What are the early symptoms of feline cystitis? A veterinarian explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment in detail.

Has your cat been going to the litter box frequently, or have they been urinating outside of it?

These symptoms may indicate cystitis. Cats often suffer from urinary issues. In this article, we will explain feline cystitis.

What causes cystitis in cats?

Cats are prone to problems with their bladder and urethra, which are known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). It is said that 55% of FLUTD cases are cystitis. The majority of feline cystitis is known as idiopathic cystitis.

The cause of idiopathic cystitis is not clear, and while the exact mechanism of its development is not well understood, it is believed that stress is involved. In multi-cat households, the incidence of idiopathic cystitis is relatively high, as there is a possibility that a cat may be experiencing significant stress from other cats.

Additionally, idiopathic cystitis occurs more frequently in winter, which is thought to be partly due to decreased activity levels and lower water intake.

Here are some characteristics of cats and living environments prone to idiopathic cystitis:

• Neutered or spayed
• Obese or low activity levels
• Multi-cat household
• Easily stressed (e.g., moving house, frequent visitors)
• Timid nature
• Insufficient litter box cleaning or an inadequate number of litter boxes
• Dry food as the main diet

You should be cautious if any of these characteristics apply to your cat.

What are the symptoms of feline cystitis?

When a cat develops cystitis, the following symptoms may appear:

• Frequent urination
• Blood in urine
• Urination outside the litter box
• Visiting the litter box repeatedly
• Straining to urinate with no results
• Crying while urinating
• Loss of appetite
• Getting angry when the abdomen is touched
• Vomiting

Cystitis causes inflammation of the bladder lining, resulting in blood in the urine. If blood components clog the urethra, it leads to urethral obstruction, making it impossible to urinate. If the inability to urinate persists, it can lead to acute kidney failure and carries a high risk of death.

How is feline cystitis treated?

If your cat exhibits symptoms of cystitis, see a veterinarian immediately. In particular, if they cannot urinate for several hours, it will lead to acute kidney failure. Here is an explanation of the treatments for feline cystitis.

Switching to a therapeutic diet

Therapeutic diets have been developed for feline idiopathic cystitis. Idiopathic cystitis has a high recurrence rate, so it is advisable to switch to a therapeutic diet to prevent relapse.

It is known that idiopathic cystitis is less likely to recur when water intake is high. Using wet food in addition to dry food is also effective.

Using supplements

Several supplements have been developed to manage stress, which is considered a cause of feline idiopathic cystitis. Some therapeutic diets also include these supplement ingredients in the food.

Treating with medication

If the severity of the cystitis is not significant, treatment with a therapeutic diet, supplements, and oral medication is the primary approach.

Idiopathic cystitis is not caused by bacteria or similar factors, so the condition is monitored while using pain relievers and hemostatics.

Intravenous or subcutaneous fluids

It is thought that inflammatory substances accumulate in the bladder during cystitis. Therefore, fluids are administered subcutaneously or intravenously to increase urine volume and dilute the inflammatory substances. Pain relievers, antibiotics, and hemostatics may also be administered during the fluid therapy.

If the symptoms are severe or it is difficult to administer oral medication to the cat, fluid treatment may be performed. You may need to visit the clinic for several days for these fluids.

Treatment for urethral obstruction

If blood clots or other obstructions block the urethra and cause urethral obstruction, emergency treatment is required. A catheter is inserted into the urethra under anesthesia to clear the obstruction. Since most cases of urinary obstruction involve blood in the urine, bladder irrigation with saline solution is also performed.

Removing the urinary catheter immediately can cause re-obstruction, so it is kept in place for several days.

If a urinary obstruction has occurred, hospitalization for several days is required. During hospitalization, 24-hour intravenous fluids are provided to ensure adequate urine volume and improve kidney function.

If the obstruction persists for a long period, it leads to a state of acute kidney failure. If blood tests show that kidney function and electrolyte balance are severely compromised, there is a high risk that treatment will be ineffective and the cat may pass away.

Urethral obstruction is a very severe manifestation of idiopathic cystitis. Consequently, it requires extensive testing and procedures, resulting in high medical costs.

Preventing feline cystitis

Feline cystitis is a condition that can lead to death if not treated promptly.

The cause of idiopathic cystitis is considered to be stress; managing this stress can prevent recurrences. Let’s review your cat's current living environment.

Preventive measures for feline idiopathic cystitis include the following:

• Providing the number of litter boxes equal to the number of cats plus one
• Placing water stations in multiple locations and changing the containers
• Creating hiding spots for the cat
• Helping the cat lose weight
• Increasing water intake with wet food if the cat has had idiopathic cystitis before

Treatment costs for feline cystitis can be quite high depending on the severity of the symptoms. It is important to take preventive measures to avoid the development of cystitis.

Summary

It is known that cats who develop cystitis often suffer from repeated occurrences. If you notice any unusual urine, see your cat wandering around the litter box, or see any other symptoms that suggest cystitis, do not wait and see; take them to a veterinary clinic immediately. It is also necessary to keep a close watch on your cat's urination habits on a regular basis.

To ensure your cat does not suffer from cystitis, strive to maintain a life that is free from stress.