Cats and Cystitis

Cystitis is the term for an inflammation of the bladder. Dr. Debra Primovic on Pet Place's website reports the most common cause of urinary tract symptoms in a cat is cystitis. Female cats are more likely than males to suffer from this condition. This illness is not infectious.

  1. Cause of Feline Cystitis

    • In other species like dogs and humans, cystitis is due to a bacterial infection. This is not true with most types of feline cystitis. Cats usually do not have bacteria in their urine when diagnosed. According to Cat Illnesses' website, the cause is not often known, though certain things are thought to increase the risk of this condition. These include diabetes, certain medications, reproductive tract infections, bladder stones and trauma to the bladder. Some nervous system problems that keep the cat from completely emptying his bladder may also contribute to this problem.

    Symptoms of Cat Cystitis

    • Cats with cystitis have symptoms such as blood in the urine and an increased frequency of urination. You may see your pet straining to urinate but not producing much urine. Any of these signs in your cat warrants immediate medical attention. Sometime cats have crystals in the urethra that cause an obstruction. This is a medical emergency because the obstruction can lead to kidney failure and death within a couple of days.

    Diagnosis

    • When you take your pet to the veterinarian, she will get a medical history from you about your cat. This includes questions about prior medications and illnesses, surgical history, appetite and weight loss, changes in water consumption and urination and behavioral changes. She will also do a thorough physical examination and palpate the abdomen to assess the bladder. She will order urinalysis to evaluate for the presence of white blood cells, red blood cells and crystals.

    Treatment of Cystitis

    • Cats with cystitis will usually recover within five to seven days with or without treatment, unless there is a blockage due to crystals. The veterinarian will help the recovery by asking you to increase the amount of water your cat takes in while decreasing foods high in minerals. He may prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to fight any infection and inflammation. If there are crystals, surgery may be required.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Feline cystitis is likely to recur after a first episode. To help prevent it, switch your cat to a diet low in minerals. Ask your vet for input on this action. Be sure your cat drinks plenty of fluids. Your veterinarian may want to test for various predisposing causes that you can address to also help minimize the chance of recurrent cystitis.