Mary Allen
Uncontrolled urination is rare in cats. It can occur, for example, after injuries to the spine. But there are other medical reasons for the uncleanliness.
After an accident with injuries in the pelvic area, the urinary bladder may fail to function. Namely, when the nerves that control the bladder function have been damaged. As a rule, cats with such damage can no longer empty their bladder voluntarily. The urinary bladder muscles are paralyzed and the bladder fills up continuously until finally, the pressure in the hollow organ becomes so great that the urine simply runs out. This condition is called an overflowing bladder. Affected cats must be helped by humans to urinate. Gently massage the bladder several times a day. The emphasis here is on gentleness. If the pressure is too high, there is a risk that the urine will be pushed back into the kidneys and provoke kidney disease there. It is best to have your veterinarian show you the correct technique.
Overflow Bladder After Injury
Incidentally, an overflowing bladder can also occur with the not so uncommon injuries of the tail. The closer the injury is to the base of the tail, the greater the risk of an overflow bladder forming. A fate that can be part of the heritage of tailless breeds. Not only do tailless Manx cats lack a tail as a balancing pole, but the nerves that control the sphincters of the bladder and anus can also be underdeveloped or malformed. This undesirable development cannot be corrected and it seems more merciful to redeem the cat than to expect it to suffer this fate. After accidents or injuries, the cat’s condition can improve again, i.e. the nerves can once again fulfill their function, provided they have not been severed or damaged too severely. How long this takes varies and depends on the severity of the injury. Until then, however, the cat owner must not only empty their bladder regularly but also pay attention to hygiene.
Hygiene Is Particularly Important
Because the filled bladder is particularly susceptible to infections. Since there is always a risk of urine sloshing back into the kidneys from a full bladder, the risk of severe kidney infections is also increased. Unfortunately, there are also enough cases where there is no improvement. In these cases, too, euthanasia should be considered in the interest of the cat. Checking the bladder function is part of the quality of life for animals that are so concerned about cleanliness.
Weak Bladder Muscles
Very rarely, the overflow bubble is caused by a “bubble squeezer” that is too weak. This is the name given to the musculature in the wall of the bladder that presses the urine out of the hollow organ into the urethra. The veterinarian treats this muscle weakness with medication that affects the autonomic nervous system. Injuries to the brain or spinal cord above the cross-tail area of the spine can also result in incontinence. In these cases, the bladder is usually not paralyzed but instead contracts spasmodically without the animal being able to control the spasms. The prospects in these cases depend on the underlying injury. In most cases, however, it is not true incontinence, i.e. an actual loss of control, that is the reason why the cat is no longer clean. This means that while the cat is able to control its urination, for some reason it doesn’t. And she always has reasons. For example, one is a learned aversion to the toilet. Bladder infections, for example, are extremely painful. The cat cannot explain the origin of the pain, associates it with the toilet, and will avoid it in the future. The vet diagnoses bladder infections by examining the urine and treating them with antibiotics. Because bladder infections can be persistent, three weeks of antibiotic treatment is not uncommon. Above all, you must not stop taking the prescribed medication on your own. Because the cat usually gets better soon, the disease-causing bacteria have not yet been completely eliminated and can cause a relapse.
Pain When Urinating
Pain that leads to toilet avoidance can also result from urinary debris in the urethra. Extreme caution is required here, especially with hangovers, because the pebbles can also suddenly block the urethra. This constipation is a life-threatening emergency and needs to be treated by a vet as soon as possible. Symptoms of a blocked urethra include not being able to go to the toilet, crying out when you try to pee, and licking the penis frequently. There are also a number of diseases that are associated with increased urine production, the cat then “must” more often. Since some cats only use their toilet when it is clean, these diseases can also lead to uncleanliness. Even if the toilet is kept clean, excess urination is always a serious symptom and the cat should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.