Booze visited us late at night and ended up staying in our inpatient unit (without losing his appetite for cuddles!).
Reason for admission: FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome). Also known as lower urinary tract disease.
It’s a relatively common condition in male cats, characterized by an inability to urinate.
This is an emergency case! Immediate veterinary attention is required.
Symptoms: The cat often assumes a urination posture without producing urine, vocalizes loudly in pain when trying to urinate, shows signs of abdominal pain, exhibits swelling in the rear part of the abdomen, and may develop severe lethargy if several hours or days pass without resolution.
Causes of FUS: Stress, idiopathic cystitis, uroliths/large amounts of sediment causing urethral obstruction, urethral stricture, urinary tract infection.
Treatment: Placement of a urinary catheter with multiple bladder flushes, administration of medications that support urinary tract function, and a prescription diet specifically formulated for urinary tract health.
Important: A cat that has experienced FUS once is highly likely to have a recurrence at any time in its life.
If the condition recurs 3 or more times, surgical intervention (urethrostomy) should be considered as a long-term solution.
