Is Stress Making My Cat Pee Outside the Litter Box? A Look at Feline Idiopathic Cystitis
Most cat owners believe they have upset their feline friend when they discover urine-soaked clothing or bedding, but, believe it or not, cats are not vindictive creatures. One of the main causes of inappropriate urination is feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). To discover if your cat is peeing on your favorite jacket because of this urinary condition, read on to learn about the disease signs, diagnosis, and treatment.
Feline idiopathic cystitis signs
FIC can develop without any obvious underlying cause, and more than one unidentified underlying condition that leads to FIC is possible. Cats with FIC will show signs that indicate an issue with their lower urinary tract system, including:
● Painful or difficult urination
● Frequent urination
● Blood in the urine
● Urinating outside the litter box or in unusual places
● Overgrooming because of bladder pain
● Increased irritation or aggression
If you notice your cat struggling to urinate, contact us immediately. Male and occasionally female cats can develop a life-threatening urinary blockage.
Feline idiopathic cystitis diagnosis
Since no diagnostic test can confirm that your cat is suffering from FIC, the diagnosis is made by ruling out other potential urinary conditions. To do that, we will examine a urine sample for the presence of red, white, and abnormal blood cells, bacteria, or crystals and take X-rays to rule out urinary tract stones and bladder masses. An ultrasound of the entire urinary tract may also be indicated. Blood work is necessary to check kidney function and to search for other potential causes of urinary issues.
Feline idiopathic cystitis treatment
With no definitive cause of FIC, treatment is challenging and focuses on encouraging frequent drinking and urination, reducing stress, and stimulating your pet mentally. Management measures include:
● Switching from dry to canned food to increase water intake
● Providing a drinking fountain instead of a water dish
● Investigating prescription urinary diets
● Offering more drinking stations throughout your home
● Adding more litter boxes in various quiet places in your home
● Reducing stress by:
○ Playing with your cat daily
○ Allowing daily outdoor activity in an enclosed run to provide mental stimulation
○ Creating elevated perches for napping and observing
○ Offering scratching posts and climbing towers
○ Diffusing the Feliway pheromone in areas where your cat spends most of her time
○ Avoiding household inter-cat conflict
Has your cat been missing the litter box? Make an appointment with us so we can treat this potentially serious problem.