Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).

No cat wants to use a dirty toilet or be stressed out while urinating. Reluctance to use the tray can lead to holding onto urine, which irritates the bladder lining and causes a condition called cystitis, where the bladder becomes inflamed.

Top tips for litter trays:

• The number of litter trays in the house should equal the number of cats plus one (e.g. 2 cats = 3 litter trays).
• Keep trays in quiet areas away from lots of foot traffic, barking dogs, noisy washing machines etc.
• Space out the litter trays around the house so your pet always has somewhere nearby to toilet.
• Litter trays should be large and spacious.
• Clean trays regularly and avoid strong-smelling cleaners.
• Ideally, you should remove waste daily and replace the litter at least once a week.
• Try different substrates.

Most cats prefer a clumping, unscented, sand-type litter at least 3cm deep. However, some may actually prefer a small square of carpet, soil, or a floor tile in the litter box. Usually an unhooded box is preferred, though some cats will prefer a hooded type.

Diluted urine is less irritating to the bladder and can be helpful at reducing episodes of FLUTD, which can also benefit cats with kidney disease.

Here are some of our top tips to encourage your cat to drink more water:

• Providing a water fountain – Most cats prefer to drink from clean, flowing water sources.
• Adding tuna brine to the water bowl – Helps to increase the palatability of the water (think sparkling water but for cats!).
• Use porcelain bowls – Plastic and metal bowls can sometimes flavour the water, so you may need to experiment with different shapes / sizes and types of bowls.
• Do not have the bowls near the litter tray.
• Each cat should have their own food and water bowls, as competing for bowls increases stress.
• Offer ice cubes for your cat to play with, you can also add some of their favourite food inside.
• Clean water dishes daily.
• Offer your cat filtered water if they are refusing regular tap water as this can have a strong taste.

Adding in wet food to your pet’s diet can also increase the amount of water consumed per day. However, please consult your veterinarian prior to making any significant dietary changes.

Active cats that are up and about, not just sleeping all day, are more likely to use their litter tray. Exercise and play also serve as excellent stress relievers for cats.

Some ways to encourage exercise include:

• Laser chasing game.
• Climbing opportunities.
• Access to outdoor enclosure.
• Toys.
• Walking outside wearing a cat harness and lead.

Medications and supplements may also provide additional comfort to your cat. These include:

Zylkene

Zylkene is an over-the-counter supplement that typically starts to act within 90 minutes after ingestion and provides calming properties to both dogs and cats. Its active ingredient is alpha-cazosepine, which is a natural protein (derived from bovine hydrolysed milk) and acts on receptors in the body to help reduce stress. In animals that are experiencing chronic stress, the response will not be immediate, but the first effects are generally observed in the first fifteen days after taking the medication.

Is Zylkene right for your pet?

• Non-sedating medication that helps dogs and cats stay calm.
• Ideal for short term and some long term situations.
• Can be given with other medications.
• Safe for pregnant and nursing mothers, puppies and kittens.
• Capsules contain a palatable, odorless and tasteless water-soluble powder that is lactose free.

FELIWAY

Cat pheromones are one of the most important methods in feline communication. FELIWAY is a synthetic copy of the Feline Facial Pheromone – the pheromone that cats leave naturally when they feel safe and secure in their environment. FELIWAY is an over-the-counter medication.

FELIWAY CLASSIC: Mimics the natural pheromones that send calming messages to cats providing a sense of reassurance for cats in their environment. This helps reduce stress-related behaviours such as hiding, scratching, or spraying.

FELIWAY FRIENDS: Helps to reduce tension and conflict between multiple cats. This spray mimics cat appeasing pheromone, and is naturally produced by mother cats to help nursing kittens feel secure and content. When used in homes of adult cats with conflicts, they become more accepting, less aggressive, and are more likely to approach in a friendly manner.

Is FELIWAY right for your pet?

• FELIWAY spray offers on-the-go and ‘at home’ support.
• Ideal as a supportive therapy for cats that are hissing, urinating outside the litter box, hiding, fighting, over-grooming, or have changes in appetite.

