Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat urethral tear from catheter fixed with surgery
By Hankins, Kimery L & Zacher, Laurie A·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Small Animal Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old male domestic shorthair cat was brought to the emergency vet for a complete blockage of his urethra, which was caused by bladder stones. After surgery to relieve the blockage, the cat developed a tear in his urethra, leading to fluid leaking into his abdomen. The vet placed a special catheter to help manage the tear, but it persisted even after several days. Eventually, the vet performed a surgical repair of the urethra, and follow-up tests showed that the tear had healed successfully. The cat recovered well after the procedure and was able to urinate normally again.
People also search for: cat urethral tear treatment · cat urinary blockage surgery · domestic shorthair cat urethra repair
Abstract
This report describes a case of primary urethral repair secondary to a urethral tear in a 4-year-old, male castrated, domestic shorthair cat. The cat was initially presented on an emergency basis for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis. A perineal urethrostomy and concurrent cystotomy were performed to relieve the urethral obstruction and retrieve the uroliths. One day postoperatively, a uroabdomen secondary to a urethral tear was diagnosed. An indwelling Foley catheter was placed. A contrast cystourethrogram performed 4 days later, however, revealed a persistent urethral tear, so a Foley catheter was replaced. Seven days after replacement, another contrast cystourethrogram was performed revealing a persistent urethral tear. Due to the anatomic location of the tear identified on radiographs after the contrast study, primary closure of the urethral defect with the placement of a Foley urinary catheter was completed. Another contrast urethrogram 7 days after repair revealed a resolved defect with no leakage appreciated once the urinary catheter was removed. This case highlights the management, surgical techniques, and success of a primary urethral repair in a cat. It demonstrates successful outcomes and follow-up for an uncommon procedure and illustrates the importance of initial catheterization for blocked felines.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40191079/