Please Help - Kitten Urinary - Reblocked after Catheter removal

6-8 wks approx. when found almost 3 weeks ago - 12 days ago admitted for uroabdomen - confirmed tear and surgery to get catheter in - couldn't pass catheter through urinary tract - went through bladder -  just had removal of catheter yesterday- he blocked through the night and we're at the end of our ropes as the culpit for the issue is too high up in the pelvis for any hail Mary's.  During surgery - 2 thurs ago - they tried to see what was causing obstacle to get catheter through - seems to be some kind of stricture but he was too tiny to get a scope in to really see.  My husband found him in traffic, he's fel leuk/fiv negative - my heart is breaking as they are unable to re-catheterize, still trying, at last phone call - they're trying the valium and something else as relaxers as they said there was some contracting in the urethra - but not enough to be the cause for the re-block - I can't bear to think this tiny kitten wont ever get a chance - him being little and the issue being in the pelvis is what's precluding PU surgery - it's just to high up the urethra/in the pelvis -  I know there's no magic bullet but I have to ask - does anyone have any ideas

apparently stents aren't an option either ... 

I should mention that he's got some bad tissue burns(urine) on his back haunches which creates even more surgical challenges, on top of his small size and the location of stricture(scar tissue?)

I can't believe he blocked so quickly

thank you for any insight you might have

Tina & Clarke

Welcome to the site.

If I am reading this right you are talking about a 3 month old kitten?  I hate to say it but I think this is some kind of congenital defect.  Is this kitten tailless by any chance?

No he' not a tailless - congenital was a concern - because he was a road kitty his history is unknown making it all more mysterious - the Saturday when we got him to the first vet, it appeared as though something had 'popped' he had a lot of mucous/pus from his prepuce - he'd had a huge pee a couple of days earlier making me think a) poor kid so dehydrated b) no peeing problem there   then being in the road, we were thinking - had he been sideswiped but there was nothing to indicate that he'd been hit - and then it was well maybe he'd been hurt previously - also thinking of prepuce infections from littermates mistaking prepuce for nipple, could it have been an infection as the original cause - there were a lot of unknowns when we undertook this but we had to try - we're completely heartbroken

let me add, thank you for the welcome and fast reply, Denice - apologies, i'm not thinking straight right now

surely, there has to be something - isn't it too quick to pull the trigger when the catheter just came out - I've been reading and people say the urethra is all jacked up a bit after the catheter comes out - the vet said that shouldn't impact the inability to recatheretize to this degree

I can't take not having any options - this is horrible

the thing that bothers me about congenital - is how could he have survived this long if it was a congenital thing - I just can't shake that he managed to survive all that time prior to hubs finding him/rescuing him - what/how did his body do that and what makes that change, if anything, as he grew over the weeks, shouldn't his urethra have been growing as well?

if anyone has any mojo/prayers/vibes - whatever -  to spare for Clarke, we'd all appreciate it - I really can't imagine having to say goodbye to him - he just needs a little wiggle room to get that pee out - this is madness, he's just a baby

why did it have to be in the worst spot possible!?!  why?!?  :'(

tina jensen , sorry I am just now seeing your post.

I too am torn on the congenital thing.

If I were in your shoes, I would be contacting an internal medicine specialist at Cornell or other large vet school.

I am hoping the vet was able to place another catheter!

Please update when you can

I just wanted to add...
I am currently at the vet with one of our newest kitten intakes that has a very bloated belly. In talking about testing for him, our vet mentioned that she had a 6 week old puppy come in with a huge bladder stone, which was removed is surgery (stones in any puppy/kitten is very rare.) In testing the puppy for possible causes, the puppy was found to have a congenital liver issue.

I was unsuccessfully trying to rack my brain to see what would lead to such a young kitten having crystals. That is why I was torn with the congenital think. Perhaps there is a kidney or liver issue that has lead to the crystal formation and that, coupled with a stricture is why your kitten is having these issues.

Again, if the kitten has survived through his most recent ordeal, I definitely think an internal medicine specialist is needed.

Thank you so much Cat pack  - I'm sorry I haven't updated yet - We're exhausted - but I wanted to let everyone know that Clarke is still with us - I'll post more details in a bit but we've been going since my last post - we brought Clarke home with us that night(tuesday) and we crossed the border to acquire our hail mary - Clarke underwent PPU surgery and we're starting on day 2 recovery at home - the vets feel the original source was an untreated infection/injury from suckling littermate.  We're not out of the woods yet(3wk recovery+any number of short and long-term complications)however, the surgical team feel positive that the surgery was successful in addressing all the issues Clarke presented with.  We're taking it day by day and are simply grateful that Clarke is here and able to pee.  Clarke is doing well based on all he's been through and is proving to be a monkey.    Thank you to anyone who sent a good thought, prayer, mojo, vibes etc our way, truly appreciated <3 

Thank you for the update! You might research (as if you aren't busy enough already *rolleyes*) using soothing herbs, such as slippery elm and marshmallow root - the website Little Big Cat has a good article on Slippery Elm Bark, and then ask your vet if that is an option for Clarke. I am a veteran of kidney & bladder issues so I totally commiserate with your little guy. 

Sending prayers and vibes for Clarke's speedy recovery & support for you  Susan

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely research those.  I've done ferrets and am familiar with Slippery elm being something to help with intestinal issues with those guys so that's interesting that it has applications for cats/kittens as well.  Someone's playtime has kicked up tremendously - he's a turbo monkey conehead and i'm in big trouble when that thing comes.  He was doing the crazy kitten this am, flying onto and off the bed in his 'recup' room(we removed the rails prior so it's a box spring and mattress only).  Asked hubs to buy 2 yoga mats on his way home so I can have one on either side for landing purposes(plus my mental health!)  I think i'll have a quite a few new grey hairs by the end of this. I'm grateful he plays and is enjoying being a kitten.  He has consistently ate well and continues to do so.  He seems to be getting the hang of his new 'down there set-up'.  He wants to groom so badly, I feel bad for him that way but am glad to see 'normal' kitty behaviour.  Sorry lil meow, that cone is staying on for a while. 

Thank you!! for mojo and prayers - we have a long road ahead of us and can use every bit we can get.  It's incredible for me to think of today last week.  We were celebrating our good news that the urethral tear had healed and after contrast, etc - everything was looking so good, he'd already peed, and we couldn't wait to pick Clarke up the next day.  We were so excited, relieved and were en route to visit him... Here's a pic of him from that visit a week ago


all celebrating with a litter box...  how fast things change...

here's a recent pic of him, from last night - that's his MSU Spartan tiger, he's honorary now  - Go Spartans! 


thanks for your reply and cool emoji vibes Susan, very much appreciated