Among the most stressful and frustrating cat health problems are those affecting your cat’s bladder or urethra. Sometimes referred to as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), it is one of the most common reasons for vet visits, affecting 1-3% of cats each year.
The good news is, there are warning signs you can watch out for, which we will go over below. You just need to be vigilant and prudent in monitoring your cat’s litter box so they can get prompt and proper veterinary care.
Frequent Litter Box Trips
Cats with FLUTD urinate more often than they normally do. But they pass only a small amount of urine with each trip (and sometimes none at all), hence the repeated attempts.
Urinating Outside the Litter Box
Cats with FLUTD feel the urgent need to urinate that they usually don’t make it to the litter box and instead urinate in inappropriate or unusual areas outside the litter box. Some avoid the litter box because they start associating it with pain.
Cries of Pain
Cats with FLUTD, in some cases, might not be able to urinate at all because their urethra is blocked. Male cats have longer and narrower urethras and are thus more likely to experience this. It may seem like they’re just constipated, but straining can actually become a life-threatening emergency.
Traces of Blood
Cats with FLUTD may have blood in their urine. In some cases, the blood is microscopic and can only be detected through lab tests. In other cases, the blood is visible and might even cause red discoloration of the urine.
Over-grooming
Cats with FLUTD may lick their genitals or abdominal area excessively as a self-soothing response to pain. If this goes on, it could lead to hair loss.
Behavioral Changes
Cats with FLUTD may be more irritable than usual, become aggressive or increasingly agitated, or lose their appetite.
Underlying causes of FLUTD
Unlike many other cat health problems, the cause of FLUTD is not always readily identifiable. In 60 to 70% of cases, there is no underlying disease. Instead, a cat’s FLUTD is attributed to bladder inflammation, the cause of which is unknown.
In most cases, FLUTD is usually a result of bladder stones and urinary crystals (which cause an obstruction in the urethra), a bacterial infection (typically in older cats), or abnormalities (i.e., anatomical defects).
In a few rare cases, the culprit is cancer in the form of tumor affecting the urethra or bladder. Note that stress is also believed to trigger FLUTD, so keeping your cat comfortable and happy is important.
FLUTD may be one of the most challenging cat health problems a cat owner will ever face. But don’t let it break your resolve, and don’t add to their pain by giving up on them. Instead, get your kitty the medical care they need, and you can be there to witness their recovery.
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