Copyright Rijana
Bladder grit: a stone of a problem
Bladder grit occurs quite frequently in cats.
Both in females and in males. In the male, however, it is more often a problem due to the difference between male / female.
The urethra is much narrower in the male than in the female, so that the grit gets stuck in the tip of the penis.
The result is that the bladder can no longer be emptied and that when the bladder is full, the kidneys can no longer function properly.
All in all, what seems like such a simple problem can in the worst case become life-
How does bladder grit develop
The exact cause is not known, but some contributing factors are:
• Urine with high acidity (e.g. bladder infection, diet). • Eating less, drinking less (e.g. sick, diet).
• High concentrations of certain minerals in the food (Magnesium, Phosphorus and Calcium).
How do you notice it:
• Going to the litter box often (passing small amounts, not being able to urinate at all, urinating blood). • Being generally ill.
What do you do about it:
Consult a veterinarian. In case of a blockage, he will try to make the urethra passable for urine again (possibly penile amputation).
In case of bladder infection only: antibiotic, diet.
How do you prevent it:
The most important thing is diet. (avoid e.g. beef heart). Good diets are e.g. -
• Bladder grit diet from Leo.
• Acidity controlling diet from Whiskas.
• Giving urine acidifiers (Mas powder) and increasing urine production with the help of kitchen salt are also possibilities.
• Be alert to a bladder infection and do not neglect it.
N.B. That a penile amputation solves everything is not true. Only the consequence, i.e. the grit getting stuck in the tip of the penis, can no longer occur.
So both a female cat and a male cat with a penile amputation can certainly still have bladder grit, only they can urinate the grit out, provided it is not too large.
D. Bouwman (Veterinary Practice Landsmeer)
