How long can a cat live after urinary tract stones?

Urinary tract stones in cats can cause difficulties in urination, discomfort, and dribbling. Some cats may even experience severe conditions such as hematuria. If the cat has a large amount of stones in the urinary tract or the stone diameter is large, surgery is generally required. If the stones are small and few, the owner can promote stone removal by giving the cat more water and administering oral lithotripsy drugs.

Causes of urinary tract stones

The causes of urinary tract stones in cats include:

Cats' ancestors came from desert areas, so they naturally drink less water.
Cats mainly eat dry food, which does not provide enough water intake.
Indoor cats have insufficient physical activity.
Early neutering before sexual maturity, when the urinary tract has not fully developed, increases the risk of urinary tract narrowing and blockage.
Overconsumption of pet snacks high in minerals, such as seaweed and dried fish.

Symptoms of urinary tract stones

Clinical symptoms of urinary tract stones in cats include frequent urination, hematuria, urinary retention, ectopic urination, difficulty urinating, and frequent licking of the genitals. For example, cats with urination difficulties may not use the litter box and may emit low whines during urination. Severe cases can lead to lethargy, partial or complete urinary tract obstruction, and result in azotemia or uremia.

Treatment of urinary tract stones

When treating urinary tract stones in cats, it is important to consider whether the stones have caused urinary tract obstruction, whether it is complete or incomplete obstruction. If it is an incomplete obstruction, urination can be initially drained, and it can be observed whether the stones can be flushed out of the urinary tract. If the stones can be flushed out, symptomatic treatment is required later. If the stones cannot be flushed out, they may be flushed back into the bladder. Later, a bladder incision surgery is performed to remove the stones. If complete obstruction has occurred, a urinary reconstructive surgery is necessary.