I saved my cat’s life by spotting 1 unusual sign every owner should be aware of (Image: Sophie Harris)
Last year, my cat Chester nearly died, and until it happened, I had no idea how quickly something seemingly so small could turn into a life-threatening emergency. Chester was three years old, healthy, playful and full of life. There were no warning signs that anything serious was wrong until one day, I noticed something off.
What followed was a lengthy vet visit and recovery due to a condition I’d never heard of before, male cat urethral obstruction. It can have potentially devastating consequences, and many cat owners don’t know it exists until their own cat is in danger. Chester survived, but only because I helped him in time. Now, I’m spreading awareness of the feline issue to help other cat owners.
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Chester spent two days in the vets (Image: Sophie Harris)
A male cat urethral obstruction is a medical emergency in which the urethra becomes blocked, preventing the cat from urinating.
If a cat cannot urinate, the bladder becomes painfully overfilled, and a complete obstruction can become fatal in 24 to 72 hours.
It’s much more common in male cats because their urethra is long and narrow. It occurs when material blocks the urethra, such as urinary crystals or stones.
Signs your cat may be facing difficulty include straining to urinate with little or no urine produced, crying or yowling in pain, restlessness or hiding, as well as vomiting or loss of appetite.
Now, for Chester, it was hard to spot these signs as he shared a litter tray with his sister. Not only that, he still had an appetite and wasn’t crying or yowling.
The one sign that sent alarm bells off in my brain was that he was trying to go to the toilet outside the litter tray, including in boxes and on toys, and no urine was being produced.
Although I didn’t realise how life-threatening this issue could be and I put it down to stress, I rushed him straight to the vets. I’ve always been told that I’m an anxious cat mother and that he often doesn’t need to be rushed to the professionals straight away, but my instinct was right on this occasion.
Chester is now on a special urinary diet (Image: Sophie Harris)
I was told he had a very full bladder, that it was likely a urinary obstruction, and he could have been just minutes away from collapsing and potentially dying. Within two minutes of arriving at the vets, Chester was whisked away and put on fluids, with me anxiously waiting for the outcome.
He spent two days in the hospital, on fluids and having a procedure to unblock his urethra. The incredible vets managed to save Chester’s life, but it wasn’t a quick recovery, nor did it come without any fear that it could happen again.
It cost me just shy of £1,500 altogether, but I would have spent any amount to save him.
It’s also why I recommend any new pet owners to take out pet insurance, because you truly do not know what is around the corner.
Chester has been on a very expensive veterinary urinary health diet ever since, as recommended by his vet, and we fortunately haven’t had any issues since.
It was also recommended to provide multiple fresh water sources, so we installed a feline fountain, which is more enticing for him.
Stress also plays a big role in feline urinary disease, so we keep his routine consistent, provide enrichment and safe hiding spots, and use pheromone diffusers throughout the home.
Some cats aren’t as lucky as Chester, and while most cats won’t ever have a blockage in their lifetime, it’s not rare, so it’s important to be on the lookout for any signs.
