My cat won't urinate for a vet sample. Is this a medical emergency?

Have Moose examined tonight by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. A cat that is not urinating or is unable to urinate should be considered a veterinary emergency. An exam and testing may diagnose another urinary tract infection or a urinary obstruction. Blood work can be submitted to assess major organ function, especially kidney function. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

It likely is not an emergency unless she is extremely painful or having difficulty urinating. That said, the sooner Zoey is examined and diagnosed, the sooner she can receive treatment and begin feeling better. The veterinary ER should be able to collect a urine sample to confirm UTI and dispense antibiotics and pain management (if indicated). Abdominal x-rays should be done to rule out bladder or kidney stones or masses. Bloodwork should be done to assess major organ function as well.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mowgli. I understand your concern. There is always a worry with male cats about a urethral blockage when they show this behavior. It's good you know to have him seen by a vet for this. If you see him trying to pee but nothing is coming out, he's yowling when trying to pee, his pee appears very bloody, he's lethargic, vomiting, refusing to eat, and/or he is licking his genitals a lot, you must take him into an ER vet right away. Otherwise, you can wait until tomorrow. Feed him wet food and add water to it to flush his bladder. I hope this helps!

What you described definitely sounds like a urinary blockage or infection. I recommend bringing Cookie in for an emergency visit for several reasons - first, this condition can be very painful and uncomfortable; second, if Cookie is unable to urinate, the urine will continue to build up in his bladder and can backflow to his kidneys, causing kidney damage and for the toxins that are normally filtered by the kidneys to stay in the body. This can make Cookie very sick and worsen his prognosis for recovery. He will need to be stabilized by a veterinarian. You can also discuss surgery with your vet, as there are several options for male cats who have this recurring condition. I hope this helps and that Cookie feels better soon!

Poor Max! It's very concerning that he is crying when urinating, and I would check him to see if he is straining while urinating and if no urine is coming out. Crying when urinating can indicate a blockage by bladder stones, and the other symptoms seen are straining and producing no urine. A blockage is a medical emergency which is fatal without treatment, and if he straining and producing no urine, you have to get him into a vet right away. There will be a vet on call in your area for emergencies, and the information to reach that vet will be on their answering machine or website. I would find a vet on call to have him seen now, if he is blocked it absolutely cannot wait until the morning.

If she is unable to pass any urine she needs to be seen immediately to prevent bladder rupture and may need a catheter to relieve the pressure and prevent nerve and muscle weakness. This is an emergency and should not be managed at home and causes severe pain and discomfort with potential life threatening complications

Hello. Yes, this may constitute an emergency. If you do not have him seen today, please try to have him seen tomorrow. As long as he is urinating a little, he will not totally block up, but that can happen at any point in time, so please do not ignore this. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.