An Investigation of Risk Factors, Clinical Manifestations and Aetiology of Lower Urinary Tract Diseases in Cats in Diyarbakir, Turkiye

FELINE lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common feline disease characterized by urinary bladder and urethral dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, aetiology and risk factors of lower urinary tract diseases in the feline population in Diyarbakir and compare the data with published research results. The health records of 1658 cats who presented to the Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dicle University between January 2020 and May 2022 were reviewed, and 38 cats diagnosed with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) were included in the study. Information about the patients' age, sex, diet and sterilization status was recorded. Following the collection of anamnesis data (diet, accommodation conditions and observed abnormalities), clinical examination, haematological analysis, serum biochemical analyses, radiography and abdominal ultrasonography were performed to make a diagnosis. A total of 21 (55.26%) patients were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)/urinary tract infection (UTI), 11 (28.9%) with urolithiasis, 5 (13%) urethral plaque and 1 (2.63%) with neoplasia. The most frequent cause of FLUTD was FIC/UTI. FIC was the most prevalent FLUTD in the Diyarbakir region, with the most frequent clinical symptoms being pain, stranguria, pollakiuria, haematuria, obstruction and periuria. The disease was more prevalent in male cats, and a single-cat household setting, dry and wet food diets and drinking tap water were important risk factors for the occurrence of the disease.