Brain before bladder: management of feline idiopathic cystitis

Feline idiopathic cystitis remains a common condition in domestic cats, causing significant distress to affected individuals and their caregivers. The last 20 years has seen notable advancement in veterinary knowledge of the condition, and yet management of affected cats often remains suboptimal. This reveals a fundamental misinterpretation of available evidence, which indicates that the environments to which domestic cats are subjected are often inadequate for their physical and psychological needs. Treatment of FIC in the acute state requires analgesia, which is specifically effective for neuropathic pain. An appreciation of the link between emotional and somatic health aids understanding of feline idiopathic cystitis and is the cornerstone of achieving successful prevention of the condition.