New member hoping for some support!

Hello fellow cat lovers!

I was urged to join a cat forum because I have a special needs kitty. Had cats all my life, but never one so difficult! I'm talking about Boogie:


She has FLUTD and is pretty young. She's my only fur kid atm, though I will be inheriting some dogs soon. Anyway! I can't wait to hear everyone's stories and such

Welcome! She is beautiful. You will get plenty of experienced members pitching in their stories with you

Welcome to the site

Wow ! That is one beautiful girl you have

Welcome to TCS! She's such a beauty!

Sorry what is FLUTD?
Shes cute! Reminds me so much of my old kitty, Nixie

Welcome to TCS!  Your kitty is adorable.  

FLUTD is feline lower urinary tract disease.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a term that veterinarians use to describe a set of problems affecting the lower urinary tract in cats. It was formerly known as FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome).

FLUTD is well known to veterinarians, with approximately 10 percent of the cats seen by them having signs of urinary problems. However, FLUTD is not a common disorder in cats in general; it is estimated that FLUTD affects less than 1 percent of the overall cat population.

Causes and Associated Factors

In many cases of FLUTD, the cause is unknown. In those cases where there is a known reason, the most common cause is urolithiasis, or the formation of stones from accumulations of crystals in the urinary tract. This may be so severe that it completely obstructs the urinary tract and prevents urination.

Many other factors have been associated with this condition, such as gender, age, environmental conditions, and stress. Simply changing a cat's routine or environment may trigger the onset of FLUTD

The biggest factor once diagnosed is diet, as well as recognizing the onset of signs that are blood tinged urine, frequent/painful/inappropriate peeing, and maybe excessive genital licking.

Diet can affect the development of FLUTD because dietary factors have been associated with the formation of some types of urinary stones, or uroliths. This is particularly true for one of the most common types of stones seen in FLUTD, called struvite. Struvite stones are made up of minerals (magnesium, ammonium, phosphate) that form crystals in the urine.

The most important diet-related factor in the formation of struvite stones is urine pH (amount of acidity or alkalinity).

• More alkaline urine (pH higher than 6.8) increases the likelihood of struvite crystal and stone formation
• Urine pH is naturally influenced by the protein source in the diet.
  • Cat foods that contain large amounts of animal- and fish-based proteins produce a more acidic urine.
  • Cat foods that contain large amounts of plant protein, such as soybean meal, may promote a more alkaline urine.
• Urine pH is also influenced by how often the cat is fed.
  • Urine pH becomes alkaline after a meal.
  • When food is always available and a cat nibbles throughout the day, urine pH does not become as alkaline.

Another factor that affects the formation of struvite stone is the amount of magnesium consumed through the diet. When the cat's diet contains more magnesium than needed for the body's functions, the extra magnesium is excreted into the urine. That extra magnesium could contribute to the development of a struvite stone if other conditions are met.

• If the urine pH is less alkaline (more acid, 6.8 or lower), large amounts of magnesium are required for the formation of struvite crystals.
• If the urine pH is more alkaline (higher than 6.8), it takes lower amounts of magnesium to promote the formation of struvite crystals.

To minimize the likelihood of struvite stones and signs of FLUTD, a cat food should produce an acidic urine (pH less than 6.8) and contain low dietary levels of magnesium (less than 0.12 percent on a dry-matter basis)