Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Also called: FIC, feline idiopathic cystitis, interstitial cystitis, 'blocked cat'

Cats
Urinary & kidney
Adult

FLUTD is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the bladder and urethra that cause similar signs. The most common cause is feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) — painful bladder inflammation with no identifiable underlying cause, strongly linked to stress. In male cats, the urethra can become completely blocked, which is a life-threatening emergency.

When it is an emergency

A cat (usually male) straining but passing little or no urine and becoming increasingly distressed is a medical emergency — seek veterinary care immediately.

Signs to look for

Straining to urinate, or frequent attempts with little urine
Blood in the urine
Crying out or signs of pain when urinating
Urinating outside the litter tray
Excessive licking of the genital area

How a vet diagnoses it

Diagnosis of FIC is by exclusion — ruling out urinary stones, infection (uncommon in cats), and anatomical issues. Tools include urinalysis, urine culture, blood tests, X-rays/ultrasound.

Treatment

For FIC, the focus is stress reduction and environmental enrichment, increased water intake (wet food), pain relief, and multiple clean litter trays. Cats with FIC should not receive antibiotics unless infection is confirmed. Urethral obstruction requires emergency unblocking and hospitalisation.

Monitoring at home

Frequency and severity of episodes (FIC is often recurrent), litter-box habits, body weight, stress triggers, and water intake.

Who tends to get it

Typically middle-aged, overweight, indoor cats with little exercise; stress and multi-cat households increase risk. Urethral obstruction occurs almost exclusively in male cats.

This library is educational reference only. It is designed to help you learn about health conditions your pet may have been diagnosed with — it does not interpret your pet's symptoms, cannot diagnose, and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Cats and dogs often hide illness well, so signs can be subtle. Any new, persistent, or worsening sign warrants a vet visit.