7 Signs Your Cat Has FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and How to Treat It

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Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) refers to any condition or issue that affects part of a cat's urinary system. Sometimes, a veterinarian can determine what's causing a cat's litter-box trouble. But, other times, they can't.

Either way, it's helpful to keep an eye out for potential signs of FLUTD. This helps you make sure your cat gets care when they need it. FLUTD can quickly become life-threatening - especially for male cats - and require immediate veterinary attention.

What are the symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)?

Multiple conditions can cause FLUTD. No matter the cause, cats with FLUTD may experience some or all of these symptoms:

• Having trouble urinating or straining to urinate

• Having blood in their urine

• Urinating outside of their litter box

• Licking near their genitals more often than usual

• Trying to urinate more often than usual

• Meowing while trying to use the litter box

• Visiting the litter box often but not producing much urine

It's common for cats experiencing a blockage in their urinary tract to show distress. Contact your veterinarian or seek immediate veterinary treatment if you think your cat is having trouble urinating.

What causes FLUTD in cats?

FLUTD can have many causes. But, often, the specific cause of a cat's FLUTD can't be identified. In these cases, cats likely have what is called feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). About 50% of cats with FLUTD are diagnosed with FIC. The same symptoms are seen with FIC as with the other underlying causes.

Stress is thought to be the main reason cats develop FIC. It's similar to anxiety giving a human an upset stomach. Anxiety weakens the lining of a cat's bladder, which leads to inflammation.

If possible, it's important to identify a more specific cause of FLUTD if it exists. This ensures your cat gets the right treatment. Some of the more common causes of FLUTD are:

• Urinary stones: This is when different minerals collect into hard masses. Those masses can irritate the lower urinary tract and cause blockages.

• Urinary blockage: Male cats are more at risk for a blockage because of the narrow shape of their urethra. A combination of mucus, crystals, and urinary stones can cause a blockage, which is an emergency. Untreated blockages can be fatal for cats within 2 days.

• Urinary tract infection: This is more common in older cats and female cats. These infections can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. And diabetes and kidney disease increase the risk because they affect urine concentration and acidity.

Less common causes of FLUTD are:

• Cancer

• Tumors

• Birth defects

• Trauma

Some cats might have more than one underlying condition that's causing their FLUTD. Cats older than 10 years are more likely to have urinary tract infections. Younger cats are more likely to have stones in their bladder or urinary tract.

How is FLUTD diagnosed?

Your cat's veterinarian will typically start with urine testing. They will collect a urine sample directly from your cat's bladder using a needle. This ensures a sterile sample, which helps them make an accurate diagnosis.

An analysis of your cat's urine can determine if inflammation or an infection may be causing their symptoms. Testing can also pick up on any crystals or bacteria that could be the cause.

If initial urine testing doesn't show a specific cause, your cat's veterinarian may decide to do other diagnostic tests. This might include:

• Blood tests

• X-rays or an ultrasound to look for stones or other less common causes, like cancer

• A urine culture to test for an infection

If all of these tests come back negative, the vet may diagnose your cat with FIC. They may also decide additional tests aren't warranted and diagnose your cat with FIC right away.

How do you treat FLUTD?

Treatment for FLUTD depends on the cause. If your cat is diagnosed with FIC, the main approach is to manage their pain and discomfort until the episode passes. Episodes can last up to a couple of weeks.

In that case, your veterinarian may prescribe your cat medication, such as:

• A muscle relaxer, like prazosin

• A tranquilizer, like acepromazine

• Pain relievers with or without anti-inflammatory properties, like buprenorphine

Your vet will also likely advise you to keep your cat's environment stress-free, entertaining, and clean. There are many things you can do to enrich your cat's home life:

• Ensure your cat can move around freely.

• Keep at least one litter box for each cat living in your home.

• Have dedicated feeding, watering, sleeping, and play areas for each cat.

• Help your cat drink enough water by offering multiple water bowls or fountains.

• Have plenty of scratching posts, cat trees, and other activities to explore.

• Ensure your cat can interact and play with you if they want.

If your cat has a urinary tract infection, treatment depends on the type of infection. The vet will prescribe the proper medication for your cat's particular infection, which typically includes either:

• Amoxicillin

• Cefadroxil

• Doxycycline

For urinary stones, treatment depends on the type of stone. Your vet might first prescribe a therapeutic diet to see if your cat's symptoms improve. If there's no improvement, they might remove the stones with surgery and send them off for testing.

Once a cause of FLUTD is established (if possible) and treatment begins, most cats do well. Some cats experience occasional episodes of symptoms in the future. But carefully managing the condition and staying in contact with your vet will help your cat get through these episodes.

Treating a urinary blockage

When a cat gets a urinary blockage, it's an emergency. Treating a blockage involves a process called catheterization, which is when a tube is used to relieve the blockage and remove built-up urine. This process requires sedation or anesthesia in a hospital. Depending on the severity of the blockage, your cat could remain hospitalized for a few days.

If your cat has repeat blockages and doesn't respond to other treatments, your veterinarian might recommend surgically removing the narrow part of the urethra. This is called perineal urethrostomy. It allows stones and plugs to pass through a wider opening.

However, this surgery is only used as a very last resort. It's expensive and requires a specialist. And it can also cause other issues, such as:

• Urinary incontinence

• Increased risk of bladder diseases

• Complications at the surgical site

It's important to discuss this procedure with your veterinarian in detail. The pros might outweigh the cons, depending on your cat. If your cat has FIC, keep in mind that surgery will only cure the blockage, not the condition.

If FIC is the suspected cause of your cat's FLUTD, your vet may recommend a special urinary-health diet for your cat. In this case, your vet will likely recommend keeping your cat on this diet for life. A urinary diet has been shown to reduce the chances of future episodes and blockages.

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