by Nomi Berger
 
Curious about the meaning behind YOUR kitty’s tail wag? According to many cat behaviorists, the manner in which your frolicsome feline wags her tail can have several different meanings.
 
Consider then:
 
“The Swish”
 
Playing cats will often swish their tails from side to side before pouncing. On the other paw, the speed and direction with which they swish their tails can also convey their emotions. When they thrash their tails back and forth quickly, it indicates that they’re unhappy and want to be left alone. When they move their tails slowly from left to right, it shows that they’re mildly annoyed.
 
“The Twitch”
 
How often have you witnessed your kitty sitting on a windowsill, concentrating intently on nature’s “TV screen” in the form of a flying bird, a fluttering butterfly or a scampering squirrel when her tail starts to twitch? The set of her ears and eyes and the vocalizations she makes along with this familiar twitch indicates one of two things: she’s maintaining her laser-like focus on what she sees or she’s unduly upset for some reason. In either scenario, her message to you is “leave me alone.”
 
“The Quiver”
 
This is a rapid and tiny wagging movement -- much like a rattlesnake’s but cuter, not to mention safer. When your kitty’s excited to see you, she may approach you with her tail held vertically aloft and only the tip of it making those quick little quivering motions. This warm greeting is often accompanied by purring, happy chirrups or meows, and rubbing her face against your ankles or legs.
 
“The Sleepy Flick”
 
Unlike their canine counterparts who respond immediately when called, our more laid back feline friends seem to favor pondering their response before acting on it. And what better to demonstrate this to us than with a slow, sleepy flick of their tails against the floor. But offer them food? The mere sound of a can being opened or the aroma of something deliciously familiar wafting their way, and no more sleepy flicks for them. All pretense past, this is one “call” they’re more than eager to answer -- promptly.
 
If they’re sleeping, however, and we call out to them, many mischievous kitties prefer to play games. Rather then openly acknowledging us, they’ll reply with a single, subtly dismissive flick of their tail. The message behind this sweet snub: “I can hear you, but I’m pretending to ignore you.”
 
Be flattered! This form of tail wag is, in fact, a sign of your cat’s contentment. She’s letting you know in kitty parlance that she’s comfortable staying asleep in your presence. But then, as every head-over-heels in love feline fancier knows, your precious, precocious puss always has you right where she wants you: fittingly wrapped around her fine, furry paw.

by Nomi Berger
 
The short answer, despite several theories: no one really knows.
 
And yet, consider the following:
 
Safekeeping: The theory given the most credence by animal behaviorists involves a cat’s territorial instinct. They believe cats consider their food and water bowls to be safe places, known only to them. Depositing a prized possession – in this instance, a favorite toy -- in one or other of their bowls is their way of keeping it safe. The rationale behind this paw-ticular theory? A domesticated cat’s wild relatives such as leopards, bobcats and wildcats have been known to store their food in a safe location known as a cache. Because indoor cats don’t have caches, their food and/or water bowls are the purr-fect substitutes in which to hide their own “bounty.”
 
Hunting: There are two theories, both based on the assumption that your cat associates her toys with food or prey. One theory posits that when a toy (everything from rubber mice and moppy balls to catnip squirrels and fuzzy turtles) is dropped into her water bowl, she’s equating this with hunting and may be attempting to drown her prey before devouring it. The second theory suggests that she’s trying to teach YOU to hunt, the way a mother cat teaches her kittens when she brings the prey she’s caught back to them. And because you’re a regular “visitor” to her water bowl, she’s left that toy there for you to find.
 
Playing: Many wild cats feel extremely comfortable in and around water and will often play in it. Similarly, some domesticated cats may drop their toys into their water bowls in order to fish them out -- as their own form of playing.
 
Reliving that happy feeling: For your cat, her food bowl is a happy place, the source of everything good. And since she loves to eat, she undoubtedly associates her food bowl with those happy feelings. It’s theorized, then, that she’s merely bringing objects she likes (one or more toys) to a place she loves (her food bowl).
 
Expediency: Some cats are seldom seen without a toy in their mouths, and they simply drop it into their food or water bowls because they can’t hold onto the toy and eat or drink at the same time.
 
