Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is highly prevalent and significantly impairs quality of life, with evidence-based prevention strategies dramatically reducing recurrence.
FLUTD prevention is a welfare success story where evidence-based interventions have clear, measurable impacts. The stress-FIC connection means that reducing environmental stress through enrichment, appropriate multi-cat housing management, and anxiety reduction provides welfare benefits that extend to physical health. Dietary management through wet food increases water intake, reducing urine concentration that contributes to crystal and stone formation. These interventions are relatively simple and inexpensive compared to repeated veterinary treatment for recurrent FLUTD. The welfare goal is preventing episodes of straining, blood in urine, and urethral obstruction that cause significant suffering and are completely preventable in many cats.