Did you know that most urinary problems that cats face are caused by stress? Most weeks in my practice, I have a kitty that comes to see me that is suddenly peeing everywhere except their litter box. Many kitties are peeing tiny amounts of bloody urine in strange places, ranging from the kitchen counter, their human’s bed and even on the walls. This is often diagnosed as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis or FIC.
Table of Contents
This behavior often occurs around a home relocation, a vacation, or after adding a new furry friend or human to the household. Many people interpret these behaviors as their kitty’s expression of disapproval or anger towards them. I promise you, your cat is never peeing outside the box as revenge for anything you did or did not do!
When kitties are peeing outside the litter box like this, they are truly in pain and uncomfortable. It feels very similar to a human’s urinary tract infection. There is a constant need to urinate and a burning sensation during urination. It is often accompanied by an achy sensation in your cat’s bladder.
What is FIC?
This disorder has been recognized for decades and has been called many names, including Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and now Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Cystitis simply means inflammation in the bladder. When cats suffer from cystitis, they exhibit the following symptoms:
- Urinating outside the box
- Urinating small amounts
- Vocalizing while urinating
- Usually eating and drinking normally
IF YOUR CAT IS STRAINING TO URINATE AND IS NOT PRODUCING ANY URINE, THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!
What causes FIC?
The exact mechanism of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis is unknown. The term idiopathic in the name means that we don’t know exactly what causes the inflammation in the bladder. However, it is understood that it is highly correlated to stress in cats. The following are common stressful events that can cause cystitis episodes:
- Household moves
- Changes in the members of a household
- Addition, or death, of another pet in the household
- Rearranging of furniture
- Conflict between the human or animal members of the household
- Cats, or other animals, that can be seen outside the home
- Asking an outdoor kitty to become an indoor kitty
- Changes in diet
Holistic Treatment of Cystitis
If your kitty has had one episode of cystitis, there is a high probability they will have another. Being prepared for another episode is key. Here is my holistic approach to treating kitties with FIC:
Acute Treatment of Cystitis Flare
1.Hydration. My favorite way to achieve this is with subcutaneous fluids given at home. Your veterinary team can teach you how to give these to your kitty. Extra hydration will help flush out the inflammatory chemicals and help your kitty feel better. Check out my tutorial on how to give your kitty subcutaneous fluids here.
2. Pain Control. Cystitis is very uncomfortable and pain can cause more stress for your kitty. My preferred pain medication is buprenorphine, a narcotic that can be given orally to your kitty. As our country deals with an opioid addiction epidemic, many veterinarians are, instead, turning to gabapentin to manage pain. While I don’t think it is as effective in controlling pain, it is safe for long term use.
Prevention of Future Occurrences of FIC
1. High Moisture Diet. Eliminating dry food in favor of a canned or raw diet is a key preventative. Dry foods are too high in carbohydrates and do not provide enough moisture to support your kitty’s urinary tract. You can find my favorite diets for kitties here!
2. Supplements. Adding certain nutrients and herbs to your cat’s diet can help reduce inflammation and decrease stress. This can be a very effective way to prevent recurrence of FIC. Here are my favorite supplements to reduce stress and inflammation in my feline patients:
- HempRx Feline Drops. CBD and all of the phytocannabinoids in hemp extract can not only reduce inflammation in your kitty, but may also increase your kitty’s serotonin levels and sense of well being.
- Composure ProChews. L-theanine, the active ingredient in Composure Chews helps to increase serotonin levels.
- Fish Oil. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can reduce overall inflammation.
- San Ren Tang. This is a Chinese herbal formula that helps relieve inflammation in the bladder. I use a formula by Natural Path, that was designed specifically for kitties.
3. Enriching Your Cat’s Environment. Your cat’s surroundings can have a significant impact on their overall health and stress levels. Here are a few easy suggestions to help your kitty feel less stressed:
- Feed your kitty after playtime. Spending some time letting your cat hunt a stick and string toy before eating will mimic hunting behavior. This will help increase positive endorphins and improve an overall sense of well being.
- Feed your kitties away from each other. Seeing another cat during mealtime can increase your cat’s stress. This can be true even if your kitties seem to co-exist harmoniously.
- Multiple litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat, plus one extra. Having one box on each floor of your home can also be helpful.
- Vertical Spaces. Cats enjoy cat trees and wall shelves and tunnels to escape other cats, animals and people. A variety of options is ideal.
If you find that your kitty is struggling with frequent bouts of cystitis, it can be helpful to journal what changes have recently occurred in their surroundings. Taking note of what may be stress inducing for your cat can go a long way in preventing future episodes.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’d like some dedicated time with me to dig deeper into your cat’s specific symptoms and needs, I’m always available for telemedicine consultations. Grab some time on my calendar here and use the discount code helpmycat for 10% off your consultation. We can make a plan together!
Hugs,
Dr. Angie
