Urinary stones in cats
Also known as Urolithiasis, Bladder stones, Struvite crystals, Calcium oxalate.
Mineral stones in the bladder or, less often, in the kidney. Struvite stones can be dissolved with diet; calcium oxalate stones cannot and have to be removed.
In a male cat, any difficulty urinating may be a blockage.
- Is it urgent?
- Not usually
- Spreads to other cats
- No
- Spreads to people
- No
- Typical cost in Spain
- Diagnosis, €120–250; bladder surgery, €700–1,800.
Symptoms
- Blood in the urine
- Goes to the litter tray often
- Pain when urinating
- Blockage in males
- Sometimes no signs at all
Causes
Very concentrated urine, an unsuitable diet, excess weight and a breed predisposition in the case of calcium oxalate.
How it is diagnosed
X-rays and ultrasound, urinalysis and, once removed, analysis of the stone.
Treatment
Struvite: a dissolution diet for several weeks. Oxalate: surgical removal or minimally invasive techniques. Afterwards, a preventive diet.
No doses, on purpose: any medicine must be prescribed by your vet for your cat.
Prognosis
Good, although relapses are common if water intake and diet are not looked after.
Prevention
More water, wet food, a healthy weight and urine checks if the cat has had stones before.
Breeds at higher risk
It is described more often in these breeds. That does not mean all of their cats will have it, nor that a moggy is free of it.
Frequently asked questions
What causes urinary stones?
Very concentrated urine, an unsuitable diet, excess weight and a breed predisposition in the case of calcium oxalate.
Can urinary stones be cured?
Good, although relapses are common if water intake and diet are not looked after. Struvite: a dissolution diet for several weeks. Oxalate: surgical removal or minimally invasive techniques. Afterwards, a preventive diet.
How much does it cost to treat urinary stones?
As a guide for Spain in 2026: Diagnosis, €120–250; bladder surgery, €700–1,800. Prices vary a lot between clinics and cities, and out-of-hours emergencies cost more.
Which breeds are most at risk?
It is described more often in Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair, Ragdoll, British Shorthair and Burmese. That does not mean every cat of those breeds will have it, nor that a moggy is free of it.
More in kidneys and urinary tract
Educational content from Michipedia. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a vet: if you have any doubt about your cat's health, ask. Costs are a guide for Spain in 2026.