Can you – or should you -- stop your own cat from dropping her toys into her food or water bowl? Some behaviorists say “no”. Why? As peculiar as this particular habit may seem to you, it may, in fact, be instinctive in nature. If so, it may be impossible to try and stop her from doing what nature intended her to do.
 
Even if you did manage to stop her, any resourceful cat would quickly find an alternate safe place for her prized possessions -- such as your sink, bathtub or toilet bowl. Or if she’s the “gifting” kind of kitty, she may generously and lovingly deposit one of her water-logged toys on top of your head in the middle of the night!

by Nomi Berger
 
Scooting (the act of a pet dragging his/her bum along the ground) may be seen more often in dogs, but cats sometimes scoot as well – usually when their rears are itchy or irritated.
 
One of the more common causes of this phenomenon is intestinal parasites, particularly tapeworms. Whereas tapeworms can be seen in your cat’s poop (they look like grains of white rice), some parasites are invisible to the naked eye. Other signs of a parasite infestation include diarrhea or constipation, weight loss and a potbelly.
 
If your cat suffers from allergies – most often environmental -- that cause itchy skin, the itchiness can extend to every area of her body, including her bum. Various environmental allergies include dust and pollen, mold and mites, even fleas.
 
Although cats seem to have fewer anal gland issues than dogs, your cat’s sudden scooting may, in fact, indicate a problem with her anal glands. Anal glands, two small internal sacs positioned on either side of the anus that produce a pungent liquid, should, if they’re working properly, express each time your cat poops and remove any fecal bacteria along with it.
 
Sometimes, though, inflammation keeps this liquid from being expelled. Instead, it builds up inside the sacs where it can become very thick, almost paste like, leading to the sacs being impacted. The result of such extreme discomfort is the sight of your cat scooting along any and all surfaces in an effort to find some relief. If her sacs are impacted, however, and bacteria gets into them, they can become infected and potentially abscess.
 
To learn why your cat is scooting, bring her promptly to the vet for a thorough physical examination that will include a search for signs of parasites, areas of itchy skin and problems with her anal glands. Your vet will likely do a fecal test and possibly a de-worming especially if diarrhea is involved and check for any kind of perianal or vulvar inflammation infection, including the presence of yeast, which can be extremely itchy.
 
In short, treating your cat’s scooting depends on the cause. A thorough de-worming should eliminate any irritating intestinal parasites from her system. The prognosis for recovery from an infection of intestinal parasites is good, with most cats being completely cured within several weeks of treatment.
 
Although allergies may be more complicated to pin down, once the cause has been identified, your vet will be able to prescribe an appropriate treatment such as a topical medication to soothe her itchiness, perhaps even changing the food she eats as well.
 
If her anal glands are impacted or infected, your vet will express the affected sac(s), flushing out the solidified material, infuse the sac(s) with an anti-inflammatory and have you administer antibiotics orally to her in order to kill the remaining bacteria.
 
In most cases of impacted anal glands, the original cause of the condition remains a mystery. Some studies show a connection between a primarily wet or canned food diet and scooting, suggesting that cats suffering from recurring bouts of scooting may need a higher content of dry food or food that contains more fiber or bone meal elements to assist in proper bowel expression.

 by Nomi Berger
 
If you think cats are safe from heartworm disease, think again.
 
Unlike their canine counterparts, cats aren’t typical hosts for heartworms, and while most worms in infected cats don’t reach the adult stage, immature worms can still cause a condition known as HARD (heartworm associated respiratory disease). More importantly, however, infected cats remain undiagnosed longer than infected dogs, while Melarsomine, the drug of choice prescribed to kill adult heartworms in dogs, is toxic for cats.  
 
The miniscule mosquito plays a MAJOR role in the life cycle of the heartworm. Adult heartworms living in infected wildlife animals like foxes, coyotes or wolves produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria which circulate in their bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these baby worms which mature into larvae within 10 to 14 days. When the infected mosquito bites a cat, the infective larvae are deposited onto the surface of her skin and enter her body through the wound. It takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms which can live for up to 2 or 3 years inside her.
 
