Where is a cat's bladder located and how to feel it

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The bladder of all living beings is a unique organ, which is striking in its elasticity and is second only to the uterus in its ability to stretch. Every owner should know where a cat’s bladder is, since there are situations when an emergency home determination of the animal’s condition requires palpating this organ.

The bladder is pear-shaped, and if you understand where it should be, it can be easily felt even by a non-specialist. If the procedure is carried out carefully, it will not cause harm to the cat, but it will provide a lot of information about how the urinary system works correctly and whether the cat is sick. The filling of an organ with urine does not affect its location. Invariably, a cat's bladder is located in the lower abdomen immediately in front of the crest of the pubis in the lumen of the small pelvis.

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How and why to give a cat a bladder massage

Bladder massage is a procedure necessary to help a cat who cannot empty his bowels without assistance. It is also called bladder compression. The necessity and expediency of its implementation must be determined by a doctor, since any initiative of the animal owner in this matter can lead to dire consequences, even death.

Indications for use

Massage can be prescribed in case of problems with urination due to the following reasons:

• lesions of the nerves of the hind limbs (paralysis, paresis, etc.), often resulting from injuries;
• infectious or inflammatory diseases of the urinary system (urolithiasis, cystitis);
• congenital abnormalities in the development of the urinary tract;
• overexcitation in uncastrated cats, when significantly enlarged gonads clog the urethra.

For neurological damage to the limbs, the veterinarian usually prescribes constant manual emptying of the bladder; for other cases when the pet is unable to urinate on its own (for example, in the case of urolithiasis), the cause of this phenomenon should first be identified and eliminated.

Problems with urination become immediately noticeable. They manifest themselves in the form of the following symptoms:

• the animal spends a lot of time in the tray, but no urine is released at all or only a small amount is released, and the cat behaves restlessly at this time, sometimes meowing;
• the cat may try to urinate in different places in the house;
• appetite noticeably decreases or disappears;
• the pet becomes lethargic or, conversely, restless, and tends to limit any movements.

To determine the degree of bladder filling you need:

1. Place the cat on a hard surface on all fours, gently holding it under the belly so that the hind limbs are closer to the owner.
2. Place your hands on the back so that the thumbs are on the pet's croup, and the rest are palpating the abdomen in the area of ​​the urinary canal.
3. If during the procedure the pet tries to escape and becomes nervous, this indicates the presence of unpleasant sensations.
4. Detection during palpation of a soft compaction the size of a walnut, in which liquid rolls freely under the fingers, indicates daily urinary retention, while a more elastic compaction the size of a tennis ball is a sign of absence of urination for more than two days. If the lump is larger and hard to the touch, this is a signal to urgently contact the veterinarian, since in this case you will most likely have to use a catheter for emptying.

Clinical picture and therapeutic techniques

If you see any of the symptoms described below in your cat, immediately take your pet to the veterinarian:

• Complete inability to urinate , “drip” urination.

• Bloody or cloudy urine.

• The cat can start peeing (trying to be more precise) everywhere , even on the owner’s bed. You shouldn’t blame him: most likely, the animal is suffering from acute spasms of the bladder, which often happens with cystitis.

• Increased frequency of urination or litter box visits. In the latter case, the cat generally runs there every minute, but cannot squeeze out a single drop of urine.

• Some animals literally scream in pain if their problems with urine output are due to the presence of stones.

• The cat sits in the tray for a long time , resembling an occasionally meowing statue.

• Because of all this, the most nervous pets develop a panic fear of the litter box , which is why they begin to pee anywhere but there.

• licks the genital area for a long time and thoroughly , so that saliva begins to drip from its bottom.

• A strong smell of ammonia from the urine that was released.

• Apathetic state.

• Vomit.

• Increased water consumption (not always).

• In severe cases, the cat's stomach is tense to a stone-like state. This may well indicate that his bladder could not withstand the pressure of urine and burst.

How is treatment for this pathology carried out? Alas, there is no universal recipe , since difficulties with urination can be caused by a variety of reasons. Accordingly, the therapeutic approach should include individual consideration of each specific case.

