'I'm a vet nurse and there's two vital health issues cat owners need to know about'

A vet nurse has given some crucial information for all cat owners. Before welcoming a furry friend into your home, it's important to research what they need to be happy and healthy.

Cats are one of the most belovedpetof choice across the UK and they come in a number of breeds. Known for their independent but loving nature, playful antics and grooming routines, these animals can thrive inside or outdoors. They also have keen senses and strong hunting abilities, and are known for their purring and various other sounds. Cats come with a predisposition to certain illnesses and must have meat in their diet as they are 'obligate carnivores.'

Most cat owners might already know these facts, but Eve Moorhouse, a veterinary nurse who owns four dogs, has shared some vital information that could be news to some cat carers.

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In a video on TikTok she warned: "If you own a cat I need you to stop what you're doing and just watch this video. The information I'm gonna tell you could potentially save your cat's life.

"I'm a vet nurse and on my vet nurse night shifts these are the things I see most regular[ly] and a lot of the time owners didn't know this information. Now, this is not your fault so I am here to educate you."

Directing her advice at cat owners, Eve emphasised the danger of keeping lilies indoors, highlighting their toxic nature which, at worst, could be fatal for a feline and at best lead to a "very expensive vet bill."

If a lily plant touches a cat's body, she urges to "wash it off instantly and go straight to the vet's."

Echoing the vet nurse's cautionary words, PDSA, a leading pet welfare charity, stresses that lilies can be deathly toxic to cats, with all parts of the plant posing a threat, including the leaves, flowers, and pollen.

Lily poisoning, a common danger, can happen quite innocently when a cat brushes against a lily plant and later cleans the pollen from their coat.

Eve then spoke about another serious pet risk, saying: "The second thing that I was going to tell you about is blocked bladders.

"If you own a male cat they are more prone to getting blocked bladders.You might hear 'blocked bladder' and think that doesn't sound that bad. It can be fatal and it's more common than you think."

Explaining the physiology behind the issue, she pointed out that male cats, due to their longer and slimmer urethra, frequently suffer from urine blockages caused by various factors such as bladder stones or inflammation.

Eve emphasised the severity of this condition: "Why is this an emergency? Well, the bladder will continue to fill.

"Now this either backs up into the kidneys and causes kidney damage and then also because the bladder is still not emptying the bladder can burst, it can rupture."

The vet nurse explained that for cat owners, it is crucial to recognise the symptoms of a blocked bladder.

A telltale sign she noted is if a cat frequently tries to urinate, strains, but produces no urine.

She also observed that behavioural changes are a key indicator, as cats with a blocked bladder "can become very aggressive", may show symptoms such as "crying, yowling, walking around really low to the floor and just looking painful."

Also, she pointed out that affected cats may remain in their beds, appearing inactive, and you may notice them "tensing" as though trying to pass urine.

Eve mentioned the difficulty in detecting a blocked bladder in outdoor cats since you often don't see them going to the toilet, but advised vigilance for any unusual behaviours.

The animal expert insists on immediate action if signs of a blocked bladder appear in your cat, urging owners to contact their vet without delay to discuss symptoms.

She mentioned that sharing urinary issues in male cats during the call often leads to the vet recommending an urgent clinic visit.

Continuing her advice, Eve said: "What we do then is we have a little feel of the bladder and normally if they are blocked it will feel like a hard rock in their belly and then we unblock it.

"This is one of the reasons why I tell people with indoor cats to still get their cats insured because blocked bladders can [affect] outdoor cats or indoors and it can result in a very expensive vet bill."