They may occur as a large, single stone or as dozens of stones the size of large grains of sand or pea gravel. Gall stones are in the gall bladder, and kidney stones are in the kidney. They are not the same as bladder stones. Although the kidneys and urinary bladder are both part of the urinary system, kidney stones are usually unrelated to bladder stones. Hematuria occurs because the stones mechanically irritate the bladder wall, causing bleeding from its surface.
Dysuria occurs when stones obstruct the passage of urine out of the bladder.
When an obstruction occurs, urine cannot pass out of the body and the abdomen becomes very painful. Your cat may cry in pain, especially if pressure is applied to the abdominal wall. When there is no obstruction occurring, hematuria and dysuria are the most common signs seen in cats with bladder stones. However, pain usually also occurs in the bladder. This is known because when bladder stones are removed surgically, many owners tell us how much better their cat feels and how much more active it has become.