Pet owners will know that keeping an eye on your feline’s bladder health is a big part of taking care of them, especially if you own a male cat as they are more prone to getting blocked bladders.
Blocked bladders in short means that your cat can’t urinate and that urine is being built up in the bladder until it reaches a bursting point. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage, heart problems and may even burst – causing inflammation and death.
One veterinary nurse made a TikTok video featuring her own cat, where she shared how she regularly makes sure his bladder is feeling normal by feeling his tummy. She wrote: “Just an anxious veterinary girl checking her male cat’s bladder daily to make sure he isn’t blocked.”
Viewers were immediately intrigued and asked for a tutorial on how to keep their own male cats safe by doing the same test.
She quickly made a second video where she showed the process of how you can check if your cat’s bladder is blocked.
“The bladder lays in about the back one third of their body and it’s closest to the floor,” she explained as she used her own cat to share how she checks his bladder.
“I’m gonna go ahead and do a pinching motion [with her hand]. I’m gonna use this hand to kind of hold the back, so on the underside, and then I’m gonna use my thumb and squeeze them together. And them I’m going to roll my thumb over to feel the bladder. And the bladder will slip between your fingers.”
As she went on to show the motion on her cat, before continuing: “It should feel very soft. And if it is large or firm, that is an issue.
She previously made previous videos of all the signs to keep an eye out for to make sure you catch any possible bladder issues in your cat as early as possible.
“If you see your male cat urinate but not actually urinating, then please take him to the vet,” she said. “This is very concerning for urinaty bloackage or urinaty chest infection.”
She went on to explain that with a blockage, you’ll see your cat going back and forth to its litter box throughout the day but not urinating much or urinating at all. They also might try to urinate around the house to try to get your attention, as the issue is usually painful for them.
If you suspect your cat having bladder issues, such as having a hard time passing urine or urinating more frequently, you should always seek emergency help, the RSCPA report.
Changes in urinary habits in a cat is not always a bladder issue, but can also have to do with age-related brain function decline and hormonal disorders such as diabetes.
