Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is an unpleasant and common condition in cats. Most cases are idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown, so the condition is known as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC). It isn’t a life-threatening condition so it’s not considered an emergency. Nevertheless, it’s best to contact your vet for advice as soon as possible as it can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, bringing rapid relief to your cat.
Cat Cystitis: FLUTD and FIC Explained
Cystitis belongs to the group of conditions known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). These conditions all cause pain and discomfort in cats when trying to pass urine. FLUTD includes bladder stones, urinary blockages, anatomical defects, behavioural problems as well as inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).
Male cats are more prone to blockages than female cats as their urethra (the tube the urine comes down) is long and narrow. If your male cat is struggling to wee, this can be very serious. It can be a sign of a urinary blockage that needs to be removed as an emergency.
If a cat has FLUTD and the cause hasn’t been found, they're diagnosed as having FIC, a condition that is similar to the bladder condition known as interstitial cystitis in people. FIC can be classed as either being obstructive (needing immediate treatment) or non-obstructive (usually goes away in 5-10 days but often comes back).
FIC is usually triggered by stress. It’s thought that hormones linked with stress can erode the lining of the bladder causing irritation and inflammation. It’s more common in young female cats and often improves as they get older.
Cystitis in Cats Symptoms
FIC is a painful condition where the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed. Cats with FIC suffer discomfort and pain, and cats will want to go for a wee more often than normal. Usually, the first sign that your cat has developed cystitis is when you notice your car using their litter tray (or outdoor toileting area) more frequently.
You may see them squatting and urinating in unusual ways or only passing small amounts of urine at a time, sometimes with blood in it. They may lick at their urinary opening. Cats may strain with nothing coming out so it’s easy to mistake the signs for constipation. Cats with cystitis may also appear unsettled and restless, while others may cry when straining to urinate because it’s very painful.
Vet Tests to Diagnose Cats with Cystitis
Your vet will usually diagnose cystitis from your description, but they may want to rule out other causes like a urinary blockage before treatment is started. They may feel your cat’s bladder and take a urine sample to test for excess sugar, protein and crystals in the urine.
If a bacterial infection is suspected, the urine sample may be sent for bacterial culture so the bacteria responsible can be identified and the correct antibiotic prescribed. Your vet might recommend that further tests are needed to check for bladder stones and urinary blockages. X-rays, ultrasound of the bladder and blood tests may be carried out. If no medical cause is identified, the condition is known as idiopathic cystitis.
Cat Cystitis Treatment
Cystitis can be treated easily by your vet. They’ll probably prescribe medication including anti-inflammatories, anti-spasm drugs and painkillers to reduce the inflammation in your cat’s bladder. This will also treat urethral spasms and stop any pain. If a bacterial infection has been diagnosed, your cat may be given a course of antibiotics.
The infection should clear up in a few days but it’s important to complete the course of antibiotics given even if it looks like your cat is better. If the course isn’t completed, the infection can come back, and the antibiotics may not be so effective.
You might be surprised to learn that the most common cause of cystitis in cats is stress. A new cat in the household or area, home improvements and even minor changes to their routine can make a cat anxious and cause a stress trigger which can lead to this painful condition.
How to Prevent Cystitis in Cats
There are several things to try to help prevent your cat from getting cystitis:
- Make sure their litter tray is always clean, easy to access and in an area your cat finds safe
- Make sure there are plenty of litter trays, ideally one per cat plus one additional litter tray
- Encourage them to drink more water. Always make sure your cat always has access to fresh water – have a choice of water bowls and consider a water fountain for your cat to drink from
- If they’re prone to cystitis, feed your cat a moist wet food diet (you can add water to dry food) or ask your vet to recommend a special diet designed for urinary health
- Try to keep your cat stress-free. Cats should have a safe hiding place. If another cat is coming into your cat’s home and causing stress, a microchip scanning cat flap can solve this issue. Your vet can also suggest other ways to reduce your cat’s anxiety and stress.
Most cats recover quickly from a bout of cystitis if the underlying problem such as a blockage or bacterial infection has been identified and is treated. If your cat suffers from FIC, symptoms may improve with medication and changes to the cat’s environment to reduce their stress levels, but long term, repeat episodes are often likely.
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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis
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