Have your heard about FIC?

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis is one of the most common reasons for inappropriate elimination in cats. It is also one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters.

It is considered a diagnosis of exclusion, so it’s important to rule out medical causes of urinary issues such as urinary tract infections and bladder stones.

This condition is characterized by inflammation of the bladder.

It is believed there is a behavioral component to this condition; stress is thought to exacerbate this condition. Environmental changes to reduce stress are recommended such as increasing water consumption, using Feliway products, increasing the number of litterboxes and providing cats with environmental enrichment.

Cats can have multiple FIC flare-ups episodes over the course of their lives; oftentimes a canned prescription diet is recommended as well as medications for short term use to help with the pain and discomfort associated with FIC. If a male cat is unable to urinate - this is a medical emergency which can be life-threatening so seeking vet care promptly is critical!

References:

1)Veterinary Partner. Veterinarypartner.com

2)Tilley, L. P., & Smith, F. W. (2005). The 5-minute veterinary consult: Canine and feline. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

3)Yin, S. A. (2010). The small animal veterinary nerdbook. Davis, CA: CattleDog Pub.