When the problem is cystitis of infectious etiology, the animal is prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs excreted by the kidneys. If difficulty urinating in a cat is a consequence of an injury or disease of the spine (for example, herniated discs), surgical intervention will have to be resorted to.

Likewise in case of blockage or obstruction of the urethra. Such pathologies cannot be cured by simply taking medications. The same applies to tumors, stones and other foreign bodies in the ureters or bladder/kidneys.

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Remember! A cat that is unable to urinate is a dead cat. If you notice that your pet is not peeing, urgently (!) take him to the clinic.

Important! In old castrated cats, there are often cases of complete blockage of the urethra by uric acid salts. This often happens to those animals whose owners constantly feed their pets fresh fish. Contrary to popular belief, this is not an ideal food for cats.

Procedure for massage

Before starting the procedure, you need to calm your pet with gentle words or stroking the head. At the same time, you need to carefully palpate the abdomen to assess the degree of bladder density.

• Place the cat on its back or side, but the procedure can also be carried out in a standing position.
• Check that there are no tiny stones on the penis that could block the passage of urine. If the latter are detected, they must be removed: run your fingers, lubricated with a special gel or soap, from the edge to the base of the genital organ, gently squeezing it.
• Cup your hand and gently massage the bladder, making clockwise circular movements to direct the flow of urine towards the external genitalia. You can also try light pressure on both sides of the bladder with two palms.

Important! In no case should you make strong pressing movements, since any carelessness can lead to rupture of the bladder. The main thing in the massage process is not strength, but the correctness of movements.

• After some time, a small amount of urine will begin to be released, although a small amount of blood will be acceptable. With urolithiasis, accumulations of sand and salts will come out of the body in the form of a white paste.

• If the pet breaks out and scratches, you can ask an assistant to hold the cat by the paws and soothe it by stroking the neck.
• If all manipulations are done correctly, the animal will be able to urinate in the tray. It is important that the bladder is at least 50% empty. If the cat does not resist too much during the massage, you can continue the procedure until it is completely emptied.

For the first time, your pet will probably disapprove of the massage procedure and pressure on the stomach. But it is important to understand that the health and life expectancy of the cat depends on how fully and correctly the procedure is performed, since prolonged retention of urine in the body causes poisoning of the animal.

You can also contact our site's staff veterinarian, who will respond to them as soon as possible in the comment box below.

Determining the degree of bladder fullness

The cat's nervousness will indicate the presence of pain.

You can determine the degree of filling of the bag yourself.

1. To do this, you need to put the cat on all fours, slightly supporting it under its belly.
2. The animal should be with its hind limbs closer to the owner.
3. Hands should be placed on the cat's back so that both thumbs are on the animal's rump, and the rest should be palpated on the stomach closer to the urinary canal.

Nervousness and attempts by the cat to escape will indicate the presence of pain, which means immediately contacting a doctor.

Feeling the bladder

To more specifically determine the topographic location of the organ, you should place your palm closer to the base of the tail, perpendicular to the ridge. The projection of the upper border of the organ will be the side of the palm opposite to the tail. Normally, in the absence of urine, a soft, insignificant fluctuation should be felt under the fingers, evenly distributed within the boundaries of the organ, while the boundaries themselves are not felt.

Normally, in the absence of urine, the boundaries of the organ are not felt.

Daily urea retention

The presence of daily urea retention will be indicated by a compaction of soft consistency the size of a walnut.

The feeling of liquid will roll freely under your fingers. A delay of more than two days will be felt under the fingers by a compaction, the size of a tennis ball, with a consistency reminiscent of soft rubber, with a slight fluctuation.

If a larger lump with a harder consistency is felt, consult a doctor immediately . Your cat will most likely need to empty his bladder using a catheter.

If upon palpation there is a seal, the bladder should be emptied using a catheter.

Postoperative care

For 5-7 days, and sometimes longer after surgery, it is necessary to carry out a bougienage procedure once a day - inserting a thick probe or catheter into the urethra to check its patency and remove obstacles to urination. In this case, the doctor checks the correct formation of the new urethral opening, removes accumulated secretions with the help of an antiseptic and treats the sutures.

