Why is there blood in my cat’s urine? They may have Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC)
By: Dr. Katie Vance
Published August 1, 2024
Welcome back cat enthusiasts! This month we are discussing a topic that we see quite commonly in cats known as feline idiopathic cystitis.
Is your cat straining to urinate? Urinating blood? Urinating more frequently? Urinating outside of the litter box? Then they have symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). The lower urinary tract is made up of the bladder and urethra. Disease in this part of the urinary tract can be caused by urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, feline idiopathic cystitis, anatomical malformations, cancer, behavioral issues, metabolic or neurological diseases.
What is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC)?
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is the most common cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats. FIC is a disease process that causes inflammation in the urinary bladder WITHOUT an infection. The cause of this inflammation is not well understood, but is likely multi factorial. The most common theory is that cats that develop FIC have abnormalities in the lining of the bladder wall coupled with increased sensitivity to stress.
Stress has been one of the most consistent factors in predisposing cats to FIC. Cats that live in multi cat households are more prone to developing FIC, likely due to conflict between cats, and stress from competition for resources such as water, food, and litter boxes.
Studies show neutered male cats are at higher risk of developing FIC. Male cats are also more likely to develop urethral obstruction, which is the inability to urinate due to a blockage in the urethra. This is a serious and potentially life threatening situation that is more common in male cats due to the increased length and narrow anatomy of the urethra. Therefore, if your male cat loses the ability to urinate, this is always an emergency and you should seek veterinary care ASAP. Other risk factors include cats that eat dry food, are indoor only (less active), and overweight.
Stress has been one of the most consistent factors in predisposing cats to FIC. Cats that live in multi cat households are more prone to developing FIC, likely due to conflict between cats, and stress from competition for resources such as water, food, and litter boxes.
Studies show neutered male cats are at higher risk of developing FIC. Male cats are also more likely to develop urethral obstruction, which is the inability to urinate due to a blockage in the urethra. This is a serious and potentially life threatening situation that is more common in male cats due to the increased length and narrow anatomy of the urethra. Therefore, if your male cat loses the ability to urinate, this is always an emergency and you should seek veterinary care ASAP. Other risk factors include cats that eat dry food, are indoor only (less active), and overweight.
How FIC is Diagnosed:
FIC is diagnosed by ruling out other causes of lower urinary tract disease. We typically start with diagnostics such as urinalysis, abdominal radiographs, +/- ultrasound of the bladder. The veterinarian will make a diagnosis of FIC based on the patient’s history, clinical signs, and these initial diagnostics.
How FIC is Treated:
FIC is a disease that will resolve on its own within 1-2 weeks on average. There is no treatment that will shorten the duration of a flareup. Our goal during these episodes is to provide pain management until it passes. Prevention for the future involve a combination of environmental enrichment and nutrition. Environmental enrichment focuses on creating a safe and stress free home by using calming pheromones, rotating access to toys, daily play time, puzzles/hiding food to mimic hunting, scratching posts, and access to increased vertical space. Cats can be picky about their litter boxes! Therefore, having the appropriate number of litter boxes (# cats +1), litter box hygiene and placement are also important. Nutritional management includes access to fresh clean water, coupled with prescription Urinary diets to help reduce the frequency and severity of the FIC flareups.
