09/03/2026
🐱💧 Is your cat making frequent trips to the litter box? It could be Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC).
We’ve been seeing more cats with urinary symptoms lately, so we wanted to share a little information about one of the most common causes: Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC).
FIC is inflammation of the bladder that occurs without an identifiable infection or other obvious cause. It can cause some very uncomfortable symptoms, including:
🚽 Frequent trips to the litter box
💧 Passing only small amounts of urine
😿 Straining or crying while urinating
🩸 Blood in the urine
🧹 Urinating outside the litter box
🐱 Licking around the urinary/genital area
Why does it happen?
FIC is closely associated with stress and changes in a cat’s environment. Things that may seem minor to us—changes in routine, visitors, other pets, moving furniture, construction, conflicts between cats, or even changes in household schedules—can sometimes contribute.
💧 Hydration is also important. Cats naturally tend to have a low thirst drive, and increasing water intake can help produce more dilute urine.
What can you do at home?
❤️ Provide plenty of fresh water (water fountains can help some cats)
🥫 Consider feeding more wet food to increase water intake
🧼 Keep litter boxes clean and provide enough boxes for the number of cats in your home
🏠 Give your cat safe, quiet places to rest and hide
🧸 Encourage play and enrichment
🔄 Try to keep daily routines predictable
🐱 In multi-cat homes, make sure cats have adequate access to food, water, litter boxes and resting areas without having to compete
🚨 IMPORTANT: Urinary blockage is an emergency
If your cat is repeatedly going to the litter box but little or no urine is coming out, particularly in a male cat, this can indicate a urethral obstruction.
A blocked cat can become critically ill very quickly and needs immediate veterinary attention.
And remember: urinary symptoms can have several different causes—including stones, crystals, infection and other urinary tract problems—so it’s important to have your cat examined rather than assuming it is simply a UTI or FIC.
🐾 If your cat is showing any changes in urination, please contact your veterinary team for advice.