The most serious complication is postoperative stricture (scar narrowing) of the urethra. In this case, the opening of the urethra becomes very narrow and repeated surgery is required, however, such a complication is extremely rare.

It is necessary to protect the seams from being licked by the animal itself; for this, the doctor will recommend the use of a protective collar and diaper. All the time when the animal is left to its own devices and you cannot control it, these protective equipment must be worn - after all, neither you, nor the doctor, nor the cat himself will like having to re-sew the urethrostomy under anesthesia.

After surgery, an antibiotic must be prescribed (in tablets or injections), and only a doctor should stop it.

The sutures are removed by a doctor in the clinic after a thorough examination of the formed stoma, complete healing of the surgical wound and normal functioning of the new urethral opening.

Cat's bladder

The anatomical structure of domestic animals is slightly different from that of humans, so it is difficult to independently determine where a cat’s bladder is located. If its function is impaired, the pet’s urinary process becomes difficult, pain and other negative symptoms are possible. If there are changes in the structure or functioning of an internal organ, then you should contact a veterinarian who will select treatment if necessary.

Features of the cat's bladder

How is it arranged?

The location of the internal organ in a kitten and an adult is slightly different than in a person, and its fullness also differs significantly. The urea has several layers, which differ in individual characteristics:

• Outer side. The membrane contains connective tissue, under which smooth muscles are located, which ensure the pushing of urine and the urge to excrete it.
• Submucosal tissues. They are a complex membrane that has highly elastic fibers and helps the wall maintain the cat’s bladder in good shape.
• Mucous membrane. Its location is in the cavity of the organ, which makes it possible to stretch and return to normal when it is full. And also in this area a special secret is produced that protects the urea from the negative effects of pathogenic microflora.

Veterinarians focus the attention of cat owners on the fact that although the bladder has a less complex structure than other vital internal organs, even if it is slightly damaged and untreated, unpleasant consequences are possible that threaten the health and life of the pet.

Main functions

A cat’s bladder is an important organ, and if its functioning is disrupted, deviations in the functioning of many body structures can occur. The urethra in kittens acts as a reservoir in which urine accumulates until it is excreted through the urethra. When its dysfunction is impaired, excessive filling of the bladder occurs, which is why urine is not excreted on time, stretches the walls and has a negative effect on the kidneys and other structures of the urinary system.

Therapeutic manipulations to combat cystitis

Even if the owner has at least a little knowledge about medicine and is confident in himself, you should not treat your pet at home. It is better to spend a couple of hours and money on professionals so that the cat feels great and lives for a very long time. After all, the treatment of each ailment has individual characteristics, which take into account various points.

To get rid of some types of disease, you just need to change the food and give your pet plenty of herbal tinctures, washing out the inflammatory process from the body. In more difficult situations, treatment with antiseptics, antispasmodics and sulfonamides will be required, and in the presence of dangerous flora, antibiotics and antibacterial agents are added.

IMPORTANT! In case of acute pathology, prompt and high-quality treatment for cats involves washing the bag. First aid for problems with going to the toilet is to install a catheter to empty the organ. If symptoms include an increase in body temperature, you need to put in IVs to eliminate the discharge.

How to check an organ?

A person can independently palpate a cat’s bladder at home. When it is hard and enlarged, it signals the development of serious diseases. Sometimes it is difficult to feel the internal organ, especially if it is not complete. In this case, follow these recommendations:

• The cat is placed on a flat surface so that it rests on all its paws. If the pet's body is in a different position, it is impossible to palpate the bladder.
• With one hand they support the cat under the peritoneum, and with the other they try to secure it as firmly as possible by the skin on the back, while trying not to hurt the pet.
• The person’s hand is positioned so that the thumbs can feel the croup, and the rest can touch the stomach.
• When the bladder is overfilled with urine, it may be mistaken for a tumor or a lump that has an elastic consistency. If you press on it, the cat may meow or scratch due to pain. In such a case, emergency catheterization may be required to remove accumulated urine.

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Why is it necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease?

