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Urgent care is for pets who are unwell, in discomfort, are in urgent situation or are not acting like themselves and should be assessed within 24 hours.
Wellness, routine, or general care is for pets needing vaccines, preventive care, or ongoing monitoring who can safely wait at least 24 hours.
This page focuses on urgent assessment. Routine wellness exams, preventive care, and monitoring of stable conditions are provided through scheduled general wellness appointments.
Male Cat Not Peeing or Straining to Urinate – What It Means and When to Act
Urinary blockage, painful urination, peeing in small amounts, or not peeing at all in male cats can range from mild to rapidly life-threatening, depending on the cause.
Definition
Straining to urinate in male cats is a clinical sign, not a diagnosis. It refers to repeated attempts to void urine with little or no output, often accompanied by discomfort or postural effort.
This can result from inflammation, physical obstruction (like a plug or stone), or functional spasms that prevent urine from exiting the bladder. As urine backs up, the bladder can overfill and pressure can build dangerously within the urinary tract.
Male cats are particularly vulnerable due to their narrow urethra. In North America, urethral obstruction is one of the most common life-threatening emergencies in young to middle-aged male cats.
Who This Page Is For
Cats repeatedly straining in the litter box with little or no urine
Male cats crying out or vocalizing when trying to pee
Cats licking their penis frequently or hiding more than usual
Owners seeing drops of urine or visible blood in the box
Cats that suddenly stop producing urine altogether
Who This Page Is Not For
Cats peeing normally but urinating outside the litter box for behavioral reasons
If you are unsure whether this is significant, that uncertainty itself warrants veterinary assessment.
Related Urgent Symptoms
Cat Not Eating – Is This an Emergency?
Cat Lethargic and Weak – When to Seek Emergency Care
Swollen or Bloated Belly in Cats
Pale Gums in Dogs or Cats (Emergency Sign)
Cat Vomiting Blood – Is This an Emergency?
Dog or Cat Vomiting and Diarrhea at the Same Time
Dog or Cat Suddenly Weak, Lethargic, or Collapsing
Blood in Stool in Dogs or Cats (Bloody Diarrhea)
What This Can Look Like at Home
Cat Not Eating – Is This an Emergency?
Cat Lethargic and Weak – When to Seek Emergency Care
Swollen or Bloated Belly in Cats
Pale Gums in Dogs or Cats (Emergency Sign)
Cat Vomiting Blood – Is This an Emergency?
Dog or Cat Vomiting and Diarrhea at the Same Time
Dog or Cat Suddenly Weak, Lethargic, or Collapsing
Blood in Stool in Dogs or Cats (Bloody Diarrhea)
Why This Can Be Hard to Judge
Some cats posture normally and even pass small amounts of urine despite partial obstruction. Early on, they may seem interactive, eat normally, or act relatively fine — leading owners to underestimate the situation. Because cats mask illness and urinary signs can wax and wane, the real severity may not be visible at home.
Apparent normalcy may not reflect internal changes.
The Improvement Trap
Even a small amount of urine can be passed through a narrow or partially obstructed urethra. This may falsely reassure owners that things are resolving when, in fact, bladder pressure is worsening. The pattern of straining-improving-straining can continue until full obstruction or severe illness develops.
What Is Easy to Miss at Home
Hard or firm bladder that feels like a ball in the abdomen
No urination in over 8–12 hours
Swollen or bruised penis
Subtle changes in walking, jumping, or posture
Muscle tremors or weakness from rising potassium
Drooling or vomiting from toxin buildup
Shallow breathing or collapse
Sudden retreat or hiding behavior in a usually social cat
These clues often precede a critical deterioration.
When This Can Be an Emergency
If your cat is showing any of the signs below, urgent veterinary assessment is essential.
Straining with little to no urine produced
Crying or appearing distressed while urinating
Vomiting, drooling, or glassy-eyed appearance
Swollen or bruised appearance around the penis
Blood in urine combined with pain or lethargy
Sudden collapse, weakness, or difficulty walking
Markedly distended abdomen
History of previous urinary obstruction
No urination for 8+ hours in a male cat
How Veterinarians Assess This
Clinical signs alone cannot reliably determine severity.
