Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is not one particular problem, but rather, it describes a group of clinical symptoms that may have more than one possible cause.

What are the symptoms of FLUTD?

Clinical signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease include:

Frequent urination or visits to the litterbox
Bloody or cloudy urine
Straining to urinate, or only passing small amounts of urine at a time
Crying out (yowling) when trying to pass urine
Dribbling urine or loss of bladder control
Urinating in unusual places
Frequent licking of the urinary opening
Lethargy or vomiting
Urinary blockage (considered an emergency and can be fatal if not treated immediately)

A cat that has FLUTD can have one or more of these clinical signs. In order to treat the condition, your veterinarian will try to determine the cause of the symptoms

What are the possible causes of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

Bladder stones, crystals or an accumulation of debris in the bladder or urethra
Urethral blockage
Bladder or urinary tract infection infection
Urinary tract cancer/tumor

Almost half of all cats with symptoms of FLUTD will not have a cause that can be determined despite testing. This is called idiopathic cystitis.

Age can make a difference in the underling cause. The average age of a cat diagnosed with FLUTD is four years. It is rarely diagnosed in cats younger than one year, and in cats ten years and older almost half of the cases are caused by urinary tract infections.

What should I do if I suspect my cat has FLUTD?

Call your veterinarian right away if you are noticing any of the above symptoms. If your cat is straining to urinate or crying out in pain, it is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

How is FLUTD diagnosed?

Your veterinarian will recommend treatment based on your cat’s age, physical exam and symptoms. Testing might include:

Urinalysis with a possible urine culture
Blood work
Radiographs to rule out bladder stones
Possible ultrasound

How is FLUTD treated?

Depending on your cat’s prognosis, your veterinarian may recommend:

Antibiotics
Changes in diet
Increase in water intake or fluid therapy
Urinary acidifiers
Surgery to remove bladder stones or tumor

Untreated urinary problems can cause partial or complete obstruction of the urethra. Make sure to call your veterinarian if you are concerned about any symptoms you are noticing, or have any questions.