Hello. I'm glad to see that your cat is a female is this make urinary obstruction less likely. There are three possibilities that come to mind with your kitty. First is a urinary tract infection. If this is the case then antibiotics will likely be necessary to resolve the problem. The best way to diagnose a urinary tract infection is with a urine sample.

The second possibility is interstitial cystitis. This is inflammation of the bladder wall that causes irritation. The cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown though it is associated with stress (new people in the house, new pets, etc). Interstitial cystitis typically resolves on it's own though pain management can be helpful.

The third potential issue is crystals forming in the bladder that cause irritation. If this is the case then a change in diet may be in order. Here is a handout on feline lower urinary tract disease.

As this is the second episode for your kitty a urinalysis is definitely a good idea. Some clinic carry a product called lab litter. This is essentially non-absorbable litter. You may be able to pick some of this litter up from your veterinarian and put it in a clean litter box. Then when your cat urinates you can collect a sample and take it in for analysis.

Certainly if she is straining, crying out and not producing any urine have her evaluated by your veterinarian sooner than later. This can indicate a life-threatening urinary blockage. However urinary blockage is much less common in female cats.

I hope this helps!

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