An Investigation Of Stress Factor That Pose A Risk For Lower Urinary Tract Diseases In Cats
Risk Factors of FLUTD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23404034Keywords:
Cat, feline lower urinary tract disease, FLUTD, feline idiopathic cystitis, stress factors, questionnaire study, risk factorsAbstract
Abstract This study was designed as a prospective, controlled, questionnaire-based case-control study to investigate stress-related risk factors for lower urinary tract diseases in cats. The study was conducted between 01.04.2026 and 01.09.2026 in veterinary clinics in Ankara, Turkey. Thirty-eight cats diagnosed with lower urinary tract disease were included as the patient group, and 31 healthy cats constituted the control group. The study was approved by the Kırıkkale University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments (Decision No: 20, dated 25.03.2026). Data were collected using a 30-item questionnaire adapted from Cameron et al. (2004) and the MEMO protocol developed by Buffington et al. (2006), covering five main categories: demographic information, housing conditions, social environment, care practices, and owner profile. The questionnaire was administered through facetoface interviews and via the Google Forms platform. No statistically significant differences were found between the patient and control groups regarding adoption age, current age, breed, sex and neuter status, body weight, number of cats in the household, feeding type, living area, daily routine regularity, and temperament characteristics. However, several noteworthy findings were obtained. A statistically significant difference was detected between groups in terms of litter box cleaning frequency (p=0.022; Cramer’s V=0.407), with smart litter box use reported exclusively in the patient group. The presence of at least one clinical or behavioral problem in the past six months was significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.045; OR=3.04). Vocalization during urination (p=0.019) and hiding behavior (p=0.034) were reported at significantly higher rates in the patient group. Multiple correspondence analysis revealed that the two groups did not form completely distinct profiles; however, categories related to clinical symptom reporting and behavioral responses were positioned closer to the patient group. These findings suggest that the evaluation of lower urinary tract diseases in cats should encompass not only clinical signs but also housing conditions, care practices, behavioral responses, and stressrelated factors.
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