How to Treat Feline Cystitis

Treatment of cystitis, also known as an inflammation in the urinary bladder, often stumps even the best veterinarians. It's not that they don't know how to treat it, but they don't always know what causes it in every cat. This is often extremely frustrating when you have a cat who won't stop displaying symptoms of cystitis---such as urinating outside of the box---despite the vet's best efforts. However, rest assured that it is more common than not that your kitty's cystitis will resolve with a visit to the vet and a couple of fingers crossed.

Things You'll Need

  • Urine sample
  • Antibiotics
  • Corticosteroids
  • Radiographs
  • Pheromone diffusers and spray
  • Sedatives
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain a urine sample from your cat. This is the first step in treatment, as it will help your vet determine if there are crystals or bacteria in the urine, both of which can cause cystitis. Place your kitty inside an un-carpeted room without a litter box and wait for it to urinate on the floor, or purchase non-absorbing litter from your vet and place it in your kitty's litter box. Your vet may require a sterile sample, in which case the doctor would take the urine directly from your cat's bladder.

    • 2

      Administer antibiotics to your cat that are prescribed by its vet. If the tests determine that bacteria is in the urine, veterinarians typically place cats on antibiotics for two to three weeks, according to the veterinary website PetPlace.com. The antibiotics usually come in either liquid or pills and can even be flavored if needed.

    • 3

      Give your kitty a short course of corticosteroids, if prescribed by your vet. Doctors will sometimes place cats on corticosteroids to help reduce the inflammation in the urinary tract.

    • 4

      Take radiographs of your cat's bladder to search for stones, if the cystitis does not resolve. In addition, radiographs can also search for tumors of the bladder as well. If stones are found, they may need to be surgically removed and it is likely your cat will need to eat a diet designed for the prevention of urinary stones.

    • 5

      Reduce the amount of stress your cat experiences in your home. Feline idiopathic cystitis, or FIC, is an inflammation of the bladder caused by an unknown origin. Cats who have FIC continually have cystitis, despite antibiotics and other treatments. It is often thought that the cystitis is caused by stress. Try using pheromone diffusers throughout your home or even placing the cat on a mild sedative, such as diazepam, to relax the feline if the problem persists.