Lorazepam May Reduce Recurrent Urethral Blockage in Male Cats

When a male cat cannot urinate, the situation can become life-threatening very quickly. Prompt veterinary care can relieve the blockage, but many cats block again during the first few weeks at home.

Study Findings

A double-blind trial at the University of Minnesota enrolled 80 male cats experiencing their first urinary blockage. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either 0.25 mg lorazepam or a placebo every 12 hours for 30 days. All cats also received standard post-blockage care, including a prescription urinary diet and guidance on water intake, environmental enrichment, interactions with other cats, and stress management. Of the 72 cats that completed the study, five blocked again during the 30-day period; all five were in the placebo group. None of the cats receiving lorazepam re-blocked while taking the medication. The lorazepam group also had fewer reported urinary symptoms, although the overall difference was not statistically significant.

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that is already used in cats for its anxiolytic effects and also has skeletal muscle-relaxant effects. In this study, it was generally well tolerated. The most notable side effect was ataxia, occurring in 4 of the 31 cats receiving lorazepam. Some cats were also sleepy, ate more, or vocalized more.

Key takeaways

• Urethral obstruction can cause death or euthanasia in more than a quarter of cats, mainly due to recurrence.
• In a 30-day study, none of the cats given lorazepam re-blocked, compared with 15.7 % of cats given placebo.
• Lorazepam was given at 0.25 mg every 12 hours and was generally well tolerated.
• Common side effects included ataxia, sleepiness, increased appetite, and increased vocalization.
• All cats received standard post-blockage care, including a urinary diet and stress-management guidance.
• The study excluded cats with urinary tract infections or urolithiasis.
• The study was double-blind, so neither owners nor researchers knew which treatment was given until the end.
• The lorazepam group had fewer urinary symptoms, but the difference was not statistically significant.
• The study enrolled 80 cats, and 72 completed it.
• Five cats blocked again during the study period, all in the placebo group.
• Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class and has both anxiolytic and skeletal muscle-relaxant effects.

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Originally reported by Catster. Read the full article.