Most cats with lower urinary tract signs do not have bacterial infection — the majority have feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), a stress-related condition requiring environmental rather than antibiotic management.
FIC causes genuine welfare suffering through the discomfort of bladder inflammation, the urgency and dysuria of repeated straining, and the distress of urinating in inappropriate locations leading to owner frustration. Incorrect treatment with antibiotics (common when bacterial UTI is assumed without culture) delays appropriate management and does not address the underlying stress-related cause. The welfare solution for FIC centres on identifying and reducing environmental stressors, enriching the home environment, and increasing water intake through wet food and multiple water sources. Recurrent FIC episodes indicate inadequately managed chronic stress and require a systematic environmental assessment rather than repeated antibiotic courses.