Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) encompasses multiple conditions causing significant urinary tract welfare suffering in cats, with dietary and environmental interventions providing effective prevention.
FLUTD causes recurrent welfare suffering through painful urination, haematuria, and urinary urgency that significantly affects the cat's comfort and behaviour. Stress-related FIC is particularly relevant to welfare because the stressors causing it — multi-cat competition, environmental monotony, unpredictable routine, and insufficient resources — are wholly within the owner's control. Addressing these stressors through evidence-based environmental modification prevents welfare suffering rather than managing it after the fact. The Five Pillars approach (safe spaces, multiple resources, play and predatory behaviour, positive social interaction, sensory respect) provides a systematic framework for creating an environment that prevents stress-induced FLUTD while improving overall feline quality of life.