A serious and progressive disease, the earlier it is detected, the better the chances your cat will recover. Signs of heartworm disease range from very subtle to very dramatic. Symptoms can include coughing, asthma-like attacks, periodic vomiting, loss of appetite, or weight loss. Sometimes an infected cat may have difficulty walking, faint, have seizures, or suffer from fluid accumulation in her abdomen. Sadly, in some cases, the first sign of the disease is her sudden collapse or sudden death.
 
Heartworm disease is now found throughout the country, risk factors are impossible to predict, and since infected mosquitoes can come inside, both outdoor and indoor cats are at risk. Because of this, the American Heartworm Society suggests your cat be tested by your vet every year and given a heartworm preventive all year round
 
Your vet will perform a thorough physical examination of your cat, run blood tests, take x-rays, and in some cases, order an ultrasound. If her diagnosis is positive, and with no approved drug therapy available for cats, she can often be helped with good veterinary care and a long-term management plan. Many cats even experience a spontaneous clearing of the heartworms.
 
If she’s not exhibiting any signs of respiratory distress, but worms have been detected in her lungs, your vet may recommend she have chest x-rays every 6 to 12 months. If she’s showing some mild symptoms, corticosteroids such as prednisone or prednisolone will most likely be used because of their potent anti-inflammatory properties, with treatment often continuing until the adult worms have died and are cleared from the lungs -- a two to three year process.
 
If the disease is severe, your vet may recommend your cat be hospitalized in order to provide her with such therapy as intravenous fluids, drugs to treat her lung and heart symptoms and antibiotics coupled with general nursing care. In some cases, surgical removal of the heartworms may be possible.
 
Like healthy cats, any cat with heartworm disease should be given preventives to keep new infections from developing if an infected mosquito bites her again. Whether the preventive you choose is a pill, a spot-on topical medication or an injection, all three work by eliminating the infective larvae and keeping them from maturing into adult worms. For this reason, the preventives must be assiduously administered on schedule -- monthly for pills and topical medications, and every 6 months for injections.

by Nomi Berger
 
While relatively rare, a cat stroke is always alarming.
 
A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is obstructed, resulting in almost immediate tissue damage and disruption of your cat’s bodily functions. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms, getting a diagnosis and beginning treatment can mean the difference between life and death for your purr-ecious pet.
 
These symptoms include: seizures and/or staggering; obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety; unconsciousness; refusal to drink for 24 hours or more; walking in circles; head tilt; overall weakness; change in eye movements/uneven pupils; vomiting, and not eating.
 
If your cat exhibits one or more of these signs, bring her to the vet or to the closest emergency clinic right away! Although not proof paws-itive of a stroke, she does require a prompt and thorough examination.
 
Did you know that there are three variations of strokes? A thrombotic stroke is when a blood clot forms in an artery to the brain. An embolic stroke is when a blood clot forms in another location then gets stuck in the part of the bloodstream that supplies blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel inside the brain itself leaks.
 
Any abnormality in your cat’s blood flow, namely, the creation of a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel, is usually indicative of some underlying issue. While the underlying issue may have gone undetected – and unsuspected – for some time, the obstruction itself can manifest itself suddenly. This is the reason your cat may seem healthy one minute and be in dire straits the next.
 
Some main causes of blood clots and/blood vessel ruptures include thyroid issues, kidney issues, diabetes, traumatic injuries, a heart condition, high blood pressure, and brain lesions.
 
To err on the side of caution, the first step in the vet’s assessment of your cat may be the immediate start of oxygen therapy. Then, to confirm whether or not she has, in fact, suffered a stroke, a CT (computerized tomography) scan and/or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) will be used. She may also have to spend time in the Intensive Care Unit to have her vital signs monitored and any medications – if necessary -- administered. The kinds of medication used depend on the underlying issue that caused the stroke and may include anti-inflammatory medications as well.
 
Once your stricken cat is, hopefully, cleared to go home with you, her ongoing treatment usually involves keeping her hydrated with subcutaneous fluids and keeping her under careful observation. While many cats will return to normal within two weeks of suffering a minor stroke, the chances of her developing secondary epilepsy are greatly increased, and this is something no cat owner wants to hear.
 
But if you’re familiar with the expression “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, you’ll be relieved to know that the best way to help your cat avoid a stroke in the first place is by preventing it.
 
