Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, is a painful and common condition. It can have serious consequences, especially in male cats. Diet often plays a role in the management of this difficult condition, and there are some really good reasons why that is. Read on for more information about the importance of food. 

What is cystitis in cats?

Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Cystitis comes under a collection of feline urinary problems collectively called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It is a common problem in cats, especially female ones. It usually causes mild symptoms, but can occasionally become much more serious, especially when it occurs in males. 

What causes feline cystitis?

Inflammation of the bladder lining can be caused by infection, but not often. It is often termed ‘idiopathic’, which simply means the cause is unknown. The condition is strongly linked to stress, which often presents in unusual ways in cats. It is thought that these cats respond to stress in an abnormal manner. But the direct link to cystitis is still unknown. Cats prone to cystitis also tend to have a very poor bladder lining, which may make them more prone to damage and irritation of the bladder wall. 

Symptoms of cystitis

Symptoms of all forms of FLUTD are similar and can vary from mild to very severe. 

  • Painful urination, difficulty passing urine or straining to urinate
  • Urinating outside the litter box, or in unusual places
  • Urinating more frequently
  • Blood in the urine
  • Grooming excessively around their rear end

Cystitis is an uncomfortable condition and should always result in a trip to the vets. However, if your cat is straining to pass urine repeatedly, but not passing anything, seek veterinary advice urgently. This may be a sign your cat is ‘blocked’ – where urine is completely unable to exit the body via the urethra. This is more common in male cats due to their urethras being longer and narrower. Blocked cats can become dangerously ill very quickly. So if you suspect your cat cannot pass urine, it should be treated as an emergency. 

Diagnosis of cystitis

Sadly, there is no one test that can diagnose inflammatory cystitis in cats. Your vet will discuss your cat’s symptoms with you and perform a full examination. They may run some tests such as urine analysis and culture, and take images of the bladder and urinary tract using x-ray or ultrasound. 

Management of cystitis

The best way to manage cystitis in cats is with a number of different strategies all used together. Diet, environment and medication call all play a role, and used together they are often more effective than just one alone. 

Reducing stress

As cystitis is linked to stress in cats, it can be useful to spend some time thinking about whether anything may be bothering your feline friend. There may have been some changes to your household: a new pet, a new baby, DIY work or a busy event such as Christmas. Think about whether your cat has their own ‘safe space’, with all the resources they need, without having to pass through busy areas or by other pets. You may need to change things about a bit, but your cat may feel happier if they have an area which has their food, water and hiding spaces, as well as scratching posts, toys and outside access or a litter tray. 

Increasing water intake

Encouraging your cat’s water intake may help combat cystitis, as more dilute urine will be produced which tends to be less irritating to the bladder wall. Here are some ways to increase water intake:

  • If you currently feed a dry diet, think about changing over to a wet food, and you can even add further water to the food if tolerated
  • Provide fresh water in multiple locations and different types of bowls. Cats prefer their water to be away from food bowls and litter trays, and often prefer ceramic bowls to plastic. 
  • Try using a water fountain.
  • Offer flavoured waters, such as chicken or tuna.

Medications

There are medications that help in the management of cystitis. It is an inflammatory condition, and known to be painful, so your vet may well prescribe anti-inflammatory painkillers to provide relief during the acute stage of the disease. There are medications which are supposed to replace the damaged layer of the bladder lining, but these have not been proven effective. 

Diet

Cats often develop a strong preference for their regular food, so changing diet can seem an impossible task. There are some good reasons to consider a change, however. 

Increasing fluid intake is really important for cystitis sufferers, so changing to a wet diet is definitely something to consider. If your cat is fussy and turns their nose up at wet food, try adding a small amount of warm water to their dry food, and then gradually increase this amount. 

If your vet has done an analysis of your cat’s urine and found crystals forming, these can go on to form stones and cause irritation and blockages. There are veterinary prescription diets available which help alter the acidity of your cat’s urine to dissolve stones and prevent crystals from forming. Some also contain fatty acids which may help reduce inflammation, and some have added calming supplements to reduce stress. These diets should be followed on advice from a veterinary surgeon. 

If you take your cat off of a urinary diet and onto a normal one, these crystals can start forming again, and if your cat is unlucky, in a few weeks they might be back where they started. So, if your vet starts one of these diets, it’s usually best to stay with it.

Cystitis is a common condition in cats and requires a multimodal approach to management. Diet can be an important part of that management strategy, especially if there are stones or crystals forming in the urine. Changing your cat’s diet can be a daunting prospect, but can be very beneficial in these cases. Always follow direction from your veterinary surgeon when considering a new diet for your pet. 

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