A urinary obstruction is an emergency in male cats: the cat cannot urinate and, without treatment, dies within a few days. Treatment almost always starts with a hospital stay and a urinary catheter.
Key facts
- A 24-hour stay with fluids, sedation, catheterisation, blood tests, urinalysis, ultrasound and an X-ray costs €300 at a university vet hospital.
- If the blockage comes back, a perineal urethrostomy costs €630 and a cystotomy €350, without anaesthesia or the pre-operative assessment.
- Petplan reimburses 100% of the invoice up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 co-payment per illness.
Reference prices (2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Emergency consultation, daytime | €70 |
| Emergency consultation, nights, weekends and public holidays | €90 |
| Urinalysis (dipstick and sediment) plus UP/C | €45 |
| Renal panel: urea (BUN), creatinine, phosphorus and electrolytes | €30 |
| Abdominal ultrasound | €60 |
| Sedation of a cat of 0 to 9 kg | €30 |
| 24-hour stay with fluids and medication, cat of 0 to 9 kg | €90 |
| 24-hour stay for an obstruction: fluids, medication, sedation, catheterisation, blood tests, urinalysis, ultrasound and X-ray | €300 |
| Cystotomy | €350 |
| Perineal urethrostomy | €630 |
What makes the price vary?
If the blockage clears with sedation and a catheter, the bill stops at the stay and the tests. If surgery is needed, add the operation plus the anaesthetic and the pre-operative assessment, which are not included in the surgery price. The time of day counts too: the emergency consultation goes from €70 in the day to €90 at night, at weekends and on public holidays. At this hospital, emergency surgery carries a 25% surcharge.
How much does Petplan cover?
Petplan Spain reimburses 100% of the invoice up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 co-payment per illness or accident, at the vet of your choice. It does not cover pre-existing conditions or preventive care, and there are waiting periods of 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness.
Hospitalisation is covered when the vet confirms the cat has to be admitted for the basic treatment, and out-of-hours costs when the vet confirms an emergency consultation was needed. Urinary food to dissolve stones and crystals is reimbursed up to 40% of its cost and for a maximum of 6 months, with a diagnostic test confirming the stones or crystals. If the cat already had urinary problems before the policy started, that is a pre-existing condition and is not covered.
Frequently asked questions
Does the policy cover a second blockage?
Each illness is covered for 12 months from the first clinical signs, and the €45 co-payment applies once per illness, not at every visit. After that period, or after the €3,100 annual limit, treatment for that same illness is no longer reimbursed.
Does the cat have to be insured before it turns 7?
Yes. To take out a policy for the first time, the cat must be between 2 months and 7 years old. Once insured, it can stay insured at any age as long as the policy is renewed.
Sources
- Veterinary Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, 2026 public prices (VAT included).
- Petplan, health insurance general conditions (in Spanish).
See also: cost of a urine test, cost of emergency vet care, cost of hospitalisation and real cost of the vet in Spain 2026.
Indicative prices. Spain has no official price scale and each clinic sets its own fees: these are the public prices of a university veterinary hospital, and other clinics may charge differently.
