Basic Sciences Bldg. 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. By Sarah Probst Information Specialist University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Recurrent blockages of the penis can be painful in any species. The urethra could be blocked by a crystal buildup, a blood clot, sloughed tissue fragments, or a urethral plug. A urethal plug is the most common blockage in cats.
Veterinarians can flush the urethra or surgically remove the blockage.
Second-year veterinary student Jill Scott has a cat who had recurrent penile obstruction. Bailey would squat to urinate about every ten minutes inside and outside of the box and no urine would come out. Bailey got blocked four times in four weeks over the summer. The veterinarian I was working with in Hilton Head, South Carolina, suggested we consider a surgery where you remove your cat's penis and basically make him into a girl cat. One thing people need to consider is that the cost of the surgery, called perianal urethrostomy, ultimately is cheaper than the cost of unblocking your cat over and over again.