Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Feline Bladder Stone Management

Bladder stones in cats cause significant pain and obstruction risk, with management depending on stone type and ranging from dietary dissolution to surgical removal.

Key Facts

Struvite and calcium oxalate are the most common feline bladder stone types
Struvite stones can be dissolved through acidifying prescription diets over weeks
Calcium oxalate stones require surgical or cystoscopic removal
Urine acidification and increased water intake reduce recurrence risk
Urinary obstruction from stones causes severe pain and rapidly fatal without treatment

Welfare Considerations

Bladder stones cause chronic lower urinary tract pain and potentially fatal obstruction. Accurate stone type identification through imaging enables appropriate management that may dissolve rather than surgically remove stones, with long-term dietary management reducing recurrence and future welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary assessment for cats showing signs of lower urinary tract disease
Feed a urinary diet recommended for your cat's stone type to reduce recurrence
Increase water intake through wet food or water fountains to maintain dilute urine