Bladder stones form when minerals crystallize — calcium oxalate requires surgery ($1,500-$3,000), struvite can dissolve with prescription diet (4-12 weeks). Most cat struvite stones form without infection. Calcium oxalate is increasingly common in middle-aged to older cats. Untreated stones can cause urethral obstruction — life-threatening in males.
Struvite: most common in younger cats, alkaline high-magnesium urine, sterile (no infection). Dissolves with acidifying diet in 4-12 weeks. Calcium oxalate: middle-aged to older cats, cannot dissolve, always requires surgery. Hypercalcemia increases risk. Struvite = dissolvable; calcium oxalate = requires surgery
Straining to urinate, little or no output. Blood in urine (pink, red, rusty). Frequent box trips, crying while urinating, excessive genital licking, urinating outside box, decreased appetite. In males: sudden inability to urinate = urethral obstruction emergency. Straining + blood in males = immediate emergency
X-rays ($150-$300): most stones visible. Ultrasound ($200-$400): small stones, bladder wall assessment. Urinalysis ($50-$100): pH, crystals, blood cells. Urine culture ($80-$150): rule out infection. Stone analysis after removal confirms composition. X-ray + urinalysis = standard initial workup
Struvite: prescription dissolution diet ($60-$120/month, 4-12 weeks), recheck X-ray confirms dissolution. Calcium oxalate: cystotomy ($1,500-$3,000). Urohydropropulsion for tiny smooth stones ($300-$600). Both: wet food and fountains reduce recurrence. Prevention diet: $60-$120/month ongoing. Surgery $1,500-$3,000 for calcium oxalate
Struvite dissolution: $400-$800. Calcium oxalate surgery: $2,000-$3,500. Long-term prevention diet: $60-$120/month ongoing.
Persians, Himalayans, Ragdolls, and British Shorthairs have higher calcium oxalate risk. Male cats at higher risk for urethral obstruction. Overweight cats are predisposed.
Calcium oxalate recurrence rate without prevention: ~7% within 3 years (Albasan 2009). Struvite recurrence: ~10-20% with dietary management. Lifelong prevention diet + water intake is critical.
Feed wet food or add water to food (increases urine dilution). Urinary prescription diets for cats with history. Regular veterinary checks for at-risk breeds. Weight management. Fresh water access at all times — consider a drinking fountain.
02/04
Cystotomy for calcium oxalate stones + follow-up.
Bladder stones covered by most accident/illness policies. Coverage includes diagnostics, dietary dissolution, surgery (cystotomy), and emergency care for urethral obstruction. Real benefit: cystotomy plus workup easily reaches $3,000-$4,000.
Any documented FLUTD, UTI, crystals, or straining before enrollment excludes all urinary conditions as pre-existing. Crystals alone on urinalysis create grounds for stone claim denial. Enroll before any urinary issue is documented.
Stones recur, especially calcium oxalate (~7% without prevention). After first claim, recurring episodes become chronic pre-existing. Some policies cover recurrence with annual deductibles; others cap total urinary coverage. Check chronic recurrence language carefully.
Prescription diets cost $60-$120/month. Most standard policies do not cover prescription food, even when medically prescribed. Some wellness add-ons include food coverage. Real gap: year of prevention diet = $720-$1,440 out of pocket.
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