Urethral obstruction in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: PDSA, International Cat Care (iCatCare)

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Urethral obstruction is a blocked bladder where urine cannot pass through the urethra.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

A blocked bladder is an emergency and can cause death if left untreated.[1] Urethral obstruction can be life-threatening and needs urgent veterinary treatment to allow urine to pass.[2]

Signs

  • Repeated attempts to urinate without passing anything
  • Frequent visits to the litter tray producing little or no urine
  • Straining to pee
  • Crying or discomfort when trying to urinate
  • Urinating outside the litter tray
  • Licking around the genital area or back end
  • Blood in the urine
  • Refusing food or eating less
  • Vomiting
  • A painful, tense tummy

Causes and risk factors

  • A plug in the urethra
  • Stones (uroliths)
  • Swelling and spasm of the urethra

How a vet finds out

  • Physical examination
  • Urine tests
  • X-rays
  • Ultrasound

How vets treat it

  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Pain relief
  • Fluids or a drip
  • Medication
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalisation

What the experts say

“Overview. Having a blocked bladder (being unable to pee) is an emergency and can cause death if left untreated. Contact your vet for an emergency appointment if your cat is struggling to pee.”

“Repeated attempts to urinate without passing anything ; Crying or discomfort when straining to urinate ; Urinating outside the litter tray ; Increased agitation ; Licking around the genital area ; Refusing food and seeming depressed ; Vomiting”

— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [2]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

Is urethral obstruction an emergency?

Yes. Urethral obstruction must be treated as an emergency and can be life-threatening.[2]

What signs can a cat with urethral obstruction show?

A cat may repeatedly try to urinate without passing anything, cry or show discomfort when straining, vomit, refuse food or seem depressed.[2]

How will a vet diagnose urethral obstruction?

A vet may use your cat’s clinical signs and a physical examination, including feeling for a very full and painful bladder. X-rays or an ultrasound scan, along with blood and urine tests, may also be required.[2]

Sources

  1. PDSA
  2. International Cat Care (iCatCare)

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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