Feline lower urinary tract disease is a major welfare concern in domestic cats, particularly neutered males at risk of life-threatening urethral obstruction requiring emergency intervention.
Urethral obstruction causes acute, severe suffering: cats strain repeatedly and unsuccessfully to urinate while experiencing increasing abdominal discomfort and systemic toxicity. Without treatment, death follows within 24-72 hours. Idiopathic cystitis episodes, though usually self-limiting, cause significant pain and urinary discomfort. Environmental enrichment, stress reduction, and dietary modification (particularly encouraging water intake through wet food) can substantially reduce recurrence frequency and therefore reduce suffering in chronically affected cats.