To accomplish this, ensure that she’s always kept in the best shape paws-ible. Feed her the healthiest of diets and keep her weight stable; keep her mentally stimulated and physically active consistently; keep all environmental stressors to a minimum; take her to the vet both for annual medical exams and at the first sign of any changes in her behavior or appearance.

by Nomi Berger
 
Has your cat been drinking a lot more water recently, and having to urinate more frequently? Has she begun losing weight despite being hungrier than usual and wanting to eat all the time?
 
If so, she may have diabetes. The second most common glandular disorder in cats (hypothyroidism is first), diabetes occurs as a result of a problem with insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose levels. Similar to humans, cats suffer from two forms of diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the cat’s pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas can make insulin, but its secretion is impaired. An estimated 80 percent of diabetic cats have Type 2 diabetes.
 
Should your cat be exhibiting these four classic symptoms -- increased thirst and water intake, increased urination, appetite gain and weight loss – bring her to the vet immediately.
 
To make a proper diagnosis, your vet will record all of your cat’s clinical signs, perform a physical examination, and collect blood and urine samples. The presence of elevated blood glucose together with excessive glucose in the urine is indicative of diabetes. Treatment will then depend on the severity of her symptoms, the test results, and whether she has any other health issues that could complicate her therapy. Since every cat responds differently to treatment, your cat’s therapy will be designed specifically for her.
 
New long-acting insulin preparations for humans such as glargine (brand name Lantus) and detemir (brand name Levemir) have also proven to be effective in cats, often resolving their diabetes completely. Which cats go into “diabetic remission” depends on their diet, the type of insulin used, how strictly their blood glucose is regulated, how early the treatment is started (the sooner the better), and whether their pancreas is capable of secreting insulin (as in Type 2 diabetes).
 
Diet is a vital part of your diabetic cat’s therapy. Numerous studies have shown that the ideal diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate one, with canned food preferred over dry food. There are many prescription diets designed for this purpose and most vets’ offices carry them.
 
Insulin by injection, however, is the mainstay of her therapy. Both human and veterinary insulin preparations are available, and while all of them work well, remission is more likely to be achieved with the above-mentioned long-acting human insulin preparations. The ideal spot for administering these injections is the loose skin between and around her shoulders (your vet or vet tech can demonstrate this for you).
 
Once your cat’s insulin therapy has started, her blood glucose levels must be assessed frequently to determine whether or not the dosage needs adjusting. Too little insulin and her diabetes won’t be controlled. Too much, on the other hand, can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). Fortunately, there are now blood glucose monitoring system kits specifically designed for cats (they include a specially calibrated meter, a lancing device, lancets, test strips, user’s guide and carrying case) that allow you to check her levels at home.
 
The small vein that runs around the edge of your cat’s ear is the easiest location to get a blood sample for the test. Your vet can tell you how often to test her, and you’ll be surprised at how well she tolerates it.
 
While “diabetic remission” is what every cat owner hopes for, not every cat will achieve it, and some who do may relapse at a later date. For the great majority of cats, however, diabetes remains a condition without a cure. But when managed effectively, your cherished companion can still live a long and loving life.

by Nomi Berger
 
As with humans, cognitive dysfunction or dementia in cats is more prevalent the older they get. Because of this, protective pet parents must become proactive pet parents to ensure their cherished companions receive the extra care they require.
 
For senior cats without a specific disease or injury, these are some of the most common behaviors associated with their overall physical and cognitive decline:
 
Confusion and disorientation: Many cats may appear lost or confused in familiar surroundings, including their own home.
 
Changes in responsiveness: Cats may appear to not recognize family members and may respond poorly to formerly familiar commands.
 
Vocalizations, restlessness and/or new sensitivities: Some cats may begin to perform repetitive behaviors or vocalizations such as whimpers or howls, become more restless and/or become more sensitive to loud noises.
 
Reduced activity: Not only will most older cats slow down physically, they may also eat less, groom themselves less, and become less affectionate.  
 
Changes in the sleep-wake cycle: Many senior cats experience disruptions in their sleeping pattern.
 
Changes in house training: Many seem to lose their housetraining skills causing them to have frequent accidents outside their litter boxes.
 
