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By Andrew Montague M.V.B. Cert. Small Animal Medicine
Home Page: Cats: Urinary: Cystitis
Cystitis in the Cat
Posted 28th June, 2000
Blood in the urine, straining to urinate, frequent urination and painful urination are all signs of cystitis in the cat. This painful and distressing condition is common in both male and female cats and in many ways it's similar to cystitis in humans.
The causes of cystitis in the cat are not fully understood but it's believed to be a problem with the lining of the bladder wall. Urine is a noxious substance that irritates any tissues that it comes in contact with. Normally the bladder forms a protective barrier that keeps urine from damaging the cells of the bladder wall. In this condition the bladder's protection is incomplete allowing urine to contact the cells of the bladder wall causing pain and bleeding.
It's a recurring condition. Bouts last for several days usually recurring after several weeks or months.
" ...it's similar to cystitis in humans"
In recurring or severe cases, your vet may suggest tests for your cat. Bloody urine and painful urination are frequently associated with cystitis, but they can be signs of more serious conditions such as bladder tumours, urinary tract infections or bladder stones. As a result it is important to investigate these signs thoroughly. It's common for urine samples and blood samples to be taken for examination. X-rays and ultrasound of the bladder are also frequently assessed.
There is no cure for this condition, but the cat can be helped to feel more comfortable. Increasing the amount of water that a cat drinks can dilute the urine and so decrease the irritation to the bladder wall. To encourage your cat to drink more it's useful to keep all water bowls full to the brim and instead of dried food, feed tinned food.
Reducing stress is helpful. Avoid abrupt changes in your cat's diet or environment. Overcrowding (too many cats) is stressful. The addition of new pets or people into a household is another cause of stress.
As cystitis is a painful condition your vet may prescribe painkillers. Human painkillers are often toxic for cats, so it's important that you follow your vet's advice on which painkillers to use. Newer drugs derived from a specific class of antidepressant may have some benefit for cats with cystitis. These drugs are also used in the treatment of cystitis in humans.
Although there is no cure for this distressing condition it's possible in many cases to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. A vet should check all cats that show signs of straining or blood in their urine, as the cat's urethra may become blocked preventing them from urinating. This is a serious complication that can kill a cat. It's also important that your vet checks for other possible causes of straining and bloody urine, such as urinary tract infection, stones or tumours. Further research is needed to enable us to do more for cats with recurrent cystitis.