Royal Canin – Calm

This food-based product is a veterinary exclusive formula and is specially formulated to help support cats during stressful periods of life. It contains hydrolysed milk protein and L-tryptophan, which have both been scientifically proven to help alleviate stress-related behaviour in cats. Other benefits of this food include helping eliminate the formation of hairballs, supporting optimal skin health, and creating an environment unfavourable to the formation of urinary crystals and stones. This diet is complete and balanced and can be fed long-term.

 

Fluoxetine

Fluoxetine is a prescription only medication and is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat a variety of behavioural disorders in dogs and cats.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a type of chemical messenger) that influences many bodily functions including mood and behaviour. Fluoxetine acts on serotonin receptors in the brain and allows serotonin to remain in the brain longer, which is thought to help in promoting a general sense of well-being. When an animal is in an anxious or fearful state it can be difficult to help them overcome this, as their ability to respond to normal commands and cues is reduced. Providing your cat with a medication like Fluoxetine gives them time to adjust to the cause of the anxiety or fear they are experiencing.

Is Fluoxetine right for your pet?

Some people come into our practice with strong reservations about medicating their pets and we are here to listen to and validate your concerns to find the right treatment for you and your cat.

• For patients with anxiety or stress that is non-responsive to other conventional treatments (such as environmental modification, and natural therapies such as those outlined above).
• Aggression, dermatologic/grooming, and compulsive disorders.
• It takes 6-8 weeks to become effective, so patience is key.
• It will reduce your pet’s anxiety so that you can work on the root of the problem.
• Can be used long-term – Cannot be stopped suddenly.
• Should NOT be used in young patients.

Clomipramine

Clomipramine (CLOMICALM): Is a tricyclic anti-depressant (similar to fluoxetine) that acts to increase the amount of serotonin in the body, and also increases the amount of norepinephrine in the body, which helps to regulate body systems including heart rate, respiratory rate and blood flow.

Is Clomipramine right for your pet?

Some people come into our practice with strong reservations about medicating their pets and we are here to listen to and validate your concerns to find the right treatment for you and your cat.

Clomipramine may aid in the following conditions:

• For patents with anxiety or stress that is non-responsive to other conventional treatments (such as environmental modification, and natural therapies such as those outlined above).
• Feline inappropriate urination / spraying in desexed and female cats.
• It takes 6-8 weeks to become effective, so patience is key.
• It will reduce your pet’s anxiety so that you can work on the root of the problem.
• Can be used long-term – Cannot be stopped suddenly.
• Should NOT be used in young patients.

Trazodone

Trazodone is a veterinary prescription medication that acts as a serotonin modulator. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a type of chemical messenger) that influences many bodily functions including mood and behaviour. Similar to the other medication discussed (Fluoxetine and Clomipramine) this helps calm pets that visit our clinics.

Is Trazodone right for your pet?

This medication is typically a short-term medication that helps with the following conditions:

• Short car trips.
• Reducing anxiety and fear associated with veterinary visits and tests such as blood collection and ultrasounds.
• Storm / noise phobias such as fireworks.
• Professional grooming (more common in dogs).
• Confinement and recovery ager surgical procedures.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin works by modulating several chemical pathways in the body including the glutamate, norepinephrine, and substance P pathways within the body. This means that it helps your pet feel relaxed and calm when visiting the clinic. It also has some pain-relief properties that may help make your pet feel more comfortable.

Is Gabapentin right for your pet?

Often, Gabapentin is best used to manage short-term stressful events such as:

• Reducing anxiety and fear associated with transport to veterinary clinic.
• Reducing anxiety and fear associated with veterinary visits and tests such as blood collection and ultrasounds.
• Appetite stimulus.
• Sensitivity disorders (Hyperesthesia syndrome).
• Storm phobias / Fireworks / Other noise related anxieties.
• Professional grooming (more common in dogs).
• Confinement and recovery after surgical procedures.

References:

1 https://zylkeneusa.com/product-info/
2 https://us.feliway.com/pages/what-are-cat-pheromones
3 https://nz.virbac.com/products/behavioural/clomicalm