Lower urinary tract disease in cats (FLUTD) is a category of disorders that affect a cat’s bladder and urethra. The most common symptoms of FLUTD in cats are difficulty and pain when peeing, increased urination frequency, and blood in the urine.
The average age of a cat with FLUTD is 48 months, which shows FLUTD can be a severe disease.
Tests are conducted for urinary tract infection (UTI) and kidney stones, and once these are confirmed negative, a diagnosis is carried out for possible FLUTD.
Please also note that Cat Upper Tract Disease is among the common cat diseases that warrant visits to vet clinics.
Types of FLUTD
FLUTD is currently used as a catch-all name to describe the clinical manifestations of some syndromes that can occur alone or in combination. The following are some of the circumstances that cause FLUTD:
1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): The most common cause of urinary symptoms in cats is an infection in the urinary tract. Bacteria colonizing the urethra or bladder causes UTIs, which are most frequent in female cats.
Obesity, poor grooming, illnesses (such as diabetes and kidney disease), and anatomical alterations in the bladder or urethra are all risk factors for UTIs.
2. Bladder Stones (Urolithiasis): Bladder stones can develop in cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Besides sickness, hereditary factors and meal quality are risk factors in bladder stone formation.
Bladder stones can be highly inconvenient to life-threatening. Cats with bladder stones are in danger of urethral blockage, which prevents urine from exiting the body and can result in death within hours.
3. Feline Interstitial Cystitis (FIC): FIC is a condition in which cats have bladder inflammation that is not caused by bacteria or stones. Unfortunately, FIC is just as serious as other forms of FLUTD, and male cats can still develop urethral blockage from FIC.
4. Cancer of the Bladder or Urethra: Cancer of cystitis or urethra is an uncommon but significant cause of FLUTD. A cat suffering from FLUTD must be diagnosed thoroughly to avoid abnormal growth and cancerous cell spread.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease Causes
In cats, structural abnormalities, obesity, food, and heredity can raise the risk of urinary tract infections and bladder stones. Still, feline idiopathic cystitis is a more difficult diagnosis to make.
Other potential causes include urinary tract defect, urinary bladder inflammation, bladder stones, urethral blockage, and bladder infections.
Urinary tract infections can be exacerbated by anatomical changes, obesity, food, and heredity.
Studies have also revealed a correlation between stress in the cat environment and FLUTD signs.
Little things like environmental rearrangement, unfriendly sounds, and smells can cause worry for cats.
Other everyday stresses for cats include coping with unexpected guests in humans and animals and the sudden disappearance of a friendly companion.
In addition to treating other FIC symptoms, stress management is also an excellent way to address FIC in cats.
Is FLUTD a Long-Term Condition?
Even though FLUTD does not directly harm the kidneys, know that excessive bladder urine may back up urine into the kidneys and cause enough pressure to damage them temporarily or permanently.
If this happens, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for a lengthy time to recover from kidney injury.
Is it Possible to Cure FLUTD?
FLUTD is a severe illness that frequently necessitates extensive therapy. The odds of a full recovery are good when treatment is started early and promptly. Still, in some cats, the damage to the kidneys is irreparable, and they perish despite the best efforts of the attending veterinary surgeon.
Is it Possible for FLUTD to Go Away on its Own?
The majority of FLUTD cases improve without medical intervention. However, the symptoms can reoccur. Though they aren’t life-threatening, they can make your cat uneasy, so treatment can help her live a better life.
Feline Urinary Tract Infection Warning Signs
1. Urination Difficulty: Feline idiopathic cystitis can cause urination hardship. The straining can graduate in more severe problems such as bladder stones or a urethral plug. Male cats are more likely to acquire a urethral clog, a life-threatening condition in which the cat’s ability to urinate is lost.
2. Urinary incontinence: Cats with FLUTD have a constant urge to urinate, yet they can only pass a limited amount at a time.
3. Painful urination: If your cat screams out when urinating, it’s a sign that she’s in discomfort.
4. Urine with blood
5. Licking the genital or abdominal areas: Cats lick their genital or abdominal areas to relieve the pain of urinary tract disease.
6. Irritability
7. Urinating in Areas Other Than the Litter Box: If your cat is urinating in places other than the litter box, especially on cool surfaces like tile or a bathtub, pay attention.
Can a Cat Recover from Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?
Lower urinary tract disease symptoms in cats with FIC usually go away after a few weeks regardless of therapy. Therefore, most veterinarians treat the condition to keep the symptoms from returning.
What to Do If You Think You Suspect FLUTD in Your Cat?
Never delay your visit to the vet once you notice any of the symptoms of urinary tract disease. Tract disease may start with difficulty passing urine, but it gets worse if not treated on time.
Samples will be taken from the cat for examination. Other medical procedures vets recommend include x-rays, ultrasounds of the abdominal parts, and blood tests.
Most FLUTD cases improve without medical intervention; however, the symptoms can reoccur. Though they aren’t life-threatening, they can make your cat uncomfortable, so treatment can help it live a better life.
While the treatment for FLUTD is dependent on the underlying cause, increasing your cat’s water consumption is always a good idea.
Certain illnesses, however, are just not treatable at home and surgical removal of the bladder stone is the best.
When you first detect any of the above symptoms, call your veterinarian right once to diagnose the problem and save your cat from further agony.
If your cat has been treated for FLUTD, monitor it well to lower the risk of relapse.
What’s a Good Meal Plan for a Cat with FLUTD?
Grain-based foods are inferior to meat-based ones! Raw meat diets, such as, are the most effective for preventing FLUTD, followed by canned foods, which have more moisture, meat, and fewer grains than dry food. Look for foods that are low in ash.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease Treatment
Antibiotics and medications that help repair bladder function may be used to prevent or cure an infection.
A technique is to create an opening on the perineal for cats who continue to have urethral obstruction after medicinal treatment.
How Can I Treat FLUTD in My Cats at Home?
While the treatment for FLUTD is dependent on the underlying cause, increasing your cat’s water consumption is always a good idea.
Maintaining a healthy weight, providing her canned food, and encouraging her to use her litter box are all things that can assist. Certain illnesses, however, are just not treatable at home.
Is FLUTD Contagious in Cats?
Humans and other pets are not infected with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
How Can I Keep My Cat Safe From FLUTD?
To prevent your cat from developing a lower urinary tract infection, be sure to do the following:
• Provide your cat with the environmental enrichment they require, such as a safe and secure retreat, play opportunities, and pleasant human connection.
• Make sure your cat’s litter box is clean every day.
• Provide as many litter boxes as possible to increase the cat’s hygiene.
• Make sure your cat has access to fresh water at all times. Some cats love the sound of rushing water, such as that provided by a fountain.
• Keep your veterinarian up to date on your progress. Because each cat is unique, the different technique works for each individual.
Keeping Your Cat from Getting UTI Relapse
Make the necessary changes in your pet’s life to lower the chance of FLTD relapse.
The behavioral and environmental adjustment reduces the chance of repeat infection significantly. Also, retrain the cat to use the litter box.
You may also provide the cat with additional litter boxes to improve its hygiene level.
Make it happy with more toys and dedicate ample time to keep it company.