Prostatic Disease in Cats

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland located near the neck of the urinary bladder in male cats. The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body) passes under the prostate shortly after leaving the bladder.

In cats, the prostate does not encircle the urethra entirely, as in dogs; it covers only the top and sides of the urethra. The purpose of the prostate is to produce some of the fluids found in semen. Prostate disease is extremely rare in cats.

What are the clinical signs of prostatic disease in cats?

Enlargement of the prostate gland is common with most prostatic diseases. Since the urethra passes under the prostate, enlargement of the gland compresses the urethra, and urination can become difficult and uncomfortable. Complete urethral obstruction may occur with prostatic disease.

If the prostate is very enlarged, the colon, located just above the prostate, may also become compressed, causing difficulty with bowel movements. Cats with prostate enlargement often have a history of straining to defecate or urinate. Bloody urine may be seen with a prostatic disease but may also be seen with other diseases.

What diseases cause the prostate to enlarge?

There is a significant lack of noted prostate disease in cats, so not much is known. Cats may experience conditions similar to those in dogs, but only rare cases of prostate cancer have been noted.

How is prostatic disease diagnosed in cats?

Enlargement of the prostate may be noted by your veterinarian on a rectal exam. Radiographs (X-rays) or an ultrasound examination may be required to diagnose an enlarged prostate gland.

Other tests to determine the exact cause of a patient’s condition may include:

• Culture of the cat’s urine to determine if there is a bacterial infection
• Microscopic examination of the cells in the urine
• Microscopic examination of the cells in prostatic fluid or in the prostate.
• Complete blood count (CBC) to look for systemic inflammation or infection and a biochemical panel to look for abnormalities in other organ systems

Samples of prostatic cells are obtained by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). FNA involves taking a small needle with a syringe and suctioning a sample of cells directly from the prostate, then placing them on a microscope slide to be examined by a veterinary pathologist. Prostate cancer in cats is extremely aggressive and, often, the first noted sign may be a sudden and progressive onset of illness.

How is prostatic disease treated?

Because of the rare occurrence of prostate disease in cats, very little is known about treatment. Surgery has been used in a few rare cases. Radiation therapy has not been used in cats, and chemotherapy may be useful, but its effectiveness is unknown. Long-term anti-inflammatory medications used in dogs have the potential for complications when used in cats, due to the risk of sudden-onset kidney failure and death. Supportive care to alleviate urinary or fecal straining may be recommended. Surgery to remove part of the urethra or to redirect the urine flow may be used but is not without complications.