FLUTD Cures

A cat's urinary system cleanses the body of the metabolic waste created each day. It does this by making urine, and in doing so regulates your cat's bodily fluids.
FLUTD, or feline lower urinary tract disease, occurs for a variety of reasons, and can have serious and even deadly consequences. Common causes of FLUTD are struvite crystals in the bladder and urethra, bacterial infection, kidney disease, bladder stones and cancer. In cases of idiopathic cystitis, there's no discernible cause.

  1. Struvite Crystal Obstructions

    • The cures for FLUTD vary according to the condition of the affected cat. Because tomcats have smaller urethrae than females, they're more likely to develop blockages from struvite crystals and have their urine back up, causing kidney damage and necessitating immediate veterinary attention.
      Cat with this condition, according to Dr. Chris Pinney, D.V.M., normally receive IV fluids to lower the concentration of toxins in the blood, then a urethral catheter is inserted to get the cat's urinary flow restarted. Finally, the bladder will be thoroughly flushed with saline so the cat can pass the crystals. The cat will also probably get antibiotics to prevent secondary bladder infections from the catheterization. Most cats with obstructions remain on IV fluids from 48 to 72 hours.

    Struvite Stones With no Obstruction

    • A low-magnesium diet, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, will effectively cure FLUTD from an unobstructed cat's struvite crystals.

    Bladder Stones

    • FLUTD from bladder stones of calcium oxalate can't be cured with diet. If flushing your cat's bladder doesn't succeed in passing them, a veterinarian will perform a surgical cystotomy to remove the stones.
      Once the stones are gone, the vet may suggest a diet that will be less likely to cause new ones. Making sure your cat has fresh clean water available to dilute its urine will reduce the chances of stone formation.

    Idiopathic Cystitis

    • FLUTD with no discernible cause, or feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), accounts for the majority of cases of this disease. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, many vets suspect that stress plays a significant role in the development of FIC.
      If your cat is under stress from a move, a change in its daily routine or the introduction of a new animal into the family, the Cornell Feline Health Center suggests giving it a safe, clean place to urinate. Also provide outlets for the cat's stress, like scratching and climbing posts, and toys to serve as substitute prey.

    Warning

    • Although increasing the acidity of your cat's urine may make it less likely to develop FLUTD from struvite crystals, most commercial foods are already formulated to take care of the problem. Adding urine-acidifying supplements to the cat's food can lead to mineral imbalances and kidney damage.