Up to £15,000 vet fees
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Up to £15,000 vet fees
More info
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
More info
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
More info
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is an inflammatory condition which affects your cat’s bladder and urinary tract. The exact cause is uncertain, but the condition appears to be strongly linked to stress. Symptoms include trying to urinate more often, overgrooming and blood in urine. This guide will show you how to spot symptoms of cystitis in cats and the best way to treat them.
Cystitis is a fairly common condition in cats. It happens when their bladder becomes inflamed, which makes it difficult to pass urine. This can be uncomfortable and painful. Both male and female cats can get cystitis, but tom cats have a longer and narrow urethra which can cause extra complications related to cystitis.
Cystitis can come back, but there are ways to manage it and reduce symptoms.
No medical cause is known as to why cystitis can occur in cats. But some common causes include:
Stress is thought to be an important trigger for cystitis, so managing any anxiety or behavioural issues in your cats can help.
There are a few symptoms of cystitis to watch out for, but cats can be good at hiding when they’re in pain. Keep a close eye for signs such as:
Male cats with cystitis can develop blockages and be unable to urinate at all. If your cat is straining to pass urine but nothing is happening, you should speak to your vet straight away.
If you spot symptoms of cystitis in your cat, your vet will be able to find the best treatment for them. There’s no specific diagnostic test for idiopathic cystitis but your vet will perform a physical exam. They might also run blood and urine tests to help narrow the diagnosis.
Cystitis often flares up when your cat gets stressed, so working out triggers and reducing these is the best way to prevent it coming back.
Pain relief is often prescribed for cats with cystitis. Cystitis inflammation and spasms can cause your cat’s urethra to narrow, which makes it more uncomfortable to pass urine. Anti-inflammatory medication can help to manage this pain and reduce any inflammation in the bladder and urinary tract.
Reducing the concentration of your cat’s urine can help stop cystitis coming back. Increase their access to water by giving them multiple bowls and other sources such as a water fountain.
If they have a dry food diet, try adding water to it, or changing over to wet food. If they already have a wet food diet, add water to their food for extra hydration.
Stress is thought to be a big trigger for cystitis in cats. You can take steps to reduce stressful situations such as:
Cystitis symptoms usually last 3 to 10 days in cats, depending on the severity. There’s no definitive cure, and cases can recur frequently.
Cystitis is often a recurring condition, so you’ll need to tell us about any symptoms or medication your cat has had in the last 2 years.
At Petgevity, we’re on a mission to help as many cats with pre-existing conditions as possible. If you tell us about any previous cases of cystitis when getting a quote, you can get cover if your cat gets cystitis again.
Defaqto 5 star rating when you choose vet fees over £4,000 with all optional add-ons included.
Basic cover alone has 3 star rating
Three-time winner National Insurance Awards Pet Insurance Award 2022, 2023 & 2024.
Awarded Best Pet Insurance Provider at The Times Money Mentor Awards 2024
Choosing Petgevity to protect your pets gives you more than just vet fee cover. Here's what you get from our policy.
Dental accident
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
Emergency care
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Dental accident
More info
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
More info
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
More info
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
Emergency care
More info
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
More info
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
More info
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
|
ManyPets | Petplan | Agria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year | £12k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 9) | 20% (from age 7) | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
ManyPets | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Petplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Agria | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
†For Lifetime policies only – details correct as of 10 September 2024 via competitor websites. Competitor products are subject to their own T&Cs and can have different limits and requirements for cats versus dogs at different ages. For full details, please check the relevant policy wording.
For full details of Petgevity pet insurance, please read our policy wording.
Cystitis can go away on its own, but symptoms can be painful and potentially cause ongoing problems, so it’s always worth speaking to your vet.
You can help reduce the risk of cystitis by managing stress, keeping your cats hydrated, and giving them easy access to litter trays.
*Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.
**Illnesses and symptoms won’t be covered in the first 14 days and accidents won’t be covered in the first 2 days of the policy. This is unless you are switching from another lifetime pet insurance product with no break in cover and the claim you want to make would have been covered by your previous policy. Other exclusions may apply to other sections.