Companion Animals

Cat Bladder Stone Surgical Management

Bladder stones cause pain, urinary obstruction, and recurrent infections in cats. Surgical or dietary management significantly improves welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Struvite and calcium oxalate are the most common feline bladder stone types
Struvite stones can be dissolved by dietary acidification in many cases
Calcium oxalate stones require surgical removal
Urinary obstruction in male cats is a life-threatening emergency
Dietary management prevents recurrence in most cases once stones are resolved

Welfare Considerations

Bladder stones cause chronic pain from inflammation and pressure, urinary discomfort, and potentially fatal obstruction in male cats. The condition is often missed until obstruction or serious infection develops. Early diagnosis and appropriate management - dietary or surgical - prevents the suffering associated with established disease.

What You Can Do

Encourage water intake in cats prone to urinary disease through wet food and water fountains
Seek urgent veterinary care if your cat is straining to urinate without producing urine
Follow prescribed urinary diet strictly to prevent stone recurrence