Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats

The underlying cause of feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is unknown; however, interplay between the lower urinary tract , stress, and altered neurohormonal factors has been implicated. Diagnosis is based on exclusion of other causes of lower urinary tract disease in cats . Diagnostic tests to exclude these conditions include radiography, ultrasonography, urinalysis, and urine culture. Because ...

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a general term used to describe conditions affecting the bladder or urethra of cats;1 it is not a syndrome or specific diagnosis. It has been reported that between 4.5% and 8% of cats presenting to veterinary practices or teaching hospitals have FLUTD.2,3 Causes of FLUTD include physical conditions and behavioral disorders resulting in ...
2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of ...

The '2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats' provide an overview of the common presenting signs caused by underlying feline lower urinary tract (LUT) diseases in cats , which often are indistinguishable between different underlying causes. The Guidelines set out a diagnostic approach to affected cats before focusing on the most ...
Urinary tract disease is a painful and uncomfortable condition in cats . Either the upper urinary tract (kidneys and ureters), lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra), or both can be affected. If you suspect urinary problems in your cat , you will need to take her to your veterinarian for a diagnosis. The sooner your cat is diagnosed, the sooner she can be treated and get back to her normal ...

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a term that refers to several conditions affecting a cat's lower urinary tract , including the bladder and the urethra (a thin tube that carries urine from the body to the external genitals). Feline lower urinary tract disease can be frustrating for both pet parents and veterinarians because the underlying cause can be difficult to identify, and ...
Understand the signs and causes of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), and see how you can support good urinary health for your cat .

Detecting Disorders of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract of Cats
Feline lower urinary tract disease does not refer to a specific disease , but rather to a grouping of problems that are associated with the lower urinary tract in cats .
The diseased lower urinary tract yields the same symptoms regardless of the cause. Bloody urine Straining to urinate (can easily be mistaken for straining to defecate) Urinating in unusual places Urinary blockage (almost exclusively a male cat problem) Licking the urinary opening (usually due to pain) A cat with lower urinary tract disease may have some or even all of these signs. The Trick is ...

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease Lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) covers a range of disorders from mild to serious. The signs of LUTD are usually referred to as lower urinary tract signs, or LUTS. LUTD includes abnormalities in the structure and function of the bladder and the urethra (see figure).








Learn how veterinarians diagnose urinary problems in cats , including exams, urine testing, imaging, and signs cat owners should watch for at home.