Cystitis is a common urinary disorder in dogs but especially in cats.

...which is characterized by inflammation of the inner wall of the bladder. Painful and easily identifiable, it manifests itself by several symptoms, including difficulty urinating. 

Inflammation is usually caused by: 

• Urinary stones similar to small crystals or stones that obstruct the urethra. They are generally the consequence of an inadequate diet , deficient hydration or following stress. 
• A bacterial infection of the urinary tract (which is quite rare). 

Most often, the animal will have difficulty urinating, that is, getting into position to urinate, but only emitting a few drops. It may also, in the case of cats, make frequent trips to its litter box (always urinating in small quantities) and meowing because cystitis is very painful. It is common for the cat to urinate outside its litter box and in unusual places because the cat associates pain with the litter box. The animal may compulsively lick its genitals. Finally, it may happen that traces of blood are observed in the urine. 

This disorder can lead to serious health complications, such as urinary obstruction. If it is not treated quickly, other symptoms may appear, such as loss of appetite, abnormal depression, vomiting, and even death. Hence the importance of the veterinarian's advice. 

Furthermore, we know that stress plays a critical role in the onset of feline bladder inflammation. Therefore, an understanding of the vicious cycle involving pain and stress is crucial in the management of this condition. Cystitis is very painful. Pain => stress and stress => cystitis. 

The importance of choosing the right foods 

Cystitis is often caused by an unsuitable diet. It is therefore recommended to choose good quality food (prefer animal proteins to vegetable proteins) and to favor wet food, i.e. canned food ( be careful of the amount of salt in certain pâtés ). 

In recent years, some veterinarians have questioned feeding animals exclusively with dry food. Especially in the case of cats, because since the dawn of time, cats have fed exclusively on small rodents and birds that contain 70–75% water while dry food contains 7 to 10%. Canned food, on the other hand, contains an average of 78% water. Therefore, canned food is closer to the cat's natural diet and is more appropriate to meet the cat's water needs. 

Above all, avoid dry food rich in carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, cereals: corn, wheat, soy ) because cats do not have the necessary enzymes to digest them, not to mention that diets based on carbohydrates (read carbohydrate = sugar) could very well be a major factor in causing diabetes in some cats. You should target a diet that gets less than 10% of its calories from carbohydrates. Of course, avoid food containing artificial colors. No, red, yellow or blue kibble is not very healthy...

Keep in mind that a cat has a very low propensity to drink and is made to obtain water with its food. To encourage your cat to drink more, use water fountains that give the cat the opportunity to drink water that is in constant motion, reminiscent of tap water. You will notice that your cat has never drunk so much! 

It is true that dry food is more convenient and cheaper than canned food, but it is much cheaper in the long run than a trip to the vet; not to mention the worry and anxiety you will experience if your cat suffers from cystitis. 

The PIPI-HOLI KIT helps drain the emunctories (liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas), supports the kidneys and the body in the event of infections and inflammations. 

It’s the ally of your pet prone to urinary tract infections! 

This kit contains 4 bottles of 30 ml:

• HOLIDIGEST : drains toxins and supports the kidneys. 
• HOLISEP : Supports the body in case of infection. 
• HOLIFLAME Supports and readapts the anti-inflammatory and anti-pain response. 
• HOLIMIN : Promotes recovery, convalescence.

If necessary:

• HOLISTRESS : If symptoms appeared as a result of stress. 

Your veterinarian's advice is essential to establish whether your cat is suffering from simple cystitis or complications due to crystals or stones.

Source : Dr. Lisa A. Pierson, veterinarian in the United States. https://catinfo.org/