Companion Animals

Cat Urolithiasis and Bladder Stone Welfare

Bladder and kidney stones cause significant pain and urinary obstruction in cats, requiring dietary and sometimes surgical management.

Key Facts

Struvite stones form in alkaline urine and can be dissolved with acidifying prescription diets
Calcium oxalate stones are more common in older neutered cats and require surgical removal
Urethral obstruction from stones or plugs is a life-threatening emergency in male cats
Increased water intake reduces stone recurrence risk for all stone types
Prevention diet selection depends on stone type - wrong choice can worsen recurrence

Welfare Considerations

Urolithiasis causes significant pain through direct tissue injury and obstruction of urine flow. Urethral obstruction is an emergency causing acute suffering that progresses rapidly to bladder rupture and death. Appropriate long-term dietary management reduces recurrence risk and prevents repeated welfare episodes.

What You Can Do

Identify the stone type through analysis before selecting prevention diet
Encourage water intake through wet food and multiple water sources
Seek emergency care immediately for cats showing signs of urethral obstruction