Feline Urethral Obstruction (FUO) | How to unblock a cat | VETgirl Veterinary CE Videos

Main Ideas

Feline urethral obstruction is a common emergency in general and emergency practice. The presenter emphasizes preparing in advance, handling the obstruction gently and efficiently, and providing supportive care after catheter placement.

Procedure and Key Points

Prepare Supplies and Provide Initial Care

• Place an IV catheter and start IV fluids.
• Prepare sterile gloves, sterile lubricant, and several urinary catheter options. The presenter mentions open- or closed-ended Tomcat catheters, Slippery Sam catheters, red-rubber catheters, and olive-tip catheters.
• The presenter’s preferred approach is to use a closed-ended Tomcat catheter, followed by a 5-French red-rubber catheter.

Sedate According to the Cat’s Condition

Choose a sedation plan based on the cat’s stability and the clinician’s familiarity with the drugs. The presenter says that a critically ill, comatose, or obtunded cat may not need sedation, while most cats do.

The presenter gives a typical example of 4 mg butorphanol, 10 mg ketamine, 2.5 mg of a drug transcribed in the captions as “dasopam” (possibly diazepam), and sometimes 10–20 mg propofol per cat. These are the presenter’s example doses, not individualized instructions.

Position the Cat and Pass the Initial Catheter

With an assistant, position the cat in dorsal recumbency. The demonstration uses open- and closed-ended Tomcat catheters, with saline delivered by syringe to help flush the obstruction.

Extrude the penis and hold the prepuce securely. Insert the Tomcat catheter approximately ½ to ¾ inch, until its holes are no longer visible. Apply gentle but firm traction to the prepuce, drawing it caudally and ventrally while advancing and flushing. This helps straighten the penile flexure so the catheter can pass over the ischial arch.

As the Tomcat catheter is withdrawn, flush forcefully enough to move grit, crystals, or mucus-like debris back into the bladder.

Place and Secure the Indwelling Catheter

Advance a 3.5- or 5-French red-rubber catheter, flushing as it advances. Once correctly positioned, secure it with a Chinese finger-trap suture while the cat is still sedated.

Confirm catheter depth by pre-measuring with the catheter wrapper, checking for urine flow while palpating the bladder, or using radiographs. Avoid advancing the catheter so far that it curls back on itself.

Assess the Bladder and Provide Follow-Up Care

Ultrasound can help assess for bladder stones, crystals, or debris, and can help check or adjust catheter depth.

After unblocking, the presenter stresses aggressive IV fluids to address possible post-obstructive diuresis, electrolyte monitoring, pain relief, and other supportive care. The presenter notes that most patients do well.

Speakers and Source

• Unnamed clinician/presenter: Narrates the procedure and describes the clinical approach.
• Assistant: Helps position the cat; no speech is represented in the subtitles.
• Source: VETgirl veterinary CE video.