01/09/2026
Tuesdays Tips
Fantastic info as always from Veterinary Voices UK
Did you know that stress and a cat's home environment can play such an important role in bladder disease?
This is why managing urinary disease isn't always simply about treating the bladder — we need to think about the whole cat and their environment.
If your cat constantly in and out of the litter tray, don’t ignore it.
If your cat is suddenly visiting the litter tray more frequently, straining to urinate, passing only tiny amounts of urine, urinating outside their usual place or producing blood-tinged urine, they could be showing signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).
FLUTD is an umbrella term covering several conditions affecting the bladder and urethra, including bladder stones, infections and, most commonly, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC).
But there is one complication every cat owner needs to know about: urethral obstruction — or a ‘blocked bladder’. This is particularly common in male cats. A blockage means the cat is unable to pass urine normally and is a genuine veterinary emergency that can become life-threatening.
If your cat is repeatedly straining but producing little or no urine, contact your veterinary practice immediately.
Interestingly, most cases of cystitis in cats aren't caused by bacterial infection, which means antibiotics are usually not required.
FIC is more complicated. We don't completely understand why some cats develop it, but their nervous system and response to stress are thought to play an important role.
This is why managing urinary disease isn't always simply about treating the bladder — we need to think about the whole cat and their environment.
Increasing water intake can help.
Wet food can increase moisture intake, while some cats prefer running water from a fountain. Providing several water sources around the home and experimenting with different bowls and locations can also encourage drinking.
Think about their environment.
Stress isn't always obvious to us. Changes within the household, conflict with other cats, inadequate resources or even where a litter tray is positioned may matter.
Provide enough litter trays (of a appropriate size and shape) in quiet, easily accessible locations and give cats opportunities to hide, rest, play and get away from other animals when they want to.
Keep an eye on weight and nutrition.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important, and your veterinary team may recommend a specific urinary diet depending on your cat's individual circumstances.
And importantly, recurrent urinary signs shouldn't simply be assumed to be another episode of cystitis.
Your veterinary team may recommend urine testing, imaging or other investigations to rule out problems such as stones, infection or other urinary tract disease — particularly when signs are persistent or keep returning.
For more information on FLUTD and creating a cat-friendly environment, International Cat Care has some excellent owner resources:
https://icatcare.org/articles/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease
