Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is the number one reason pet owners take their cat to the veterinarian. The signs of FLUTD are often confused with behavioral issues.
FLUTD is commonly associated with indoor, middle-aged and overweight cats. Males and females are both at risk for FLUTD, but it is more serious in males (more so in neutered males) than females as they have a narrower urethra.
Contributing Factors:
· Age one year or older
· Lack of exercise
· Bacterial, fungal and viral infections
· History of chronic kidney disease
· Bladder stones and crystals
· Living in conflict with other pets
· Stress
· Poor diet
· Insufficient water intake
The primary cause of FLUTD is unknown. A cat's diet contributes to the development of the disease, but does not on its own cause or cure FLUTD. Changing your cat's diet to a specific urinary diet can help with the resolution of FLUTD. Your veterinarian will need to do lab diagnostics to determine which diet will be best for your cat.
If your cat shows any of the following symptoms, please take your cat to your veterinarian for a thorough examination.
Straining to urinate.
Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate.
Crying out while urinating.
Excessive licking of the genital area.
Urinating outside the litter box.
Blood in the urine.
***Cats with a urethral obstruction will show the above signs but will pass little or no urine and will become increasingly distressed. A urethral obstruction is an absolute emergency, requiring immediate veterinary treatment and possibly surgery.
Stress also plays a key role in FLUTD. Stress factors include sudden changes in diet, environment, overcrowding, or the addition or removal to the household of new pets or people. Cats can also be stressed by their owner's emotional state or changes in their owner's routines.
Stress associated with undesirable urination habits can sometimes be a simple fix. Your cat may act out if he does not like the type of litter, the litter box or the placement of the box. Other stressors that may be more difficult to correct are competition for or feeling threatened while using the box.
It is imperative to reduce the stress level of your cat by providing a safe area for the cat to urinate. There should be a litter box for each cat in the household, plus one more. This helps reduce overcrowding or bullying. Cleaning the boxes frequently and not placing the food or water bowls near the litter box are also important.
The first step in identifying the problem is taking your cat to a veterinarian for an examination and possibly diagnostic testing. Testing may consist of a urinalysis, ultrasound of the bladder, radiograph of the bladder or blood work.
