Feline interstitial cystitis, sometimes called feline idiopathic cystitis or FIC, is an inflammation of your cat's bladder that causes symptoms of lower urinary tract disease.
Feline cystitis is an inflammation of your cat’s bladder that causes symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
Cystitis can occur in both female and male cats. It’s a chronic disease that can be difficult to treat and frustrating for you and your cat.
The causes aren’t fully understood, but stress is thought to play a large part in the condition. Most cases of feline cystitis are idiopathic, meaning there’s no identifiable cause, or are triggered by stress. These cases are sterile (not caused by bacteria) and don’t need antibiotics. Bacterial urinary tract infections are less common overall, though older cats are more likely to develop an infectious UTI than younger cats.
Frequent attempts to urinate
If you’ve noticed your cat peeing everywhere – on carpets, sofas, or in corners of the house – this is one of the most recognisable early signs of feline lower urinary tract disease. Cats that are uncomfortable or in pain when urinating will often stop using their litter tray altogether and start going in unusual places.
Inappropriate urination isn’t always caused by illness. Sometimes the issue seems behavioural rather than medical, such as stress, a dirty litter tray, or tension with other cats in the house.
It’s also worth understanding cat spraying versus urinating: what is the difference?, as this can point you in the right direction. That said, because cystitis and UTIs are common and can become serious quickly, it’s important to rule out a medical cause first before assuming the problem is behavioural. If your cat is straining to pee, producing only small drips of urine, or crying out when attempting to go, treat this as an emergency, particularly if your cat is male, as a blocked bladder can be life-threatening.
Visit your vet. They’ll perform blood tests and urinalysis to diagnose the condition. They may also carry out an abdominal X-ray and an ultrasound exam to rule out stones and other abnormal structures in the bladder.
Feline UTIs and cystitis produce very similar symptoms. Look out for blood in the urine (the wee may appear pink or red), your cat peeing a lot in small frequent amounts, straining or struggling to pee with little result, and avoiding the litter tray while seeming uncomfortable.
Female cats are more prone to bacterial UTIs, while male cats face a higher risk of dangerous urinary blockages. Older cats are also more likely to develop an infectious UTI than younger cats, who are more commonly affected by idiopathic or stress-related cystitis. A definitive diagnosis requires a vet examination and urinalysis.
Your cat is likely to be prescribed pain medication to relieve the discomfort caused by the inflammation within the bladder and urinary tract. This will make them more comfortable while urinating. You may also need to change your cat’s diet. Your vet will advise you if they recommend a special diet.
Increasing your cat’s water consumption is an important part of treatment and feeding them wet food, when possible, will help increase the moisture content in their diet.
Most cases of cystitis are idiopathic or stress-related, meaning they’re sterile and don’t require antibiotics. If your vet confirms a bacterial UTI (more common in older cats), they’ll prescribe antibiotics. For idiopathic cystitis, treatment instead focuses on pain management and reducing bladder inflammation. Increasing water intake through wet food or a drinking fountain is key to both treatment and prevention. Never give your cat human UTI remedies.
It’s a good idea to discuss costs with your vet before you start treatment.
Making changes to your cat’s environment can help reduce their stress levels. Dietary modifications, pain medication and other medicines can also help with this.
Providing all of your cat’s basic needs such as good quality food, clean water, a place to hide and interactive toys all help to minimise the stress levels that can cause cystitis. Pheromones such as Feliway can also help reduce your cat’s stress.
Make sure you review the clinical history of your new cat and ask for more details on how the cystitis was treated.
You’ll need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you’ve been made aware of the condition.
Any cat who’s had treatment is likely to have pet insurance exclusions, so it’s worth discussing potential on-going costs with your vet.
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