One of the symptoms of bladder or kidney disease is fluid retention . Mostly cats suffer from such phenomena. For example, urolithiasis mainly occurs in cats, since the urethra in cats is much wider than in cats. Neutered pets suffer from these ailments more than others.

They don't get all the hormones, and without quality nutrition and vitamins, they become weaker. Be sure to limit neutered animals from fish products, as they can cause an exacerbation.

ATTENTION! If your cat has kidney stones, give him the medicine "CatErvin". Thanks to the pleasant smell, animals will happily absorb these drops. According to the recommendation, the product should be given to the cat for prevention once every 3-4 months. It has diuretic properties, destroys small stones and sand itself.

To rid your pet of kidney stones, buy food for neutered cats that is specially marked. Infectious and cold pathologies can also cause fluid retention. Cats, especially those accustomed to a warm home, should not become overcooled.

To avoid such difficulties, you need high-quality care, proper nutrition and preventive measures. When you see that your pet cannot urinate, try to understand how long it has been since he urinated. Healthy animals walk three times a day, kittens up to four times. Cats can “accumulate” liquid in themselves, so concentrated urine is considered normal.

If a cat cannot defecate for several days, this is a very dangerous problem, since the body can be poisoned by urea. Manifestations of poisoning: lethargy, apathetic mood, lack of appetite.

How can you tell if your cat's bladder is full? This can be done quickly. Place the animal on its paws, clasp it with both hands so that your thumbs are located on the cat's rump, and use the remaining fingers to feel and palpate the belly. If your cat is constantly running to the toilet and squeezing out little things all the time, this may be enough to get rid of the poisoning.

Possible diseases

Impaired bladder emptying often indicates the development of a serious disease in the urinary system. To a greater extent, cats are diagnosed with an inflammatory reaction in the internal organ, which is known as cystitis. Pathology occurs in several forms indicated in the table:

If a cat’s bladder is distended or inflamed, then there may be no clinical picture for a long time. As the disease progresses, the pet's urge to urinate becomes more frequent, pain and constant thirst are possible.

Diagnostic methods

Even if the owner knows where the pet’s bladder is and can palpate it himself, it is still recommended to consult a veterinarian. At home, it is possible to determine the presence of a disorder, but it is difficult to establish its cause and choose the right treatment. The specialist needs to check the general condition of the animal and collect a detailed history. To make a diagnosis, a number of manipulations are performed:

• laboratory testing of urine;
• general and biochemical blood test;
• ultrasound examination of all structures of the urinary system;
• bacteriological culture of urine for sensitivity to antibacterial agents;
• cystoscopy if it is impossible to determine the source of the disorder in the bladder by other means.

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What to do and how to deal with the problem?

A constantly increased bladder volume requires special attention from cat owners, as this may be the first sign of the development of the disease. Only a veterinarian can select the appropriate treatment for the disease. Some people try to cope with the inflammatory reaction in the cat's bladder using herbal infusions and other medications used at their own discretion. But self-medication of cystitis in pets, as in people, can lead to serious consequences. It is possible to cope with the problem with the help of veterinary drugs indicated in the table, the dosage of which and the duration of administration are chosen by the doctor.

Where is the cat's bladder?

The bladder of all living beings is a unique organ, which is striking in its elasticity and is second only to the uterus in its ability to stretch. Every owner should know where a cat’s bladder is, since there are situations when an emergency home determination of the animal’s condition requires palpating this organ.

The bladder is pear-shaped, and if you understand where it should be, it can be easily felt even by a non-specialist. If the procedure is carried out carefully, it will not cause harm to the cat, but it will provide a lot of information about how the urinary system works correctly and whether the cat is sick. The filling of an organ with urine does not affect its location. Invariably, a cat's bladder is located in the lower abdomen immediately in front of the crest of the pubis in the lumen of the small pelvis.

Location

Many people wonder where the bladder is located. The location of the bladder does not depend on any factors - it is always in the lower region of the peritoneum, in the lumen of the small pelvis, near the crest of the womb. At the exit, the organ narrows and forms a neck - cervix vesicae.