To provide the best possible care for your senior cat, have her thoroughly examined and tested by your vet. The results will reveal whether her new behaviors are due to some other condition or to dementia.
 
If your cat is indeed suffering from dementia, your vet may prescribe a psychoactive drug to improve her brain function. One such drug, Anipryl, is most often used to treat dogs with dementia, but the American Association of Feline Practitioners supports its use in cats – with varying degrees of success.
 
While there’s no cure for dementia, you can slow down the signs and keep your cat as content and comfortable as possible by feeding her a healthy diet, increasing her exercise regime, including games to stimulate her brain, and taking her to the vet every six months.
 
The best diet for cats with dementia is one that’s high in antioxidants -- vitamins C and E, beta carotene and essential fatty acids (Omega-3’s), to which your vet may suggest adding other vitamins and/or supplements. It’s also essential that you keep your cat on a fixed feeding schedule to reduce the chances of her becoming confused.
 
Do your best to be patient and gentle with her. Try not to get frustrated, remaining as calm and supportive as possible. Since companionship is key, keep her engaged with the other members of your family even if she seems to have forgotten them. To keep her “centered”, never rearrange your furniture or make any changes in what, to her, are familiar surroundings. Increase “environmental cues” such as leaving a radio on in rooms she frequents so that she can follow the sound. Remind her of the basic commands she’s forgotten by retraining her – from where to potty to where to sleep.
 
But above all, remember she’s the same cat you’ve always loved and who’s always loved you, and that, with all the resources at your disposal, your time together can still be quality time.

by Nomi Berger
 
Do you live in a multi-cat household? If so, you have probably wondered if your feline friends experience jealousy.
 
Imagine lying peacefully in bed one morning, half-dozing, with one of your two kitties curled up beside you. Imagine your second kitty attempting to join in the “cuddle” only to have your first kitty reach up and smack her hard several times on the head. The implied message: you are HERS at the moment, and she has no intention of sharing you.
 
We as humans would certainly interpret this as jealousy. But do cats get jealous in the same way? According to many animal behaviorists, what WE consider jealousy is known in the feline world as rivalry.
 
Why? Cats are creatures of habit, of predictability, preferring a stable environment with a minimum of changes and challenges. They lay claim to certain places, spaces and toys in their home, and they lay claim to Y-O-U: to your time, your attention and your affection. Short of splitting yourself in two (or three or more equal parts), the result can be kitty cat rivalry.
 
In nature, cats are driven to rival one another for such scarce and highly prized resources as food and clean water. Males will run off other males to keep their resources, including their females and shelter, to themselves. Females keep their domain even smaller while they raise their kittens, and intruders in that space are less than welcome. This isn’t jealousy; it’s a competition for finite resources.
 
While our indoor cats face no such challenges, their instinct to protect their “resources” is deeply ingrained in them and informs how they ultimately behave. Despite their access to a seemingly endless supply of food, water and safe, cozy places to sleep, some cats still find sharing them with others impaws-ible.
 
The easiest way to handle cat-on-cat rivalry in your home is by ensuring there are enough of the essentials to go around, starting with food and fresh water, clean litter boxes and cozy cat beds. If you live in a small apartment with a limited amount of room, add cat trees and shelving to give your kitties more vertical space to roam, along with several snug nooks or cubbies to curl up in.
 
Since you probably top their essential “resources” list, it’s essential that you give each of your cats some quality one-on-one time with you and encourage them to engage in group playtime with one another. Fulfilling their need for attention can be as simple as sitting on the sofa with a cat (or two) on either side of you, petting them, scratching their heads and kissing them – equally! 
 
Whether its name is “jealousy” or “rivalry”, understanding what motivates your cats to behave as they do and what triggers these feelings allows you to hopefully keep them at bay. Avoiding situations that bring out the competitor in them is key to achieving lasting harmony in your multi-cat household – no matter how many possessive pussy cats you have.

by Nomi Berger
 
Daylight Saving Time officially begins on March 10th at 2:00 AM.
 
While thankfully close to the official start of spring, many people as well as their pets can find “springing forward” and losing that hour of purr-ecious sleep both disorienting and disturbing.
 
