First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- A male cat (neutered or not) straining, passing only drops, or passing no urine at all.
- Repeated trips to the litter box with effort and no urine.
- Suspected complete blockage: a blocked cat can die within 24 to 48 hours.
- Vomiting, weakness or abdominal pain at the same time.
- Sudden hind-leg paralysis, with cold back legs.
Contact your vet today
- Blood in the urine, but urine still flows normally.
- Urinating much more often, in small amounts, or outside the litter box.
- Cats of any age can show lower urinary signs, including young cats that were previously well.
- Constant licking of the lower abdomen or urethral opening.
Record and observe
- Already under vet care, with a single bloody urine record before a recheck, and normal energy and urination.
- One mild episode after a stressful change (new family member, move, new litter) that has since settled.
Before you set off
- When and where the cat urinated, how much, and whether there was blood.
- A photo of the litter clumps, or their size.
- How much it drinks, and when the litter was last changed.
- Whether it has urinated outside the litter box.
- A list of medicines and the time of the last dose.
- Do not give human medicine; do not delay because urine is still dripping.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: how often, how much, and whether there is blood.
- Ask: any urination outside the box, or crying while urinating.
- Ask: any change in drinking or eating.
- Do: abdominal palpation to check whether the bladder is distended.
- Do: urine test (concentration, crystals, bacteria).
- Do: X-rays or ultrasound for stones and the bladder wall.
- Do: a blocked cat needs a urinary catheter and admission, with kidney values and electrolytes monitored.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with ultrasound
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.