What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) isn’t a single entity, but a group of conditions with shared symptoms. FLUTD is an extremely common health problem of cats, and yet is among the most challenging to diagnose and treat. Anyone who has lived with a cat with FLUTD knows the anguish and frustration it can cause. Symptoms of FLUTD are the result of a painful, inflamed bladder (also known as cystitis) and may include any or all of the following:

• Pain or difficulty while urinating
• Increased frequency of urination
• Vocalizing while urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Excessive licking at the genital area
• Urinary “accidents” outside the litter box

FLUTD is most common in young to middle-aged cats, and it affects males and females with equal prevalence. However, males are much more likely than females to develop a life threatening urinary obstruction (see below). Lower urinary tract trouble occurs more often in indoor cats that live in multi-cat families, eat dry food, and are overweight and relatively sedentary. Environmental factors such as social strife among multiple cats and changes in the household routine can also play a part.

What are the causes of FLUTD?

Just about anything that causes irritation or inflammation in the bladder can cause lower urinary tract disease. The top five factors, in order of prevalence, include:

1. Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Idiopathic means “arising from an unknown cause” and in fact the cause of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) has yet to be elucidated. Nonetheless, it is the most common lower urinary tract disease in cats. In FIC, the bladder wall becomes swollen and inflamed. Cats with idiopathic cystitis make frequent attempts to urinate, strain and vocalize while doing so, and their urine may contain blood. FIC tends to have a relapsing and remitting course, with episodes lasting 1–2 weeks, resolving spontaneously, then recurring without warning. Veterinarians have identified several factors that may trigger FIC, which include:
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