Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is the most common cause of lower urinary tract signs in cats, causing significant pain and distress through recurrent episodes of bladder inflammation triggered by stress, and requires multimodal management to reduce frequency and severity.
FIC causes genuine pain: the repeated, urgent straining to pass only drops of blood-tinged urine is distressing and occupies the cat's full attention during episodes. Between episodes, cats may be anxious about litter box use and show increased hiding or reduced social interaction. The chronic, recurring nature of FIC means that without addressing underlying stress, episodes continue throughout the cat's life. The welfare priority is reducing the stress that triggers episodes: this means enriching the indoor environment with climbing structures, hiding places, and appropriate litter box provision (one per cat plus one), and carefully managing inter-cat dynamics in multi-cat households. These environmental improvements also benefit overall cat welfare beyond FIC management.