Cystitis in cats: everything you need to know

Is your cat having trouble urinating? Does it meow before and/or while urinating? It might be suffering from cystitis. Cystitis is a common urinary disorder in cats, characterized by inflammation (with or without infection) of the bladder wall. Symptoms, treatments, cat food, prevention — we tell you everything about cystitis in cats.

What is cystitis in cats?

Cats are particularly sensitive animals, often prone to urinary problems such as cystitis and urinary stones, also called urolithiasis. Cystitis is one of the subtypes of feline lower urinary tract diseases (FLUTD). It corresponds to an inflammation of the bladder wall, causing painful and frequent excretion of small amounts of urine.

The causes are varied; it can be associated with many diseases: congenital malformation, tumor, presence of urinary stones that disrupt urine flow, urinary tract infection... But in most cases (2 out of 3), the origin is not identified. No physical or infectious cause is proven.

That is why we speak of feline idiopathic cystitis, whose main cause is thought to be stress, to which cats are particularly sensitive.

Cystitis is often confused with kidney failure in cats. Two very different diseases. While cystitis affects the bladder, kidney failure is a dysfunction of the renal tissue, the kidney itself. Unlike cystitis, this disease is irreversible.

How the cat's urinary system works

The urinary system of our cats works like ours. It is a well-oiled machine that can, however, be disrupted.

As explained in our article on urinary problems in cats, the kidneys play a major role in regulating hydration and minerals and eliminating toxins continuously produced by the body. They are highly vascularized and filter blood, directing electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium...), water, and many substances from protein metabolism (like creatinine and urea) to the urine.

In the kidneys, there is the so-called parenchyma, highly vascularized, containing functional units like small factories sorting molecules to recycle and waste. This allows the kidney to clean the blood and produce primary urine sent to the renal pelvis. This acts like a funnel that collects the primary urine and sends it to the ureter, then to the bladder. From there, we talk about the lower urinary tract: the ureters, bladder, and urethra conduct, transform, and eliminate urine.

What are the symptoms of cystitis in cats?

Pain and excessive licking

A cat with cystitis may show one or more signs. These are easily recognizable. Among them:

• The cat meows before or while urinating. Cystitis is indeed a particularly painful disorder for our little companions (just like for us humans).
• Blood in the urine is sometimes present. Note that the presence of blood in urine does not necessarily mean an infection is present. We will discuss the causes shortly.

• The cat excessively licks its genital area.

Behavioral changes

Other signs may alert you, especially regarding your whiskered friend’s behavior.

• Frequent trips to the litter box. The cat goes very often to its litter box, with or without producing urine (pollakiuria).

• Having great difficulty urinating, it squats in the litter box for a long time and produces only a few drops of urine. This is called dysuria. Some owners think their cat is constipated, while it actually shows signs of a lower urinary tract problem. Be alert!

• It urinates outside the litter box. Suffering, the cat associates its toileting with pain and prefers to urinate elsewhere.

What causes cystitis in cats?

Infectious cystitis

The causes of cystitis in cats are varied. It can be due to congenital malformation, tumor, or urinary tract infection. Infections remain very rare in young cats: they concern only about 1% of cats showing clinical signs of cystitis. In cats, cystitis is often “sterile,” without infection. However, infections can be favored by diabetes in cats, chronic kidney failure, or hyperthyroidism.

Water-deficient diet

Another probable cause of inflammation is the presence of urinary stones, which disrupt urine flow. A diet deficient in water is often to blame: a cat that does not drink enough water while eating only dry food, such as kibble, risks chronic dehydration, leading to concentrated urine that favors the formation of urinary stones. In fact, more cases of cystitis are observed in cats eating dry food than in those eating wet food (pâté).

Feline idiopathic cystitis: the role of stress

But in most cases (2 out of 3), the cause of cystitis is not precisely identified. No physical cause is proven. This is called feline idiopathic cystitis.

The mechanisms of this cystitis are still poorly understood, but stress seems to play an important role in the inflammation of the feline bladder. Stress sources for cats are numerous: moving house, transport, vet visits, arrival of a new animal or child in the family. Even a change of couch or curtains can stress our little cats.

Using an unsuitable litter box can also cause stress. Even if a cat normally uses its litter box, it can have frustrations: it is not comfortable enough for its little paws, it dislikes the smell, etc. On our blog, we give you some advice to choose the best litter for your cat (and for you). 😺

Stress and lack of water are the two main factors of cystitis in cats.

Diagnosing cystitis in cats

If your little cat shows one or more signs, it is necessary to consult your veterinarian. They will perform various exams to determine the cause of the discomfort. Your vet will notably perform urine and blood tests, and if necessary, X-rays or ultrasounds to detect possible stones.

