NATURALLY-OCCURRING XANTHINE UROLITHIASIS IN A DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR CAT

A five-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented aft er three episodes of urethral obstruction and anuria requiring relief urethral catheterisation. A double contrast cystogram revealed the pre sence of multiple small cystoliths which were radiolucent on plain rad iographs. A perineal urethrostomy and a cystotomy were performed to re lieve-the urethral obstruction and to remove the cystoliths. Quantitat ive analysis revealed the cystoliths to be composed of 100 per cent xa nthine. Clinical history suggested the xanthinuria to be naturally occ urring. Unfortunately, the cat was killed in a road traffic accident t wo months after the surgical procedure, preventing further long-term a ssessment.