Evaluation of a therapeutic diet on recurrence of feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)
Background and purpose of the trial
The most common cause of lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) in cats is idiopathic feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) associated with stress. Other causes of LUTD can be ruled out with radiographs, ultrasound, and a urinalysis with culture. Lower urinary tract signs (LUTS), including pain to urinate, straining to urinate, presence of blood in urine, frequent urination and inappropriate urination are common in cats, and inappropriate elimination is responsible for millions of cats being relinquished to shelters or euthanized. The current recommended management of FIC in cats is multimodal with stress reduction and appropriate diets considered most beneficial. Diets higher in sodium are thought to be of benefit as they lead to increased water consumption and urine dilution which may reduce the risk of urethral obstruction in male cats. In addition, it has been shown that feeding diets or supplements containing natural stress-relieving substances like L-tryptophan or dried hydrolyzed casein may lessen stress in some cats.
The objective of this study is to evaluate if Royal Canin Multifunction Urinary SO + Calm dry/wet and RC Urinary SO Moderate Calorie dry/wet (increased sodium) will improve the clinical signs of cats with feline idiopathic (or interstitial) cystitis (FIC).
Incentives
Diet, exam fees, bloodwork, and urinalysis during the study are all covered.
condition(s)
eligibility information
Candidates will need to meet the following criteria to qualify for this clinical trial:
- ≥2 episodes of feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) in the past 6 months.
- FIC = at least two clinical signs described by the owner questionnaire: straining, urinating small amounts, frequent urination, crying while urinating, urinating outside of the litter box, discolored urine, abnormal/increased licking in the perineal area
- Owner willing to feed assigned diet with no other foods
- Owner willing to comply with rechecks and questionnaires
The following criteria exclude candidates from qualifying for this clinical trial:
- Outdoor only cats
- Body condition score 8-9/9 and 1-3/9
- Current urethral obstruction
- Current urolithiasis
- Cats with comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, chronic enteropathy, adverse food reaction, obesity, etc.
- Medications such as Zylkene, Calming Care, Feliway (2 weeks washout then can be included in the study) but short-term pain control (eg. meloxicam, gabapentin, buprenorphine) is acceptable.
- Cats that are already on therapeutic lower urinary tract diets containing calming nutrients (eg. Hill’s c/d Stress) – 2 weeks washout then can be included in the study.
- Discuss if any environmental changes are expected during the study (eg. moving, new cats in the household) and if so, exclude from the start.
- If already exposed to a pheromone diffusor the cat can be entered but if NOT currently exposed to a pheromone, introduction of this treatment is excluded.
Enrollment Deadline
Enrollment ends December 31, 2024
contact information
Please contact Dr. Petra Cerna if you believe you have a cat that might qualify for this clinical trial.