Cats, like all animals, are creatures of habit, and unlike people, they don’t have to check a watch or a clock in order to schedule their day. Blessed with their own internal, biological clock, known as the circadian rhythm, they know exactly when to eat and nap, exercise and sleep.
 
When this rhythm is suddenly disrupted by their owners’ waking up early or returning home from work while they’re still taking their afternoon nap, they can become extremely anxious.
 
Consider three of the ways the start of Daylight Saving Time may affect your own feline friend.
 
Feeding Time: If your cat is used to being fed at the same time every day, when her food unexpectedly arrives before she’s hungry, this early meal might throw off her digestive cycle. She may act out rambunctiously, turn up her nose and stalk off or gulp down her food then meow for more out of habit when her usual feeding time comes around.
 
Medication Time: If your cat is diabetic and receives her medication at a certain time of day, getting it early might be a shock to her system. While an hour usually shouldn’t make much of a difference -- depending on her needs – medicating her early can cause a change in her energy level as her body adjusts to the new insulin schedule. Other medications, such as those for heart failure, can cause problems if they’re administered too early.
 
Together Time: Although many cats are extremely independent and easily able to amuse themselves on their own, others are far more social and rely heavily on more consistent interaction with their owners. If your cat is one of these, used to you both waking up and leaving home at a certain hour, those vital 60 minutes of “lost” together time can cause her undue anxiety.
 
The best way of reducing the negative effects of “springing forward” on your cat is to prepare for the time switch a few weeks early and alter your schedule by a few minutes each day. This gradual change is far less noticeable and far less disruptive than changing everything by an hour all at once.
 
Begin by serving your cat’s meal(s) a few minutes earlier each day. Speak with your vet about the safest way of changing the time(s) she receives any and all of her medications. Leave for work a few minutes earlier each day to acclimate her to your leaving home before the usual time. But most importantly, remain vigilant and be sensitive to any shift in her mood. If she seems anxious or nervous, some extra chin scratches and snuggles may be just what she needs!
 
Tick tock.

by Nomi Berger
 
Problems affecting a cat’s lower urinary tract may prevent the bladder from emptying correctly or may even cause a fatal blockage of the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the cat’s body.
 
All too often, the cause is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). Symptoms include frequent or painful urination, bloody urine and frequent licking of the urinary opening. Essential in treating FLUTD is first determining the cause of it, which may include such endocrine diseases as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus as well as bladder stones, urinary tract blockages, infection or cancer. If the cause can’t be determined, the cat is considered to have cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).
 
The causes of FLUTD include: stones, crystals or accumulated debris in the bladder or urethra; a urethral plug (accumulated debris from urine); bladder inflammation or infection; incontinence from excessive water drinking or weak bladder; injury to, or tumor in the urinary tract; stress; spinal cord problems and a congenital abnormality. Rarely seen in cats younger than a year, the average age is typically four years, with males being more prone to urethral blockages due to their narrower urethras.
 
Signs your cat is having problems with his/her urinary tract include: the inability to urinate or passing only a small amount of urine; bloody or cloudy urine; loss of bladder control and/or dribbling urine; increased frequency of urination or visits to the litter box; straining and/or crying out in pain when attempting to pass urine; prolonged squatting in the litter box; fear/avoidance of the litter box and soiling in inappropriate places; constant licking of the urinary opening; a strong odor of ammonia in the urine; lethargy; vomiting; increased water consumption, and a hard, distended abdomen.
 
If your kitty is either straining to urinate or crying out in pain, see your veterinarian immediately. This could be a medical emergency!
 
To diagnose a lower urinary tract problem, your vet should perform a complete physical examination that includes a urinalysis, urine culture and blood work, and if necessary, x-rays and/or an ultrasound.
 
Depending on the ultimate diagnosis, your vet may recommend one or more of the following courses of action: antibiotics or other medications, dietary changes, increase in water intake and urinary acidifiers; aids in expelling any small stones through the urethra; surgery to remove bladder stones or a tumor or to correct a congenital abnormality; a urinary catheter or surgery to remove a urethral blockage in male cats, and fluid therapy.
 
If left untreated, urinary problems can cause a partial or complete obstruction of the urethra. This, in turn, can quickly lead to kidney failure and/or rupture of the bladder, which can prove fatal.