What is fic in cats

What is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis?

Table of Contents Show

First, What Is FIC?
When to Call Your Vet
How to Help Your FIC Cat
Eliminate Stress
Permission to Relax!

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) refers to inflammation in a cat’s lower urinary tract (bladder or urethra), which develops without any obvious underlying cause.

We do know however, that FIC is linked to stress in cats. In the same way that a human might suffer from an upset stomach as a result of stress, certain cats are prone to a recurring upset bladder triggered by stress.

FIC is a painful condition often requiring veterinary treatment. However, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of a subsequent episode (see below).

Signs of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

The signs of FIC are the same for any Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease and may include any or all of the following:

blood in the urine
straining to urinate
urinating outside the litter box
urinary blockage (almost exclusively a male cat problem and constitutes an emergency.)
licking the urinary opening (usually due to pain)
reduced appetite
lack of energy or interest in normal activities

Too often, owners see inappropriate urination as a behavioural problem, however it can be attributed to FIC and require medical treatment.

What causes FIC?

When it comes to Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, the underlying cause is not known, however stress is seen as the biggest trigger. In simple terms, anxiety affects the cat’s hormones, which causes the protective lining of the bladder to become patchy. The cat’s urine then comes into direct contact with the tissue of the bladder and inflammation occurs.

Common triggers include:

Stressed family environment (due to work, exams, etc)
New baby or pet
Construction work or noise
Weather change
New furniture
Moving house
Changing to a different food
Change to routine

Management of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

Managing cats with FIC requires a multimodal approach – incorporating a number of aspects aimed at preventing recurrent episodes. This includes environmental, behavioural and dietary modifications.

Firstly, it is vital to limit the amount of stress the cat experiences. Key points include:

Provide one litter tray per cat plus one extra
Litter trays should be kept in a quiet area away from food and cleaned regularly
Cats should be provided with a quiet area to retreat to, away from other family members or pets
Provide adequate stimulation for your cat, in the form of scratching posts and toys (nb. Toys should be rotated to avoid boredom).
Provide separate food bowls for each pet

Diet

Choosing the right diet can play a vital role in minimising the risk of recurrent FIC and subsequent complications.

FIC is associated with the presence of urinary crystals or stones which form within the urinary tract and cause irritation, pain, and potential obstruction. However, providing the right diet can influence the pH, or acidity of urine, causing the urine to become moderately acidic and making it harder for struvite crystals to grow.

For example, Hills Urinary Care is specially formulated to moderate the intake of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium – minerals that are commonly found in supermarket brands and dangerous to cats susceptible to FIC.

Likewise, it is thought wet food is more beneficial to dry food, most likely because of the higher water content.

Weight Management

Whilst the choice of food is extremely important, it should also be noted that the amount of food served is critical too. Overweight cats are far more susceptible to FIC. The most effective way to manage a pet’s weight is through the amount of food they are fed. We would be happy to work out a plan to get your cat to their optimal weight and ensure they stay that way.

Behavioural Modification – encouraging drinking

Along with modifying the home to ensure a stress-free environment, it is necessary to look at ways to modify the cat’s behaviour too. Encouraging water intake and more frequent urination is thought to be helpful in FIC, as it promotes a healthy urinary tract and to helps lower the risk of urinary tract infections.

Cats can be curious creatures when it comes to drinking water, and often prefer a running tap to their water bowl. To encourage your cat to drink, try having numerous water bowls available, use ceramic as opposed to plastic or glass, or try using a water fountain to mimic running water.

Natural Supplements

In addition to environmental changes, natural supplements have been proven to help reduce anxiety in cats. For example, Feliway is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone, that cats leave naturally when they are feeling safe and secure. By using a Feliway spray or diffuser, cats can feel calmer within their own environment, therefore reducing their stress and anxiety.

Zylkene is a non-medicated supplement for cats and dogs specially formulated to aid in the management of anxiety and stress. It contains a natural product derived from casein, a protein in milk. It is a molecule well known to promote the relaxation of newborns after breastfeeding. The capsules contain a palatable, water soluble powder that appeals to both dogs and cats. They can be given whole or opened and the powder mixed with food, treats or liquids.

Medicinal supplements

Alongside the above strategies, some cats may benefit from medicinal supplements to help lower their anxiety. Speak to your veterinarian about creating a stress-free environment for your cat, and whether adding a medicinal supplement would be right for your cat.

By Maggie Marton

Reading Time: 4 minutes

No pet parent wants their beloved cat to receive a chronic diagnosis. And when it comes to a chronic urinary issue, it feels overwhelming, especially if you’re faced with bloody urine or outside-the-box elimination.

For cat parents who discover their cat has feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), it can feel even more daunting since environmental stress appears to be a contributing factor to the disease. But there are lots of things you can do to help a cat who has been diagnosed with FIC, says Erin Connolly, DVM, who practices in Washington, DC.

