When cats have cystitis it means that their bladders are inflamed. Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) describes cystitis which has an unexplained medical cause. It is a really common condition and is not normally a serious health concern, but can be very uncomfortable for your cat. As your cat ages, they may feel more vulnerable toileting outdoors, and may prefer not to be exposed to potential threads. The indoor environment may make them feel safer and may also help owners to detect urine abnormalities, such as an increased frequency of urination or blood in the urine. Step-free access to the litter tray may also make it more accessible. 9. Stress Symptoms range between cats, but typically the following are a sign of something wrong with your cat’s waterworks: One capsule in the morning and one in the evening was recommended for the first month, after which we dropped the dosage down to one capsule per day. Wrapping up our Cystaid Plus For Cats review Winter adjustments –the change in weather can be stressful for cats because they won’t want to go outside as much. You’ll just need to clean their litter a bit more regularly and spend a little more time playing with them to keep them happy.

Diet and exercise – overweight, lazy cats are much more likely to develop FIC so it’s important to keep your cat slim and fit. For more information read our guides Your Cat’s Diet& Exercising your Cat Stress is thought to be the most significant cause of cystitis in cats, so there is lots owners can do to help FIC is normally treated with a course of anti-inflammatory medication. This often worries cat owners because, in some cases, where they are dehydrated or have low blood pressure, these medications can cause kidney problems. However in the vast majority of cases they are very safe. Will my cat get feline idiopathic cystitis again? Stress is thought to be the most significant cause of FIC in cats. This is because anxiety has been proven to cause a special layer of the bladder which protects it against the harsh chemicals in urine to become patchy. When the tissue of the bladder is exposed to urine, inflammation can occur.

Treatment

Feline idiopathic cystitis is a complex syndrome. Environmental and physiological factors are thought to play a role and the condition has been linked to stress. Breakdown and loss of the glycosaminoglycan layer and tight junctions in the bladder, can complicate and exacerbate the condition significantly. Management involves a Cats with kidney issues also benefit from small meals fed little and often. Those with urinary issues are often on a strict diet as their problems can be exacerbated by being overweight. If your cat will not eat their recommended prescription diet, ask your vet about additional choices. Discuss your cat’s diet thoroughly with your vet as it will often form a large part of their treatment. Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAids) – used in the short-term to help reduce pain and settle bladder inflammation*. Top 10 tips to help your cat with urinary tract issues or kidney disease 1. Specialist veterinary diet

Since putting our cat on a course of Cystaid Plus for Cats, we’ve not yet had to return to the vets and our cat is happy and healthy. He wolfs down his food even with the powder mixed in and he’s not had any problems going to the toilet.Prescription food – if your cat has regular flare-ups of FIC symptoms, your vet might recommend a special diet designed to protect their bladder. In the short term, your cat will need medication to control their FIC symptoms, but by far the best way to prevent them from having symptom flare-ups is by making some simple changes at home to reduce their stress levels. These changes might seem minor to you but could make a huge difference to the way your cat feels. Your cat’s management plan is likely to include some of the following: The causes of cystitis or FLUTD can be quite wide-ranging, but a dry diet can have an effect in making your cat’s urine more alkali. There can also be no underlying cause to cat cystitis. From International Cat Care: Beds and hiding places – put them in various places around your home, making sure some are up high, away from other cats and people in your household.

Feline idiopathic cystitis in cats (FIC) is inflammation of the bladder with an unknown medical cause It was my decision to put him on Cystease, twice a day for a couple of weeks. Then I cut down to one and he continued to wee fine, nice big wees and no straining, crying or hopping in and out of the litter tray, Then I took them off him and he has been fine for a couple of years now You could also try him with a little goats milk as a change from broth, but go cautiously as some cats get a loose stool from any kind of milk that contains lactose.Cats with urinary tract problems, collectively called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), describes a variety of conditions that affect the bladder and urethra. Clinical signs include: Cats have developed certain preferences over the years and some can have dietary preferences! Encourage them to eat by warming their wet food, which can lose its tasty aroma when kept in the fridge; room temperature may be sufficient. Give your cat some peace and quiet at dinner time as they often prefer to eat alone. Ensure their bowls are cleaned after each use and do not smell strongly of detergent. Cats’ kidneys can begin to fail as they age and unfortunately, with chronic kidney disease, there is no cure. However, an early diagnosis and careful management can help to improve the quality and length of your cat’s life. Cats with chronic kidney disease tend to be older than those with FLUTD. Clinical signs include: Instructions: Initially administer two capsules per day (one morning and one evening) for three - four weeks and then one capsule per day thereafter.

FIC is more common in younger felines and episodes tend to reduce with age. FIC is different from a bladder infection, bladder stones or more serious urinary tract conditions, but can often present the same symptoms. What causes feline idiopathic cystitis in cats? Most cats will normally have another episode, but there are steps you can take to limit this possibility. Stress reduction is the best way to prevent repeat problems. How can I reduce my cat’s anxiety or stress? Cystitis in cats is very common and easily treated with anti-inflammatory medication, but can recur Avoid catteries – if you are going on holiday, avoid taking them to a cattery as this is likely to be extremely stressful. Instead, ask someone to house-sit for you, or come in a couple of times a day to feed and sit with them. Keep litter trays, and food and water bowls are out of the line of sight of other cats - remember that neighbourhood cats may be visible outside a glass door or window. Although they might have always done this, cats who are feeling under the weather may take issue to things that they have previously tolerated. 10. SupplementsPlace several water bowls around your home - enough so your cat can always use one whenever they want to. Put them in quiet areas of the house, away from their food, and try to use low-sided, glass, or ceramic bowls. Give them enough ‘resources’ – cats don’t like sharing and need their own things to feel happy and calm. Make sure they have enough: Add water to their food (both wet and dry), but if they don’t like this and won’t eat it, simply offer them significantly more wet food than biscuits, or even cut biscuits out altogether (if your cat will still eat enough).