Feline Cystitis: What Are the Treatments?

The treatment depends on the cause of cystitis. If an infection is confirmed, your vet will prescribe antibiotics. In case of urinary stones, a special diet for cats with urinary disorders will be recommended. Surgery may also be considered if calcium oxalate stones are present. For idiopathic cystitis, your veterinarian may prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs. But whatever the cause, a diet high in water content will also be key for your little feline.

Cystitis is a very frustrating condition to manage, especially when it is stress-related. It is a vicious cycle: stress can cause cystitis. Cystitis is painful. Pain causes stress in the cat. Stress promotes cystitis. And so on.

Relapses can occur, however. Stress management and the amount of water in your cat’s diet are the most important factors to treat and prevent cystitis.

Providing Your Cat with a Diet Rich in Water

To provide optimal hydration to your cat, prioritize wet food. As a reference, wet food contains on average 75% water compared to 10% in dry kibble.

Wet food is even recommended for all cats, whether sick or healthy. Wet food is the key to good health! It not only prevents urinary problems but also reduces risks of constipation, obesity, and overweight, which can lead to diabetes, kidney failure, and more.

But be careful when choosing wet food: just being high in water is not always enough. It should also be rich in quality proteins, low in carbohydrates, low in minerals, and meet all your cat’s nutritional needs. This is the case for all our cat pâtés. A wide range of products formulated by Dr. Géraldine Blanchard, a veterinary specialist in feline nutrition for over 25 years.

Ziggy Wet Food for Cats with Urinary Disorders

At Ziggy, we care for all cats. We recently developed a special pâté for cats suffering from urinary disorders. Ziggy VET Urology pâté was formulated to support urinary function in cases of urinary disorders (idiopathic cystitis, reduction of struvite and calcium oxalate stone formation).

Like all Ziggy recipes, our urinary health pâté contains proteins of excellent quality and exceptional digestibility. Very tasty and appetizing, Ziggy VET Urology pâté allows you to care for your cat while continuing to delight it!

Be careful with dietary changes, though. If your cat is used to only eating dry food, introduce wet food gradually. A food transition is essential! A sudden change can cause stress, which, as mentioned, plays a role in cystitis onset in cats.

Reducing Stress in Cats: Tips and Tricks

Stress is a delicate problem, not always easy to identify or treat in cats.

If your cat’s stress is due to a new child or pet in the home, try to spend a bit more time with them for petting and cuddling. Your cat will feel less neglected and regain confidence.

Physical activity is also a great stress reliever. It releases endorphins, the well-being hormones. Play with your cat, offer toys (even a simple bottle cap or a cardboard box can work), or provide elevated structures so your cat can move around and also rest while watching over the living room.

If stress is related to environmental changes (moving house, new sofa), be there to reassure your cat. It will gradually get used to the new situation. To help your cat relax, you can also use valerian. Available as a spray or diffuser, it is often used by vets to naturally treat anxiety.

Also, spray some valerian in your cat’s carrier if stress is linked to vet visits or car trips.

And of course, always use a suitable, clean litter box.

If anxiety persists, your vet may prescribe an antidepressant treatment.

How to Prevent Cystitis in Cats?

A diet rich in water and a healthy environment are the best advice to reduce the risk of cystitis in your cat.

Encourage Proper Hydration

Proper hydration primarily comes from providing a diet rich in water by favoring wet food. As noted above, wet food contains about 75% water compared to 10% in dry food! It allows the cat to consume water through food and ultimately drink about 50% more water than when eating dry food and drinking separately!

Wet food also has other health benefits. Besides fulfilling hydration needs, it has roughly 4 times fewer calories than dry food (per equal quantity); it allows your cat to eat enough to satisfy its appetite. The moisture content also adds volume in the stomach, helping your cat feel fuller longer.

To increase your cat’s water intake, also consider offering several bowls of fresh water or a water fountain if your cat likes drinking from the tap or likes moving water.

You can also add a tablespoon of water to the pâté or prepare flavored waters with a few drops of tuna juice or chicken/beef broth.

Reduce Stress and Improve Your Cat’s Environment

As mentioned earlier, reducing stress in cats is important. For this, play and cuddle your cat a bit more (if it wants), engage your cat with fishing pole toys, balls, or offer anti-stress products like valerian or plug-in diffusers.

There are other tricks to calm a stressed cat: play music, give massages, provide hiding spots, etc. Be careful with the type of music played. Several studies show cats dislike rock, pop, or country music — all rhythmic genres. They prefer classical music, which is gentler on their ears. To avoid disturbing your cat (and neighbors), put away your Taylor Swift albums and play Mozart or Chopin!