Do female cats have a urethra?

Why are male cats prone to urethral obstruction?

Well, it has to do with urethral anatomy. Male cats have a long and narrow urethra, increasing the likelihood of blockage. Female cats have shorter and wider urethras, so they are often spared the nightmare of urethral obstruction. What Are The Clinical Signs Of A Urethral Obstruction?

What are the most common health problems for male cats?

Male cats, especially neutered ones, are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections. They can also suffer from something called ‘stud tail’ – the technical term for this is feline tail gland hyperplasia. Female cats can suffer from uterine cysts, mammary cancer, and endometritis.

What is the role of Veterinary Nurses in feline urethral obstruction?

Veterinary nurses play a fundamental role in the nursing management and can greatly improve client education of these cases. It is important that veterinary nurses have an understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical signs and nursing interventions when dealing with cases of feline urethral obstruction to enable effective treatment.

What happens if a male cat has a urethral obstruction?

Urethral Obstruction. Male cats can be prone to blockages in the urethra which is an emergency for the cat. Crystals form due to imbalances in the diet and particularly due to an insufficient amount of moisture in the food. The urine becomes thick and minerals form blockages that are very painful for the cat.

What are the gonads and genital tract of cats?

The Gonads and Genital Tract of Cats. Both sexes have a pair of sexual organs or gonads (ovaries or testes), the main functions of which are to produce eggs or sperm, respectively, and hormones. Ovaries are female gonads that produce eggs and female sexual hormones, including estrogen and progesterone.

Why do women have more urinary tract infections than men?

In part, this is due to the much shorter urethra in women, which makes a shorter path for the bacteria to travel to get to the bladder. A woman’s urethra is an inch long or less, while a man’s urethra is 7.5 inches long or more, traveling up the penis and into the pelvis.

Why does my male cat have a plug in his urethra?

Urethral plugs – obstruction of the urethra in male cats may occur as the result of a ‘urethral plug’ – this is where there is an accumulation of proteins, cells, crystals and debris in the urine that combines together to form a plug that cannot be passed.

How common is lower urinary tract disease in male cats?

Some estimates say as many as 3% of cats seen by vets have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes. Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight or unfit or who eat dry food.

Can a neutered male cat get a urinary blockage?

Male cats are at higher risk for urinary blockage, especially those that are overweight. It occurs more commonly in neutered male cats, but it can also happen to cats that are not neutered. Cats who have anxiety or high stress are also more at risk for getting a urinary blockage.

What is urethral catheterization for urinary tract obstruction?

Urethral catheterization is the method most commonly used to remove a urethral obstruction. 1 If urethral catheterization cannot be performed immediately, or if the patient is too unstable or in too much pain, the urinary bladder can be emptied through cystocentesis to help stabilize vital signs and to relieve discomfort (BOX 2).

What should I do if my cat has a blocked urethra?

In general, cats with obstruction from urethral plugs or urethroliths should be changed to canned diets to decrease urine concentration and supersaturation. A few cats will experience permanent urethral dysfunction due to fibrosis, leading to stenosis of the penile urethra.

What is urethral obstruction in male cats?

Urethral obstruction in male cats is a common condition that can result in potentially life threatening complications. Veterinary nurses play a fundamental role in the nursing management and can greatly improve client education of these cases.

What is the prognosis of urethral obstruction in feline lower urinary tract?

Feline urethral obstruction (UO) is a common presenting emergency in veterinary medicine. Prognosis for survival with proper, timely treatment is 90% to 95%, and recurrence rates are estimated to be 15% to 40%.1 UO is secondary to feline lower urinary tract disease ( FLUTD ), a clinical entity with a variety of etiologies.

What is estrogen and progesterone in cats?

Estrogen is necessary for the development of eggs, and progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy. Once puberty is reached and the cat starts having estrous (heat) cycles, the size and form of the ovaries change.

What do female sex hormones do for a female cat?

The female sex hormones play an important role in the sexual development and pregnancy of intact female cats. Estrogen is required for the development and maturation of eggs, while progesterone acts primarily to prepare the body and uterus for pregnancy.

Can a bladder infection cause a kidney infection?

Bladder infections occur when bacteria, usually from stool around the anus, get up inside the urethra. If not flushed out with frequent urination, the bacteria adhere to the bladder wall and cause infection of the bladder. The bacteria, in some cases, can get flushed up into the kidneys and therefore can cause a kidney infection.

What is the difference between a man’s and a woman’s urethra?

A woman’s urethra is an inch long or less, while a man’s urethra is 7.5 inches long or more, traveling up the penis and into the pelvis. Women also have the danger of wiping bowel contents up onto the urethra when urinating and defecating.

Are all urinary tract infections in cats created equal?

All urinary tract infections are NOT created equal! Even though the most common organism to cause UTIs in cats is Escherichia coli (the bacteria found in feces), there are several other organisms that may be involved. The only way to identify which specific bacteria is causing the UTI, is to grow it in a laboratory.

Can a cat get an infection in its urethra?

Infections are also possible, but as with bladder infection, urethral infection is rare. The urethra can also become blocked by a stone (and/or by a ‘plug’ of mucus in the male cat), which stops the flow of urine altogether.

What happens when you remove the narrowest part of a cat’s urethra?

This procedure removes the narrowest part of the urethra (the tube that transports the urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body), allowing easier urination with a lower risk of reobstruction. Male cats develop urinary obstructions much more readily than female cats, due to differences in urinary tract anatomy between the two sexes.

Can a male cat have a plug in his urethra?

Cat owners are very familiar and concerned about urethral plugs in their male cats. This obstruction of urine flow from the bladder to the penis opening can be life threating if not treated. Although male dogs can become obstructed by stones, only recently has it been reported that they can also develop a plug in their urethra.

What kind of cystitis does a 10 year old cat have?

Feline idiopathic cystitis Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)—also called interstitial cystitis—is the most common diagnosis in cats less than 10 years of age with lower urinary tract disease. The disease is not fully understood and may involve several body systems in addition to the urinary system.

Can a male cat have a urinary tract blockage?

Urinary tract obstruction is usually prevalent in adult male cats, though female cats can also experience blockages in rare cases. These obstructions will start off in the kidneys and pass down to the bladder, eventually making their way into the urethra. Vet bills can sneak up on you.

Should I take my Cat to the vet for urinary blockage?

Don’t let what happened to Dr. Barchas’ patient happen to your cat. Learn to recognize the symptoms of urinary blockage so you can get your cat to the vet in time to save his life. Cats who are suffering from urinary tract issues, whether they’re a result of stress, infection or stones/crystals, exhibit several odd symptoms.

Can a male cat have a narrow urethra?

Although both male and female cats can develop urethral obstructions, the urethra is particularly narrow in male cats as it must pass through the penis and this makes male cats more prone to urinary blockage. Regardless of gender, the signs in both male and female affected cats are the same.

How do you treat a cat with a blocked urethra?

Treatment recommendations for cats with UO usually include placement of a urinary catheter and flushing of the urethra to relieve the presumed physical obstruction.2,3,7However, in cats with idiopathic cystitis, urethral obstruction may be functional, rather than physical, developing secondary to inflammation-induced urethral spasm and edema.

How often does a cat with a urethral plug re-obstruct?

Of the seven cats with urethral plugs, three (43%) re-obstructed after 4, 34 and 211 days, respectively. Recurrent signs of lower urinary tract disease including obstruction were common in cats with urethral obstruction (20/39; 51%) and occurred in the same frequency irrespective of the primary cause of the obstruction.