The bladder is easily accessible for surgical manipulation and is easily palpated due to its convenient location and the fact that it is not covered by an omentum. If the cavity is full and reaches the navel itself, then palpation if fluid stagnation is suspected should be very careful due to serious thinning of the walls.

Depending on the level of fullness and volume, it can move slightly in the pelvic region, but remain relatively stable in its initial physiological orientation due to the fact that it is held by ligaments. To better understand the location, you should look at the photo on the Internet.

Features of the organ and where it is located

The cat's bladder is not covered by an omentum and is therefore easily accessible if palpating or surgical intervention on the organ is necessary. Its shape is pear-shaped. The narrowing occurs at the outlet, due to which a neck is formed, which ensures the retention of urine in the organ and its release from it. When overfilled, the bladder stretches to the navel area, causing its walls to become thinner to the limit. In such a situation, you can palpate the bladder only with extreme caution, since strong pressure can cause the organ to burst.

The main function performed by the bladder is the temporary residence of urine in it until it is excreted through the urethra (canal), which enters the bladder through the ureters from the kidneys. The structural features of the urinary canal in cats explain why urolithiasis occurs more often in them than in females. A cat has a thinner and more tortuous urethra than a cat, which is why when a stone appears, the risk of a negative outcome of the disease with delayed treatment increases significantly, since blockage of the canal or ureter may occur.

Structure

The bladder is quite complex. This is explained not only by its elasticity, but also by its connection with the urethra and ureters. The internal cavity of the organ is lined with mucous membrane, which protects the body from the penetration of dangerous bacteria through the bladder. The structure of the bladder is as follows :

• Outer shell . It consists of connective tissue, under which there is a layer of smooth muscle, which ensures the timely expulsion of the contents of the bladder and the urge to urinate, which appear even before the organ becomes overfilled.
• Submucosal tissues . This is a complex membrane consisting of particularly elastic fibers, which provides adequate support to the walls of the organ, even with strong filling. It also supports the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the bladder, preventing it from moving.
• The mucous membrane is located in the cavity of the bladder . Thanks to this tissue, the organ can collect itself after emptying and stretch to a huge size when overfilled. The secretion produced by the cells of this layer of the bladder makes it possible to suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria in the cat’s body, but only if he has good immunity.

Like any organ, the bladder has its own diseases and is supplied with nerve endings, which is why when it is damaged, the cat experiences pain. You should not assume that since the bladder, in fact, is a temporary bag for collecting urine before excreting it from the body, then it cannot hurt like other organs that are distinguished by the complexity of their functioning. When a pet has a tendency to diseases of the genitourinary system, it is unacceptable to ignore this phenomenon, since its causes can be very different, including life-threatening.

Treatment of painful urination

In cats, as in people, atony refers to dysfunction of the striated or smooth muscles of organs, including the bladder.

Simply put, the animal is unable to control urination, which causes a lot of inconvenience for the owner and pain for the pet itself. Fortunately, bladder atony in cats can be successfully treated, with proper care and prevention without relapse.

Below we will tell you how to recognize signs of atony in a cat, what factors cause this disease, as well as treatment and preventive measures.

Bladder atony in a cat

There are many factors that result from dysfunction of the bladder muscles, and many of them are associated with improper husbandry of cats. First of all, atony is provoked by excessive or poor-quality feeding.

If an animal regularly receives food poor in nutrients, the diet does not include fiber and coarse carbohydrates, intestinal motility weakens and is disrupted, and then “pulls” a decrease in the motility of the muscles of the adjacent bladder.

A properly formulated diet is the key to the health of a domestic cat.

Despite the fact that some cat owners disdain dry commercial foods, pets receiving these particular foods (holistic or super-premium) almost never suffer from diet-related bladder atony.

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Brief characteristics of holistic food for cats

Also, atony can occur due to the cat’s advanced age, when the muscles begin to work worse, literally wearing out.

This factor is directly related to how the animal ate throughout its life and, in principle, to how attentive the owner was to his mustachioed friend.

The best prevention of age-related bladder atony in a cat is proper care from a very early age.

