Difficult catheterization and previous urethral obstruction are associated with lower urinary tract tears in cats with urethral obstruction.

Objective: To retrospectively assess the hospital prevalence and risk factors associated with iatrogenic lower urinary tear in cats with urethral obstruction (UO).

Animals: 15 client-owned cats diagnosed with concurrent UO and lower urinary tears and year-matched control population of 45 cats diagnosed with UO.

Methods: University teaching hospital records were reviewed for cats presenting with UO between January 2010 and December 2022.