Symptoms can appear similar while representing very different internal disease processes. Diagnostic testing is how veterinarians determine whether a condition is mild and self-limiting or serious and potentially life-threatening, and how they guide appropriate care.
Diagnostic testing may include:
Serum chemistry profile to assess kidney values and electrolyte imbalances
Urinalysis to detect blood, crystals, infection, or inflammatory debris
Abdominal radiographs (x-rays) to identify bladder distention or urinary stones
Abdominal ultrasound to visualize bladder wall, urethra, and kidneys
Urine culture and sensitivity if infection is suspected
Electrocardiogram (ECG) if potassium is elevated and arrhythmia is suspected
Additional disease-specific testing (such as contrast urethrogram, retrograde flushing, or calcium monitoring) may be considered based on the overall clinical picture.
Veterinary Differentials - Serious / Must-Rule-Out First
Urethral obstruction. A complete or near-complete blockage of the urethra that prevents urination and can cause dangerous electrolyte changes.Tests may include serum chemistry, urinalysis, radiographs, ultrasound, ECG.
Uroabdomen. Urine leakage into the abdominal cavity due to rupture of the bladder or urethra, often from trauma or prolonged pressure.Tests may include abdominal fluid analysis, serum chemistry, radiographs, ultrasound.
Hyperkalemia. Elevated potassium due to blocked urine output, which can affect heart function and muscle tone.Tests may include serum chemistry, electrolyte panel, ECG.
Acute kidney injury. Sudden loss of kidney filtering function that may follow obstruction, toxin exposure, or other illness.Tests may include serum chemistry, urinalysis, ultrasound.
Urethral tear or trauma. Injury to the urethra during catheterization or due to physical trauma can result in leakage or blockage.Tests may include contrast urethrogram, radiographs, ultrasound.
Veterinary Differentials - Common / More Typical
Feline idiopathic cystitis. Stress-related inflammation of the bladder lining with no infection or stone present.Tests may include urinalysis, urine culture, ultrasound.
Urethral plug. Soft obstruction of mucus, crystals, and debris that narrows or blocks the urethra.Tests may include urinalysis, radiographs, ultrasound.
Urethroliths (urethral stones). Hard mineral stones obstructing the urethra or bladder outlet.Tests may include radiographs, ultrasound, urinalysis.
Bacterial cystitis. Infection of the bladder causing inflammation, discomfort, and straining.Tests may include urinalysis, urine culture.
Urethral spasm or functional obstruction. Straining due to muscle tension rather than a physical blockage.Tests may include urinalysis and clinical response to treatment.
Safety, Psychology, & Peace of Mind
Delaying care can risk organ damage, severe pain, or cardiac collapse. Even when cats seem "not too bad," serious underlying changes can be occurring. Early testing protects kidney and bladder function and avoids unnecessary suffering. Veterinary assessment provides clarity and directs appropriate care, even when signs are mild or ambiguous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my cat straining to urinate an emergency?
Yes — this may indicate urinary obstruction, especially in male cats. Even if some urine is passed, it can still be partial blockage, which is a life-threatening condition. Straining with little or no urine should be treated as an urgent care situation.
My cat looks normal but is urinating oddly. Could it still be serious?
Not necessarily. Cats may intermittently pass urine even with a dangerous obstruction still in place. Temporary improvement does not equal resolution, and signs may cycle or return.
He started peeing a little again — is he okay now?
Not necessarily. Cats may intermittently pass urine even with a dangerous obstruction still in place. Temporary improvement does not equal resolution, and signs may cycle or return.
Why are tests needed if we think it’s just stress or crystals?
Because infection, stones, and life-threatening blockages can all look similar. Diagnostic testing is how we tell what’s mild versus what needs intervention.
What should I do right now?
If your male cat is straining to pee or hasn’t urinated in several hours, do not wait. Blockages can progress quickly and same-day urgent care is often the safest choice.