Fact Sheets

On this page you will find useful factsheets on many subjects ranging from basic care of your pet, through to information on specific conditions your pet may be suffering from.

For ease of finding information the sheets are arranged according to species and may be downloaded and printed for future reference.

No part of the sheets may be copied, or distributed for any other purposes.

Although we take the utmost care to ensure these factsheets are correct, no responsibility can be assumed for any inaccuracies contained herein.

Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a common and painful condition in
cats. Most cases are sterile, i.e. there is no infection present. Some cases involve the production of crystals in the urine, which cause damage to the lining of the bladder, but the vast majority of cases are "Idiopathic", meaning there is no clear discernable underlying disease.

Signs of FLUTD

A cat suffering from FLUTD will make frequent trips outside, or to the litter tray and
strain to produce only small amounts of urine. Some types of FLUTD may result in
complete blockage of the urethra (pipe connecting bladder to the outside world) and
therefore result in straining without passing any urine. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY so cats with FLUTD should be checked to ensure
they are still passing urine. Cats suffering from FLUTD may pass blood stained urine depending on the severity of the bladder inflammation. They may also break house training and urinate indoors. If this happens it is only because the last time the cat used its litter tray it hurt, so they do not want to go back there. Successful treatment of the FLUTD will usually quickly resolve this side of the problem.

Idiopathic FLUTD

A large factor in the development of idiopathic FLUTD is stress. One theory is that a
special protective protein layer which protects the bladder lining is damaged as a
result of stress, allowing the urine to damage the bladder wall. Stress in cats can be
difficult to measure/identify as it can involve territory disputes on the outer edges of
their territory, well outside the boundaries of your home and garden, of which you
will not be aware. It can however be more obvious such as a new dominant cat
moving in next door, or even redecorating your house. Treatment of this type of
FLUTD, involves attempting to identify and remove the cause of the stress (which can be difficult) and/or using pheromone diffusers to calm the cat whilst in your home.

Severe recurrent cases may require lifelong medication with anxiety reducing drugs.

FLUTD associated with crystal formation

Is the second most common form of FLUTD. It occurs when a cat produces crystals in the urine. This form of FLUTD is the most likely to cause complete blockage of the
urethra. Male cats are at greater risk of complete blockage as they have a longer and narrower urethra, in which the crystals get lodged. There are several risk factors associated with this form of FLUTD

Obesity - overweight cats are less active and urinate less frequently. This allows greater time for crystal formation in the bladder
Breed - Persians, Burmese and Himalayan cats are genetically predisposed to formation of certain types of stones.
Low water intake - Results in more concentrated urine which will form crystals far more readily (see later section for how to increase the amount your cat drinks)
Incorrect mineral balance in the food - This results in an increased amount of mineral in the urine and therefore a greater availability of the building blocks for crystals. As well as this it has implications on the pH (acidity) of the urine. This in turn can again influence the formation of crystals. Alkaline urine is more likely to produce struvite crystals, whereas very acid urine is more likely to produce calcium oxalate crystals. The ideal pH range is 6.5 (slightly acid) to 7 (neutral).
Infrequent urination - This can be due to dirty litter trays, inclement weather, stress, disease, and as already mentioned obesity.
Abnormalities of the urinary tract - a few cats have an abnormal urethra, which allows pooling of the urine and crystal formation.

How can I encourage my cat to drink more?

Taking steps to ensure your cat drinks more ensures that the urine concentration is
usually lower and decreases the risk of FLUTD, especially that caused by crystal
formation. Below are a few techniques which can achieve this.

Have several water bowls around the house, in rooms where your cat frequents or even in the porch/shed if your cat is an outdoor type.
Refill the bowls regularly so the water is fresh.
Use filtered/bottled or distilled water - cats often resent the chlorine in tap water.
Experiment with different size and shape bowls, as well as the depth you fill them to - individual cats have individual preferences.
Generally wider shallower bowls are better accepted as many cats won't drink from a bowl if their whiskers touch the sides or get wet in the process.
Try adding a little water to your cat's food, start with a small amount and build up.
Invest in a pet fountain, a bowl with a reservoir, pump and waterfall system. Some cats prefer running water. Alternatively leave a tap dripping, with a bowl underneath (careful not to block the plughole!!).
Make pet food stock - simmer a small amount of your pet's food in a quantity of water, strain and freeze the liquid in ice cube trays. Add one or two of these to its water each day when you change it.

If you have any questions about this or any other health matter related to your pet then please contact one of the staff at the surgery.