Saul the cat's recurring Urethral Obstruction

Saul is a 5-year-old cat whose owner noticed he was suddenly struggling with his toilet habits and seemed agitated and uncomfortable. Concerned, they brought him to our Pet A&E service at Animal Trust Bolton. 

Saul was quickly diagnosed with a urethral obstruction and post-renal azotaemia. He was hospitalised, a urinary catheter was passed to relieve the obstruction, and intravenous fluids were administered. Whilst the azotaemia resolved over several days, the urethral obstruction recurred once the catheter was removed. The recurrence rate of urethral obstruction in male cats is reportedly as high as 40%, and surgical intervention should be considered in recurrent cases.

A perineal urethrostomy was performed by vet Brandon at Animal Trust Bolton. This involves creating a stoma at the wider part of the urethra to reduce the risk of further obstruction. Saul made an excellent recovery from surgery and was able to pass urine freely overnight. He was discharged the following day and has been back to his usual self at home! 

Animal Trust Referral Services

Animal Trust offers specialist referral services for complex cases, working closely with referring vets to ensure seamless patient care.

Services include:
- Soft tissue & orthopaedic surgery
- Diagnostic imaging (CT, ultrasound, X-ray)
- Emergency & critical care

Referring vets receive clear updates, imaging, and discharge reports. Our centres are fully equipped and led by experienced clinicians committed to collaborative, high-quality care.