Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) formerly known as FUS, is one of the most common medical problems of cats. It occurs due to the formation of crystals, made up primarily of magnesium, within the bladder. These sand like crystals irritate the bladder lining, causing pain, and sometimes allowing bacterial infection to set in.

FLUTD is the term that describes any of the following signs:

• bloody urine
• straining to urinate
• urinating in unusual places
• urinary blockage (usually a male cat problem)
• licking the urinary opening

FLUTD affects both males and females, but due to their anatomy it is a much more serious problem in male cats. Crystals and mucous clumping together can form a plug within the penis, which block urination. A cat that is plugged and cannot urinate will become ill very rapidly. If not treated in time, the bladder will rupture and the kidneys will fail. Death usually occurs within 24 hours.

• The average age of an affected cat is 4 years, and of these cats 50% will not have a cause that can be determined despite extensive testing:20% will have bladder stones
• 20% will have urethral blockage
• 1-5% will have a true infection
• 1-5% will have a urinary cancer
• 1-5% will have a trauma to the urinary tract
• 1-5% will have a combination of bladder stones and an infection

Female cats have a wider urethra, so they don’t plug up as easily. They will, however, develop painful bladder irritations or infections (cystitis). Cats of either sex can also develop stones in the bladder or the kidneys.

Signs of FLUTD in both males and females are bloody urine, straining to urinate (often confused with constipation), pain on urination, or frequent urination, often outside of the litter box. Male cats that are plugged and cannot urinate will often become suddenly and extremely ill. You may see vomiting, depression, squatting in a strange position, reluctance to move or walk, weakness or loud cries of distress. About 1-5% of cats is affected by FLUTD. If you notice signs of FLUTD in your cat please contact a vetrinarian immediately.

CAN FUS BE TREATED?
Yes, it can. Females are usually healthy enough to be treated at home. Males that are plugged are anesthetized and a catheter is passed into the bladder, dislodging the plug. The catheter is left in place for 1-3 days to allow the bladder and urethra to heal. Treatment is also given as needed for dehydration, infection and shock.

Both males and females will need to be treated with special diets, antibiotics, and sometimes urinary acidifiers as well. The prescription diets are continued for the lifetime of the cat because without long term dietary management, FUS usually recurs.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
 

The best way to prevent FLUTD is to feed your cat a diet low in magnesium. The majority of commercial cat diets have 10 to 20 times the amount of magnesium needed. Good foods available to help prevent FLUTD include Science diet, Iams and Purina’s Special Care. Once your cat has had a bout of FLUTD, special prescription diets only available through your veterinarian are really the only diets that will work to prevent it.