First, What Is FIC?

Dr. Connolly says, “Feline idiopathic cystitis is a urinary problem that typically affects younger cats and is thought to be caused by stress due to changes in the environment or household routine. FIC is one major cause of feline lower urinary tract disease. FLUTD can also be caused by a urinary/urethral blockage–almost exclusively a male cat problem–bladder stones, urinary tract infection, trauma, or urinary tract cancer.”

Frustratingly, there isn’t a test to diagnose FIC, but certain signs can help your veterinarian make the call. They may include bloody urine, straining to urinate, which may look like straining to defecate, frequent trips to the litter box, vocalizing while urinating, urinating outside the litter box, or licking the urinary opening, typically because of pain.

If your cat starts showing any of these signs, call your vet as soon as possible. “These signs can indicate a urinary blockage, especially in male cats,” Dr. Connolly says.

Lauren Bowling, DVM, who practices in Kentucky, expands on signs to watch for, including some that are hard to spot. “Usually you will see small, frequent attempts to urinate. Sometimes it will be in the box, sometimes it will be outside of it, or both. Basically, these cats feel like they always have to pee, so they are either constantly in the litter box or squatting to go where they are if they can’t make it to the box. Some cats will also display more subtle signs like a decrease in appetite or restlessness, but those can be really hard to pick up.”

When to Call Your Vet

“This can be a life-threatening problem, especially in male cats, so the sooner we see them, the better,” says Dr. Bowling. “As soon as you notice these symptoms, or it seems like your cat is acting off, a visit to the vet is in order. I try not to let these symptoms go unaddressed for more than 24 hours if possible, so sometimes a visit to the ER on the weekends or holidays will be necessary. My general rule for any illness in cats is if you think something is off, it doesn’t hurt to call; if you definitely know something’s wrong, see us ASAP.”

Cat parent Teri Thorsteinson experienced this first-hand with her male Cornish Rex, Brighton. “It was my last day of vacation, and the pet sitter said the night before he didn’t greet her at the door. He seemed okay, though,” she says. “I got home at one a.m. He was wobbling. Staggering. He went to jump up and fell. The force of hitting the floor forced some bloody clotted urine out.”

Luckily for Brighton, Thorsteinson worked at a feline animal hospital and knew exactly what to do. She took him to the emergency veterinary clinic. Brighton spent three days in the hospital, but Thorsteinson says it took him six weeks to return to his normal self.

How to Help Your FIC Cat

Since FIC is linked to stress, and since it’s usually chronic with flare-ups after the initial diagnosis, home management is critical.

Work with your veterinarian to find the right diet. Erin Buck, cat mom to a male named Lionel, discovered his urinary problems when her family had to replace the carpeting in their living room because of his outside-the-box urination. At first, they focused on cleaning, assuming it was a marking issue–they have a second cat in the family. However, when it didn’t stop, they checked in with their vet. Once Lionel was diagnosed with FIC, they implemented a special urinary diet that has kept him healthy for six years. There are a few different brands so you may need to try several before finding one that is best for your cat.

Eliminate Stress

“Cats are sophisticated creatures, and they can potentially become stressed by any change in their environment or routine,” Dr. Connolly says. “Potential stressors include disruptions or loud noises around litter boxes, new litter type, the introduction of new pets or people into the household, the absence of regular pets or people in the household, schedule changes, furniture rearrangement, visible outdoor cats/other outdoor animals, or moving.”

Another stressor? Litter box shortages! Especially in multi-cat households, Dr. Connolly recommends one more litter box than the total number of cats. “For example, if you have two cats, you should try to have three total litter boxes located in different places in your house. Cats feel less stressed when they have more litter box options,” she says.

Another way to tackle stress is with environmental enrichment. Dr. Bowling recommends providing vertical areas where your cat can jump and perch and puzzle toys that allow him to “hunt” for his food. Catios are an option for safe outdoor exploration. Feliway diffusers, which emit synthetic feline pheromones that may have a calming effect, can help, as can treats that contain natural calming ingredients

“Using things like Feliway diffusers and Composure treats can help,” she says. “It’s going to be a little bit different for each cat, but these are some of the things that can be tried.”

Permission to Relax!

Don’t overlook your own effect on your cat’s wellbeing. If you’re stressed, your cat senses that, Dr. Bowling says.

The final piece of your cat’s FIC plan? Relax! Dr. Bowling says, “If you’ve wanted to take up yoga or meditation, or maybe increase your massage and spa days, do it. Cats are not as independent as we think and our state of mind has a huge impact on theirs.”

While the initial diagnosis might feel scary, rest assured: With the right diet and environmental tweaks, your FIC cat can live a long, happy, healthy life.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.