Urinary Issues
in Cats



CYSTITIS AND LOWER URINARY TRACT DISEASE


What is cystitis?

Cystitis is a general term referring to inflammation in the urinary bladder. The term cystitis
does not imply a specific underlying cause.

In cats, diseases of the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra) are grouped under the
term ‘feline lower urinary tract disease’ (FLUTD). This is due to the fact that it can be
difficult to distinguish between diseases of the bladder and urethra, and many diseases
will affect both structures.

What are the signs of FLUTD?

Typical signs in cats with FLUTD are those of inflammation and irritation of the lower
urinary tract. The common signs are therefore:

•        Increased frequency of urination.

•        Difficulty in urinating (spending a long time straining on the litter tray while passing
only small quantities of urine).
•        The presence of bloody urine or a foul odor.

•        Complete urinary tract obstruction resulting in the inability to urinate (straining
persistently without producing any urine).

With urinary tract obstruction, it is important to seek immediate veterinary care because
blockage to the flow of urine can be a life-threatening complication if untreated.

What causes FLUTD?

There are a vast number of potential causes of FLUTD, but many cats experience severe
inflammation of the bladder and/or urethra without an identifiable cause. This is known as  
‘idiopathic' or ‘unknown’ FLUTD. These idiopathic cases must be differentiated from other
potential causes so that appropriate treatment can be given. Some of the potential causes
of FLUTD are listed below:

•        Idiopathic - unidentifiable cause

•        Urinary calculi or bladder stones

•        Bacterial infections

•        Neoplasia - tumor

•        Anatomical abnormalities

•        Urethral plugs - blockage of urethra with a mixture of crystals or small calculi/stones
and inflammatory material

How is FLUTD diagnosed?
The initial diagnosis of FLUTD is based on the identification of signs of lower urinary tract
inflammation. The clinical signs displayed by the cat are often characteristic of FLUTD. A
urinalysis will confirm the presence of inflammation or infection.

Initially, a cat with uncomplicated FLUTD may be treated symptomatically with antibiotics.
However, if the signs do not respond to this treatment or if there is recurrence of the
clinical signs, additional diagnostic tests may be required to identify the underlying cause
of the FLUTD.

What further tests are required to diagnose the cause of FLUTD?

When clinical signs are persistent or recurrent, a number of investigations may be
required to differentiate idiopathic FLUTD from the other known causes of urinary tract
inflammation. These diagnostic tests include:

•        Laboratory analysis of a urine sample

•        Bacterial culture of a urine sample

•        Blood samples to look for other evidence of urinary tract disease or other systemic
disease

•        Radiographs (x-rays) of the bladder and urethra

The information from these tests should help to identify a specific treatable underlying
cause if present.

What is the treatment for FLUTD?

This depends on the underlying cause. For example:

•        •Cases of idiopathic disease may respond to treatment with anti-inflammatory or
analgesic (‘pain-relieving’) drugs, but it is crucial that you only use drugs specifically
prescribed by your veterinarian, because many human products are extremely dangerous
to cats.

•        •Bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract usually respond well to antibiotic
therapy.

•        •If a cat develops a blocked urethra (this occurs almost exclusively in males),
emergency treatment is required to remove the blockage, which may require flushing of
the urethra while the cat is given a short-acting anesthetic.

•        •If bladder stones (calculi) are present, they may have to be removed surgically or,
depending on their type, they may be able to be dissolved by using a special diet or
dietary additive

There is no universal treatment for FLUTD. Each case has to be investigated to determine
the underlying cause, and then the treatment has to be tailored to the individual cat.
Sometimes despite appropriate tests and treatment clinical signs may still recur, requiring
further therapy.

How can FLUTD be prevented?

It is impossible to completely prevent diseases of the lower urinary tract from occurring.
However, FLUTD is more common in cats that have lower water consumption and in cats
that are inactive and obese. All these factors may relate, at least in part, to the frequency
with which a cat urinates. Weight control and encouraging exercise may be of some help
in preventing FLUTD.

If a cat develops urinary calculi (stones) or crystals, the feeding of special diets (available
from veterinarians) may help to prevent FLUTD.
Call our clinic if you
have any questions
about this material.

763-689-0095
This client information sheet is based on material written by Ernest E. Ward Jr.,
DVM.
© Copyright 2002 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. January 25,
2008.
763-689-0095
Cambridge VetCare Animal Clinic
Cambridge, MN
Clinic Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am - 6pm
Saturday - 8am - 12pm
Sunday - Closed