Kidney Stones in Cats - Symptoms and Treatment

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 24 January 2021
Update Date: 7 November 2024
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Cat Health : Kidney Stone Symptoms in Cats
Video: Cat Health : Kidney Stone Symptoms in Cats

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Many animals, such as cats, can suffer from the same illnesses as humans, although we often ignore this fact. That's why at PeritoAnimal we recommend that you be aware of possible symptoms, strange and unusual behaviors, as cats are habit animals, so any change in their habits indicates that there is a problem. In this article we will talk to you about the kidney stones in cats, their symptoms and treatment, as it is a condition that attacks felines more often than you think.

What are kidney stones?

Also called uroliths and popularly known as "kidney stones", it is the excessive accumulation of certain minerals in the urinary tract of cats, affecting their ability to urinate.


In cats, there are two types of minerals that affect the feline most often:

  • The struvite type stones, originated by magnesium.
  • Calcium-type stones caused by high levels of acid in the urine.

When your cat tries to urinate, calculi build up in its ducts, preventing it from expelling urine no matter how hard the animal tries to do so, causing it severe pain. The presence of kidney stones not only generates this type of discomfort and urinary infections, but also a late diagnosis or lack of medical attention can cause the animal's death in a very short time, when renal failure occurs. The condition can get worse in just two weeks.

Causes of kidney stones

Some elements can make your cat prone to develop kidney stones:


  • genetic predisposition: The Himalayas, Persians and Burmese tend to suffer from this disease more often than other races.
  • Gender: is more common in males than females.
  • Age: from the age of five, it is more likely to appear.
  • Medicines: the prolonged use of some medications, such as cortisone or tetracycline, among others, can result in kidney and urinary failure.
  • Dehydration: lack of water causes kidney failure and mineral accumulation.
  • Diet: When your cat's food is high in carbohydrates, magnesium, phosphorus or calcium.
  • Infections: some urinary infections can result in the formation of kidney stones in the cat.

Check out some home remedies for cat urinating blood in this PeritoAnimal article.


What are the symptoms of kidney stones in cats?

When it comes to kidney stones, the most important thing is detect the condition in time, so you should be aware of any changes in your cat's habits, such as:

  • Problems with urinating, reflected in an effort during urination, which sometimes do not work.
  • Pain when urinating.
  • Restlessness and nervousness.
  • presence of blood in urine.
  • Urine in small amounts and frequently, as you cannot expel everything in just one urination.
  • Moans of pain when using the litter box.
  • The cat licks its genital area more often.
  • Vomiting.
  • Depression.
  • Lack of appetite.

How is the diagnosis made?

The veterinarian will need you to describe any unusual signs you have seen in your feline, and will use this and some tests to determine whether or not they are kidney stones:

  • feel the abdomen the animal to detect pain and bumps or swelling in the area.
  • perform a radiography that allows you to analyze the kidneys, bladder and the entire urinary system for mineral deposits.
  • Urine analysis to detect possible infections.
  • laboratory analysis to carry out a study with a calculation of the collected sample.

All these studies will serve to detect urinary obstruction and at the same time determine what type of stone it is.

Treatment for Kidney Stones in Cats

The treatment indicated by the veterinarian will depend on the type of mineral accumulation that is affecting the feline and the level of severity of the disease. The options are several:

  • diet change: There are dry foods for cats made especially to treat kidney conditions, but the most recommendable option is to choose moist foods, since a greater amount of water helps to dilute the minerals accumulated in the urine.
  • Cystotomy: this is a surgical operation applied to extract the stones.
  • Elimination of mineral deposits: A catheter is used to clean stones from the bladder area. This is a somewhat uncomfortable procedure for the animal, but it is routine in these cases.
  • urethrotomy: Tiny microscopes are used to assess the state of the urinary system and extract the stones, enlarging the urethra.

Any of these procedures is usually accompanied by drug treatments applicable at home:

  • Use of anti-inflammatory, to reduce swelling and relieve pain, improving the feline's state of mind.
  • Use of antibiotics, necessary in case a urinary infection occurs.
  • Increase in fresh water consumption, both to counteract dehydration and to help dissolve calculi. You should do everything possible for your cat to increase its water consumption, 50 to 100 milliliters per kilo of weight is the recommended average.

Is it possible to prevent?

Once you have clear the symptoms of kidney stones in cats and their treatment, you should know that you can help your feline prevent them from appearing with some very easy-to-follow habits:

  • offer him fresh and clean water in abundance.
  • give him a dry and wet food based diet, in addition to low in salt.
  • Avoid stressful situations.
  • Perform biannual check-ups to detect any illness in time.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.