Parasites in the gastrointestinal tract can also affect the motility of the muscles of all digestive organs and reduce the tone of the walls of the bladder. Just like in the human body, in a cat’s body everything is interconnected. Do not forget about regular anthelmintic treatment of your cat in order to protect it not only from worms and other pests, but also to protect it from concomitant diseases.

Banal worms in cats can cause more serious illnesses

The causes of bladder atony are identified as physiological.

This can be stones and sand in the bladder cavity, in cats - inflammation of the prostate gland, untreated cystitis and urethritis.

Atony can also be caused by injuries to the spine or groin area, as a result of which the innervation of the nerve endings in the walls of the bladder is interrupted. If an animal falls out of a window, becomes the victim of an aggressive dog, or gets hit by a car, the consequences can include more than just external damage.

The cat owner must be vigilant and protect it from the most obvious dangers

The weakening of the functions of the bladder muscles in cats manifests itself clearly, but develops quickly. First of all, the owner may notice that the cat’s appetite has decreased, the animal has become lethargic, and going to the toilet has become less frequent. A cat can come to the litter box many times a day, but urinate every other time, sometimes there is no urination at all.

Urine accumulates in the organ, causing severe intoxication, and ultimately the animal may die due to a ruptured bladder.

In acute cases, only 20-25 hours may pass from the exacerbation of the disease to the death of the cat.

But, as a rule, such a rapid development of the disease is unusual for domestic cats, and the owner has enough time to help the pet.

A sick cat avoids affection and moves little

It is very easy to discover that something is wrong with a cat. At the onset of atony, the animal will appear restless, often going to the litter box, trying to go to the toilet. It can be seen that the pet is straining, looking for a comfortable position, but urination does not occur. As a rule, with atony, a few drops are poured out, and the urine often contains an admixture of blood or takes on a pink tint.

After several attempts to visit the toilet, the cat will most likely lie down next to you, since constant movements cause her discomfort. At this moment, the pet will not be happy about affection from the owner, the cat may scream if a person tries to pick it up, and when trying to disturb the cat, the owner must understand: at this moment, urination may occur involuntarily.

With atony, a cat may urinate blood

At the first symptoms indicating problems with the bladder, the animal should be taken to a veterinary clinic. The veterinarian will examine the cat, palpate the bladder, prescribe urine and blood tests, and an ultrasound of the abdominal organs. These studies are often sufficient to make a diagnosis.

the danger of bladder atony is the possibility of organ rupture, followed by the inevitable death of the animal.

Therefore, if there are signs of a full bladder (easily determined by manual examination of the animal), the veterinarian will insert a catheter through which the accumulated urine will be released.

This procedure can be painful for the animal, so it is often done under sedation or complete anesthesia.

The veterinarian will help the cat urinate and empty its bladder.

Cats quickly get used to wearing a diaper, and this measure allows not only to maintain hygiene in the apartment or other room where the animal lives, but will also help the pet itself not to get dirty. After all, you only need to wear diapers for a few days.

Cat diapers with a slit for a tail are sold in pet stores.

Treatment will be individual in each case, however, there are effective and proven drugs that are usually included in the therapeutic method for treating bladder atony. Please note that in no case should you self-medicate, since not only the choice of medication is important, but also its dosage, regimen and duration of administration.

Table 1. Drugs treating bladder atony in cats

DrugIndications

Only a qualified veterinarian can prescribe medication

Important point! Bladder atony in cats is a very serious disease, delaying treatment of which is dangerous for the pet’s life. At the same time, only a veterinarian in a clinical setting has the right to make all decisions regarding therapy and other medical procedures.

Each owner of a domestic cat can make his or her contribution to the prevention of such an unpleasant disease as bladder atony. You don't need to do anything special to prevent illness.

It is enough to provide the animal with the right diet, excluding cheap factory feed, “naked” meat and fish (the addition of fiber and carbohydrates is mandatory), and promptly treat the cat if it is sick with something (especially an inflammatory or infectious disease).

Prevention of atony in cats - proper care and feeding

The cat needs to be provided with constant access to clean water (in regions where tap water flows from the tap containing many salts or metals, filtered or bottled water should be used). It is important to protect your pet from possible injuries: do not let him go outside unattended, do not leave windows open.