The Urinary Tract - Guide to a Healthy Cat - page 205

A cat who cannot urinate should be examined immediately , because
if he is truly obstructed, he could die within hours from to toxins build-
ing up in the blood and pressure on the kidneys.

It's Going to Cost How Much ?
It is good to know ahead of time that effectively treating a urinary
blockage is expensive. Expenses will be even higher if you must visit an
emergency veterinary clinic, but you really have no choice. Factors that
affect the amount of treatment a cat will need are:

• Duration of the obstruction

• Whether there is kidney damage

• The degree of difficulty in unblocking the urethra

• The cause of the obstruction

• Whether the cat blocks up again

Each veterinarian will probably treat a blocked cat a little different-
ly, but the basic steps are:

1. Pass a urinary catheter into the bladder.
2. Drain out the retained urine.
3. Determine what other metabolic imbalances exist.
4. Treat for infection and shock (if necessary).
5. Maintain the cat's hydration.
6. Flush debris out of the bladder.
7. Evaluate the cat's ability to urinate once the catheter has been
removed.

A blocked cat may require one to five days of hospitalization and
nursing care. Home care will likely involve treatment with antibiotics
and possibly a diet change. Some cats need medication to relax their
bladders and urethras to ease elimination.

Three Strikes and You're Out
For some reason, some cats that will become re-obstructed. Medication
and diet are just not enough to keep things flowing smoothly. Again,