🚨 URGENT CHECK: Is Your Cat Blocked?
Do not read this article if:
- Your cat is straining to pee but nothing comes out.
- Your cat is crying/howling in the litter box.
- Your cat has a hard, painful belly.
This is a Urethral Blockage. It is fatal within 24-48 hours. Go to the Emergency Vet immediately.
The 3-Step Home Strategy (Before the Vet)
1. The Soup Protocol (Hydration)
Crystals form in concentrated urine. To dissolve them, you need to dilute the urine.
- Switch to Wet Food: Stop all dry food immediately. Dry kibble dehydrates the cat.
- Add Warm Water: Mix 1-2 tablespoons of warm water into their canned food until it looks like soup. Most cats love the gravy texture.
- The Fountain Trick: Cats drink 30% more water from a moving source. Get a pet water fountain.
2. Stress Reduction
Stress causes inflammation in the bladder (FIC), which makes crystals worse.
- Feliway Diffusers: Use calming pheromones in the room they sleep in.
- Private Bathroom: Ensure they have a litter box in a quiet area where no other pets can bug them.
3. Monitor the Box
You need to be a detective. Check the litter box every few hours. Are the clumps getting smaller? Is there blood? Take photos to show your vet.
Struvite vs. Oxalate: Which One Is It?
| Crystal Type | Can Food Fix It? | Treatment Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Struvite (Common in younger cats) |
✅ YES | Dietary Dissolution. Prescription food (like Hill’s c/d or Royal Canin SO) makes the urine acidic, literally “melting” the stones away in weeks. |
| Calcium Oxalate (Common in older/male cats) |
❌ NO | Surgery often needed. These stones are rock-hard and cannot be dissolved. Diet prevents new ones, but surgery removes the old ones. |
Medical Treatment: What to Expect at the Vet
1. The Diet Change Path (Mild Cases)
If the cat can still pee and only has Struvite crystals, you will likely be sent home with prescription canned food and pain meds.
- The Commitment: You must feed ONLY this food for life (or as directed). One piece of regular kibble can mess up the pH balance.
2. The Catheter Path (Blocked Cats)
If the urethra is blocked, the vet must sedate your cat and insert a tube (catheter) to flush the crystals back into the bladder.
- Hospital Stay: Your cat will stay 2-3 days on IV fluids to flush the kidneys.
3. The Surgery Path (Stones)
If there are large Calcium Oxalate stones rattling around in the bladder like marbles, a Cystotomy is performed to open the bladder and scoop them out.
