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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #18: Feline Urethral Obstruction

Cat veterinary case - Easy - March 21, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. A young male neutered cat is presented for repeated visits to the litter tray and vocalising.
  2. The owner reports only a few drops of urine have been produced since yesterday.
  3. The cat is restless, uncomfortable, and has begun vomiting.
  4. On examination the bladder is large, firm, and painful to palpation.
  5. Bloodwork reveals hyperkalaemia and azotaemia.
  6. Obstruction of the feline urethra causes post-renal azotaemia and can rapidly become life-threatening.

Diagnosis

Feline Urethral Obstruction

This case is most consistent with Feline Urethral Obstruction because the cat is stranguric, painful, and has a distended bladder with post-renal biochemical changes. The most important clues are the minimal urine output, large painful bladder, and hyperkalaemia, which strongly support urinary outflow obstruction.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cat case supports the provided diagnosis, Feline Urethral Obstruction, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: A young male neutered cat is presented for repeated visits to the litter tray and vocalising.
  2. Clue 2: The owner reports only a few drops of urine have been produced since yesterday.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: The cat is restless, uncomfortable, and has begun vomiting.
  2. Clue 4: On examination the bladder is large, firm, and painful to palpation.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Bloodwork reveals hyperkalaemia and azotaemia.
  2. Clue 6: Obstruction of the feline urethra causes post-renal azotaemia and can rapidly become life-threatening.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cat case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Feline Urethral Obstruction?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Feline Urethral Obstruction?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.