Risk factors associated with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in indoor-housed cats.

OBJECTIVE To determine associations between environmental and cat-related factors and lower urinary tract signs in indoor-housed domestic cats. DESIGN Case-control study. Animals-238 healthy cats, 157 cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease, and 70 cats with other diseases. PROCEDURE Data collected from owners of the cats were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, environmental variables, and physical and behavioral signs were analyzed by use of ANOVA and logistic regression analysis to assess which factors were associated with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease. RESULTS The only demographic or environmental factors associated with lower urinary tract signs were older age and months owned. In contrast, cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease had significantly greater owner-observed gastrointestinal tract signs and scratching, fearful, nervous, and aggressive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Lower urinary tract signs in indoor-housed cats may be more closely associated with cat-related factors than with demographic or environmental factors.