Structure and Function of the Urinary Tract in Cats

Below is information about the structure and function of the feline urinary tract. We will tell you about the general structure of the urinary tract, how the urinary tract works, common diseases that affect the urinary tract, and common diagnostic tests performed in cats to evaluate the urinary tract.

What Is the Urinary Tract?

The cat’s urinary tract is a system made up of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. These organs work together to produce, transport, store and excrete urine. The urinary tract also rids the body of many fluid waste materials and products and has other vitally important functions, including controlling the volume and composition of the body fluids.

Where Is the Cat’s Urinary Tract Located?

Dogs and cats have two kidneys, both located in the abdominal cavity under the backbone, close to where the last rib meets the spine. The ureters (one from each kidney) extend from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is located in the abdomen just in front of the pubic bone of the pelvis. The urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside, passes along the floor of the pelvis. It ends in the vestibule of the vagina in the female cat and at the tip of the penis in the male cat.

What Is the General Structure and Function of the Feline Urinary Tract?

The kidneys are paired, bean-shaped organs. The indentation of the “bean” is called the hilus, which is the area where the blood vessels, nerves and ureters enter and leave the kidney.

The structural and functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. There are hundreds of these microscopic filtering units, and each has the ability to form urine by itself. Each nephron consists of a circular ball-shaped cluster of small blood vessels called a glomerulus, and a small tube called a renal tubule. Nephrons are responsible for removing urea, which is combined with water and other waste products to produce urine.

The urine is emptied into the pelvis of the kidney, a collecting chamber located in the middle of the kidney in the area of the hilus. Urine from the kidney passes into the ureters, which are very thin tubes that extend from the kidney to the urinary bladder. Muscles in the walls of the ureters cause the urine to travel towards the bladder where it enters in small spurts.

The bladder is a collapsible muscular organ shaped like a balloon found in the back portion of the abdomen. It provides a means for temporary urine storage. The bladder is held in place by ligaments that are attached to other organs and the pelvic bones. A circular muscle called a sphincter controls the outlet opening of the bladder, and keeps the urine from leaking out of the bladder of the bladder. Once the bladder reaches a certain point of distention, nerves in the bladder wall notify the brain that it is time to empty the bladder.

When appropriate, the animal voluntarily relaxes the sphincter and allows the release of urine. The released urine enters the urethra, a tube that carries urine to the outside.

What Are the Functions of the Feline Kidneys?

Although the kidneys work in tandem to perform many vital functions, cats can live a normal healthy life with just one kidney. The kidneys and urinary tract regulate many important body functions.

What Are Common Diseases of a Cat’s Urinary Tract?

Like all other systems in the body, the urinary tract is subject to diseases, disorders, and injuries. The more common of these in cats include the following:

Kidney failure may occur in cats of all ages and breeds. It is classified as either acute (sudden onset) or chronic (slow, gradual course). Acute kidney failure may arise with obstruction of the lower urinary tract, following exposure to certain toxins such as antifreeze (ethylene glycol), or trauma. The most common type of kidney failure in older cats is chronic kidney disease secondary to years of degeneration and deterioration.

What Types of Diagnostic Tests Are Used to Evaluate the Urinary Tract?

There are several diagnostic tests that are particularly helpful when evaluating the urinary tract.