Stress-related cystitis

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

One of the cats I look after has, her owner tells me, stress-related cystitis. She started pulling her fur out around September time, as a tomcat was prowling around outside the house, squaring up to her outside the patio doors and weeing on the doormat.

She is on Loxicom, but I thought that was just pain relief rather than something to actively target the problem. I give it to her in a bit of tuna every day. Has anyone encountered this with their cats, please? Thanks.

Yes, one of mine gets it, again made worse by a local Tom giving her grief. The loxicom is an anti inflammatory and can’t be used long term, but it does work if she’s got a lot of pain at the current time.

Treatment is tricky and involves mostly trying to minimise stress (impossible really) but also encouraging plenty of water, wet food and clean litter trays to avoid infection

Have you tried Zylkene? It worked for one of mine. 'Valium for cats' the vet called it. (It's made from milk protein and harmless but effective.)

My cat has special urinary tract food, and a a daily cystophan tablet. I always add a splash more water and mix it in with the gravy in the food, so they are taking on more water too

Thanks everyone some good recommendations.

Another vote for Zylkene. My cat was overgrooming due to stress and it stopped it.

Had this twice with my cat… when he has a flare up, he gets Loxicom on morning food, catease (bladder crystals) on evening, then gabapentin in either pill format or to rub into his gums 🙈 (guess which one we prefer!). The gum stuff is SUPER strong and makes him pretty dazed so he has to be supervised at all times when he has that and it does really chill him out and starts him going again.

Our boy has FIV so the vets don’t mess around and always warn us how dangerous bladder problems can be in cats. It’s happened a few times (triggered by house move, DH working away etc) and they always medicate immediately but he’s usually back to himself within 4-5 days.

I’ve had this with one of mine and managed it with Hills Prescription c/d for Urinary Stress over a number of months (both wet and dry versions) gradually mixing it in with normal food.

Try a combination of the following:

Feliway plug-ins
Cystease capsules
D-Mannose supplements
Special food for stressed cats.
A high proportion of wet food in her diet.
Plenty of water.

Mine has had this a few times. She had loxicam during a flare up , which worked always really well and quickly to ease the discomfort and get her back right, then cystease as a daily maintenance/preventive thing.

She hasn't had an episode since we moved house - so I think it was the local cats at the old house that triggered it. Buying a new house is a pretty extreme treatment method though! 😅

She seems to be improving now!