Cats
FLUTD and Blocked Cats: The Litter Box Emergency Every Owner Must Know
The umbrella term
FLUTD covers bladder inflammation (often stress-driven), crystals, stones and infections. Signs overlap: straining, frequent small urinations, blood in urine, crying in the box, licking underneath, and peeing outside the box.
The emergency version
A male cat straining and producing nothing may be blocked — urine backs up, kidneys fail, and death follows within days without treatment. A straining male cat is a middle-of-the-night emergency, full stop. When in doubt, go.
Stress is a real cause
The most common form, feline idiopathic cystitis, flares with stress: new pets, moves, construction, even rearranged furniture. Treatment includes pain relief plus genuinely reducing stress — predictable routines, safe spaces, more litter boxes, play.
Long-term prevention
Wet food and water everywhere (fountains help) dilute urine; prescription urinary diets dissolve and prevent certain crystals; maintain lean weight; and keep boxes abundant and immaculate. Cats with one episode often repeat — prevention is a lifestyle, not a course of pills.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
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