right away as this is an emergency and can be life threatening if not treated immediately. You could call your local humane society and see if they can help or try to find a vet that would take a payment plan. Some vets accept Care Credit so you could apply for that. This is a very serious problem and your cat needs to see a vet immediately! I hope you can find a way to get him treated!

As it is a male cat, there is a high chance that he is already partially blocked, and it is an emergency situation potentially. in most cases with cats, these urinary symptoms are not an infection but an inflammation of the bladder, which is treated slightly differently. at this point i wouldn't take the chance, i would advise taking him back to the vet right away.

Hello. In your post, you indicated that your cannot cannot pee. This is a life threatening emergency and he should be taken to the closest hospital or emergency clinic. If he has an obstruction, this needs to be taken care of immediately. In addition to it being very painful, it causes kidney failure and he can die if this is not corrected immediately. His urine should be looked at microscopically to determine if he has an infection or crystals or possibly a small stone. He will require a catheterization while sedated to relieve the blockage. He will probably need fluids and may require hospitalization. While the antibiotics you have listed are all potentially good for a uti, we are legally not permitted to prescribe or recommend a dose without an examination. This will require your veterinarian to get involved. Please rush him to a veterinarian if he cannot urinate. Best of luck and thank you for using Boop by Petco.

This is absolutely an emergency. It sounds like he has a urinary obstruction and not just a UTI. Please take him to a vet immediately! Do not give him any medications at home. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=6465677 )

This is an emergency and you need to take Duke to a veterinarian or PetER right now or he will get so ill that he might die. This is not a urinary tract infection primarily but very likely an obstructed urethra caused by crystals or bladder stones. Please take him to a Pet ER now, do not wait. Penicillin will not clear this up.

If Scout is straining to urinate and not producing any urine she needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. A stone could be blocking her bladder and causing an obstruction which can prove deadly. While some stones are caused by infections and they resolve with antibiotics and a diet change once they have any signs of a bladder obstruction surgery is necessary as soon as possible.

If he is blocked, he cannot wait until tomorrow. A urinary blockage is a veterinary emergency and requires immediate treatment. Left untreated, toxins will build up in his blood threatening his life. Do whatever you can to have Precious examined and unblocked tonight. Go to the nearest veterinary ER. There is nothing you can do at home to help him.

Hello! I would recommend keeping his litter completely clean so you can monitor his urine output. A blocked cat will continue to return to the litter box, strain unproductively or only pass small amounts of urine that may be bloody, and often be vocalizing. If you notice any of these signs, he needs to be taken to a vet immediately to be assessed for possible blockage. Feeding wet food, fountains, and dripping sinks and good ways to encourage cats to drink more water. Urinary tract infections in cats are fairly uncommon. Usually the urinary disease is a result of a production of crystals or stones or a sterile inflammatory bladder disease. Keeping Jack on a urinary diet forever may be necessary for him to maintain good urinary health. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Boop by Petco!