What Is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis?

Your furry companion has all the signs of feline cystitis.  He strains to urinate, but doesn’t pass much urine.  His urine may be bloody.  He’s obviously in pain when he’s using the litter box.  And he may be urinating in places other than his litter box. 

But when your vet examines him and runs a urinalysis and a urine culture, there’s no sign of a feline bladder infection.  There’s no bacteria in his urine, and bladder stones, tumors, and even an anatomical defect have all been ruled out. 

Feline idiopathic cystitis is the diagnosis when there doesn’t seem to be any reason for feline urinary problems.  It’s very difficult to watch your cat suffer with FLUTD symptoms when there doesn’t appear to be any reason for these cat urinary problems.  The worst thing is that this condition is becoming more common in cats as time goes on.

Is A Stressed Out Cat Related To Feline Idiopathic Cystitis?

Research is showing that this condition in cats is very similar to interstitial cystitis in people.  In both cats and people, some sort of stressful event often happens just before the cat or person suffers another bout of cystitis.

Although we think our cats have an easy life, they face stresses we aren’t always aware of.  It may be hard to believe, but being an indoor cat is stressful for felines.  We keep them inside for their own safety, but this is an unnatural environment for felines.  They do like to prowl around, especially at night.Hunting for food helps to keep them in shape because of all the exercise they get. 

We also feed them the wrong type of diet, which is another stressor.  Most dry cat foods are made mostly from corn, which is very high in carbohydrates.  Too much of the wrong type of food leads to obesity, feline diabetes, and other health issues. 

Something that many cat owners don’t consider is that the moisture level in dry cat food is extremely low.  Cats are meant to get most of their water from their diet, which should be mostly meat-based.  A cat who is always fed dry food is more than likely chronically dehydrated.  Even if a cat who is fed dry food does drink water, it’s hard for him to drink enough.

The problem with a dehydrated cat is that water doesn’t pass through his body often enough to flush out toxins.  His urine is also concentrated.  Urine is caustic, and if it’s too concentrated, it can irritate the bladder, which often leads to FLUTD.If his urine is too concentrated, the result is high mineral levels, which can cause cat bladder stones and urinary blockage in cats.

This type of stress is low-level, but it can lead to problems over time. 

You may not be aware that your cat is under other types of stress.  Cats are very set in their ways, and any kind of change can be upsetting for them.Moving your household, remodeling your house, a new baby, a new kitten, or even a change in the weather, can all be stressful for your cat.  Your cat may be having problems with another cat in the home, too, especially if the other pet is more aggressive and seems to bother him a lot.

Helping Your Stressed Out Cat

It’s been shown that reducing stress in cats does reduce the frequency of FLUTD.  It’s also important to feed your cat a diet more naturally suited for felines to reduce stress on his body.

If your kitty is plagued with recurring feline urinary problems, natural remedies for cats may help.  Just click on any link in this article to learn more.

Related posts:

1. Feline Urinary Problems And Your Cat
2. Feline Urinary Problems — What Your Cat Wishes You Knew
3. The Truth About Cat Stress and Idiopathic Cystitis In Cats

Cat urine problems are sometimes caused by a health issue, including feline diabetes, or a feline urinary tract infection, so your first response should be to take the kitty to the vet for a check-up.You’ll want to be sure she has a clean bill of health before you try to relieve feline stress.

Cat Litter Pan Problems Due To Stress Are More Common Than You Think

What could be better than being a cat?  All you have to do is just lay around and sleep all day, right?  Well, life for your kitty may not as rosy as you believe it is.Most cat owners don’t realze that stressed out cats are a big problem.

A cat with nothing else to do except eat and sleep may become stressed.  Cats get bored, just like we do.  Set aside time to play with your kitty several times a day.  She needs the exercise, and enjoys interacting with you.

Consider providing a feline companion to keep an only cat company during the day.  Or buy a cat video that features birds and other creatures that she can watch on TV while you’re gone. 

Another pet, or even a child, may be the cause of the problem.  If a dominant cat, a dog, or a small child is bothering Kitty while she’s in the litter box, she just may find another, more private place to do her business. 

Your feline may not like where her cat litter pan is located.  If you keep it in the basement, she may be scared of the furnace, or the washing machine, since they come to life when she least expects it, and make lots of noise.  Look at the situation from your cat’s point of view.Cats see the world in a different way than we do.

If her pan is in a busy, noisy place, she may be unhappy with it, too.When using the bathroom, your feline prefers a private place.

Tips For Solving Your Cat Urine Problems

If you have more than one cat, you should have one box for each feline, plus an extra one.  Spread them out all over the house.If your kitties don’t share the litter pan well, this will prevent one cat from claiming the pan as hers alone.You’ll want to provide an escape route at each litter pan to avoid one cat trapping another one in there.

Try putting the cat litter pan in the location where the cat has been urinating.The idea is to get her to use the pan.Once she does, move the litter pan an inch or so every few days until it’s where you want it.

Feeding the cat where she’s been urinating is suggested, because kitties prefer not to eat where they potty.If you cover the area with a plastic sheet, or aluminum foil, it will be less appealing to Kitty.  Be sure to use a pet deodorizer to neutralize cat urine odor, so she won’t be drawn back to use the same place again.

You certainly don’t want to deal with cat urine on carpet.  Learn how you can end your cat urine problems once and for all by clicking on any link in this article.

Related posts:

1. Cat Urine Problems And What Every Cat Owner Should Know
2. A New Theory — Are Your Cat Urinary Problems Linked To A Stressed Out Cat?
3. Cat Urine Odor- How To Get Rid Of It?