Feline Idiopathic Cystitis Help

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis is an inflammation of a cat's bladder that is also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD). Knowing what this means for your cat's health and how you can help it is an important step in keeping your cat healthy and happy for years to come.

  1. Veterinary Issues

    • Typically Feline Idiopathic Cystitis manifests as inappropriate urination. Or you may observe your cat having difficulty urinating. If Feline Idiopathic Cystitis is diagnosed in your cat, a prescription drug may be given to address the symptoms and alleviate your cat's discomfort. For example, Amitriptyline is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever that has been shown to help in some cases.

    Diet Remedies

    • The health of a cat's digestive tract and urinary tract is closely linked to the types of food a cat eats. For many cats, inexpensive store-brand cat food is sufficient, but a cat that develops Feline Idiopathic Cystitis may need to be put on a specially-balanced prescription diet. Hill's Science Diet and Royal Canin are two cat food manufacturers that offer prescription diet food aimed at balancing the pH levels in a cat's urine, which in turn can help avoid the disease symptoms.

    Behavioral Changes

    • Stress has been linked to the prevalence of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. If your cat is continually bored (from being indoors all the time) or is living in a stressful house (with other pets dominating or being aggressive with your cat), this may cause the bladder to become inflamed.

      Some veterinarians recommend changing a cat's environment occasionally; short outdoor jaunts, changing toys, playing with the cat, or moving its feeding (but not bathroom) locations change things up for the cat and relieve boredom and stress.