Symptoms & Treatments: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Feline lower urinary tract disease is a common and potentially serious condition characterized by a range of symptoms related to the bladder and urethra. The symptoms can significantly impact your furry friend’s quality of life and, if left untreated, the condition can lead to severe health complications. It is important to regularly monitor your feline’s behavior and consult with your veterinarian if you suspect feline lower urinary tract disease.

What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

Feline lower urinary tract disease is an umbrella term encompassing several conditions affecting the bladder and urethra. There are a variety of urinary tract diseases that exist under this term and many of the symptoms from these underlying causes are similar. Identifying the symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease early can prevent more serious complications, such as kidney damage or urinary tract obstruction.

How to Identify Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Felines with lower urinary tract disease often show noticeable behavioral changes. Watch for these signs in your feline:

• Frequent Urination: Felines with urinary issues may visit the litter box more often, even if they produce little or no urine.
• Straining: If your feline appears to be struggling or in pain while trying to urinate, it could indicate a urinary tract problem.
• Accidents Outside the Litter Box: Felines with lower urinary tract disease might not use the bathroom in their designated place. Often, this is because they begin associating their litter box with the pain they experience.
• Increased Licking: Irritation or pain may cause your feline to excessively groom their genital area.
• Excessive Meowing: Some felines may vocalize their distress or discomfort.

Symptoms of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

The symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease can vary, but they often include:

• Blood in the urine, which may appear pink or red.
• Difficulty or pain when urinating.
• Increased frequency of urination.
• Urinating in small amounts, even just a few drops at a time.

In severe cases, the urethra may become completely blocked, and your feline may stop urinating altogether. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary attention.

Types of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Several conditions fall under the umbrella of feline lower urinary tract disease, including:

• Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC): This is the most common type of feline lower urinary tract disease, characterized by inflammation of the bladder with no identifiable cause.
• Bladder Stones: Stones or crystals develop in the urinary tract, which can cause blockages or irritation.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Bacterial infections can lead to inflammation and discomfort.
• Urethral Obstruction: In other words, this refers to a blockage in the urethra. It is often due to stones or debris, which can be life-threatening.

What Causes Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

The causes of feline lower urinary tract disease may include:

• Stress: Changes in your feline’s environment or routine can trigger urinary problems.
• Diet: Certain diets may increase the risk of crystal formation in the urinary tract.
• Dehydration: Inadequate water intake can lead to concentrated urine and stone formation.
• Obesity: Overweight felines are more prone to developing feline lower urinary tract disease.
• Genetics: Some breeds, including Burmese and Himalayan, are more susceptible to certain bladder stones.

Medication and Treatment Options for Felines

Treatment for feline lower urinary tract disease depends on the underlying cause.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are typically used to treat bacterial UTIs in felines. However, it's important to note that not all cases of feline lower urinary tract disease are due to bacterial infections, so antibiotics should only be used when a bacterial infection is confirmed by a veterinarian. Some common antibiotics prescribed for bacterial UTIs in felines include Clavamox, cephalexin and doxycycline. Your veterinarian may perform a urine culture and sensitivity test to confirm whether antibiotics are necessary.

Pain Relief

Pain relief is an important aspect of managing feline lower urinary tract disease. Some commonly prescribed pain relief options for felines with lower urinary tract disease include gabapentin and NSAIDs. However, NSAIDs should be used with caution in cats, as they are more sensitive to their side effects. Your veterinarian will consider your feline’s overall health, underlying causes of the disease, and potential interactions with other treatments when recommending and prescribing pain management options.

Dietary Recommendations

Diet plays a crucial role in managing feline lower urinary tract disease. Specialized food formulations can prevent and dissolve urinary crystals and stones, such as struvite and calcium oxalate. Here’s how they work:

• Urine Volume: Some special diets, especially wet food options, can increase your cat’s water intake and cause them to produce larger volumes of urine leading to more diluted urine. More diluted urine can help flush out potential crystal-forming substances.
• pH Modification: The pH level of urine significantly impacts the formation of different types of urinary stones. For example, struvite crystals tend to form in alkaline urine so adjusting your cat’s diet to achieve a slightly acidic urine pH can prevent these crystals. However, note that calcium oxalate stones tend to form in overly acidic urine. While diet can help, managing pH should be done carefully under veterinary guidance.

Urinary Acidifiers or Alkalinizers

Urinary acidifiers and alkalinizers are used to manage and prevent certain types of urinary crystals and stones in felines. The choice between acidifiers and alkalinizers depends on the type of crystals or stones present. Some commonly used urinary acidifiers for feline lower urinary tract diseases include ammonium chloride and cranberry extract. Some alkalinizers include potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate.

Muscle and Urethral Relaxants

When urinary obstruction or urethral spasms are present, muscle relaxants and urethral relaxants can help. Medications, such as prazosin and phenoxybenzamine, help relax the muscles around the urethra, reducing discomfort and making it easier for cats to urinate. When the urethra becomes blocked—usually from crystals, mucus or inflammation—urethral relaxants can help ease the muscle tension, preventing further blockage and allowing urine to pass freely. Muscle and urethral relaxants not only relieve pain but can also reduce the risk of severe complications, such as kidney damage or urinary retention.

Surgical Intervention

Surgery for feline lower urinary tract disease is typically considered when less invasive treatments are ineffective or if the condition is severe and poses a risk to the feline’s health. For example, immediate surgical intervention may be required if your feline has a complete or severe obstruction of their urethra, often caused by urinary stones or a large amount of debris. Additionally, tumors, masses, recurrent obstructions or infections or traumatic injuries to the urinary tract may require surgery.

Your Partner for Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease Treatments

By understanding and addressing feline lower urinary tract disease, you can ensure your feline friend remains healthy, happy, and comfortable. Pay attention to the symptoms and always consult with your veterinarian to provide the best treatment possible.

When you’re ready to order your cat’s treatment, medication or special diet, Mixlab has you covered with convenient, next-day delivery. We know how important your feline is to you—and we want to make sure you receive your order as quickly as possible. Get in touch with the Mixlab team to place your order.