Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) can affect any cat.
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a complex of diseases suffered by many cats, both male and female. Formerly known as feline urologic syndrome, or FUS, this syndrome includes a number of different health issues which affect the lower urinary tract of the cat.
Symptoms of FLUTD
Symptoms observed with FLUTD may vary from one cat to another but often include:
- frequent attempts to urinate, often producing very small amounts of urine each time
- painful urination, which may result in crying or vocalizing when attempting to urinate
- inappropriate urination (urinating outside of the litter box)
- bloody urine
Causes of FLUTD
There are many different factors which may contribute to feline lower urinary tract disease. These factors include:
- inflammation
- infection
- crystals, calculi (stones), and other debris which form in the urinary bladder
- stress
- diet
- lack of adequate water consumption
Feline interstitial cystitis
Feline interstitial cystitis is a term which is often used to refer to inflammation within the bladder of a cat. As with other forms of FLUTD, cystitis can have many causes. Stress is thought to be one of the biggest factors playing a role in this disease and it is worth noting that stressful situations for cats may be situations which many owners may not perceive as being stressful. For many cats, changes in the household, even small changes such as rearranging furniture, can be stressful enough to cause an episode of interstitial cystitis to occur. Diet and water consumption probably also play a part in the disease process. However, the exact causes of feline interstitial cystitis remain elusive.
Feline urinary tract infection
Though feline urinary tract infections are rare in young cats, bladder infections may play a larger role in the production of feline lower urinary tract disease in older cats.
Feline urinary obstruction
Urinary obstruction, or urethral obstruction, in cats occurs when the urethra (the part of the urinary tract leading from the bladder to the outside of the body) becomes blocked, often with crystals or debris from within the urine. This blockage of the urethra results in a cat which is unable to urinate, causing waste products to build up in the cat's blood stream and body tissues.
Urinary obstructions happen only rarely in female cats, but in male cats, urethral obstructions are not uncommon and are a medical emergency. Urethral obstruction requires medical intervention immediately to relieve the blockage and prevent the obstruction from becoming fatal.
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), though often referred to as a single entity, is actually a multi-factorial disease. Some cats suffering from FLUTD may have more than one factor which contributes to the disease process as well.
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The copyright of the article Pet health 101: FLUTD, feline urinary tract infection, feline cystitis & urinary obstructions is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Pet health 101: FLUTD, feline urinary tract infection, feline cystitis & urinary obstructions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/sqbyus
Comments
Excellent Article! My male cat suffered from a urinary blockage and it was absolutely awful. Thankfully we caught it before it was too late and the vet was able to remove the blockage. Cats are SO GOOD at hiding their illnesses and he would have been dead in a few hours if he hadn't finally given a clue that he was sick. Recognizing it early is the best thing :)
Just recently my 2yr old male cat passed away do to a unseen blockage. He didn't show any signs until it was to late. He died on the way to the vets office. People need to be made aware of how fatal a blockage really is. For people like me with multiple cats in one household scheduled feeding and one on one time with each cat everyday can help you detect the warning signs.
In Loving Memory...Leon...2007-2009
BOTH my cats have suffered and have spent over four thousand on vet bills! I am convinced that this condition and blockage is not only caused by diet (too much grain and toxic chemicals in most petfood) but serious lack of water. My cats rarely drank water and since I fed dry food, they were probably always dehydrated. I figured this out on my own, rather then do the subcutaneous fluid (injecting water under skin) I now orally squirt about 5 cc (medium syringe full) twice a day to each cat. I also have been giving them 150mg glucosamine, which may help. Since been doing this, cats are fine, no more expensive vet bills.
My Kitty Cody Passed away this Saturday from this blockage. I rushed him to the vet when My Cody fell suddenly ill. My Vet said his bladder was blocked. The vet unblocked him and kept him over night. The next morning The Vet said Cody was not emptying his bladder on his own. He had to compress Cody's bladder to empty it. and kept Cody over night again. I called on the third morning and the vet said Cody was still not going on his own but the blood was dissipating from Cody's urine. He said it seemed the kidneys were healing them selves. He also started him on antibiotics. This was great news at least I thought. A couple hours later the vet called me back and told me that now there was a new problem. Cody's hind legs were now paralyzed. I ended up having to put My Baby Cody to sleep that day. The clot could have been brought on by stress from the blockage. Or from a preexisting condition. I am still crying because it only happened four days ago. Does anyone else have a similar story? Has anyone else's kitty get paralysis from this blockage? My Cody was only 3 1/2 years Old. Rest In Peace My Little Man. I Love You Sooooo Much :(
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