ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Behavior and Welfare
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1546288
Pandemic Predisposing Influence for Feline Lower Urinary Disorders
Provisionally accepted
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusofona University, Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- 2Center for Animal and Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusophone University, Lisbon, Portugal
- 3Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
- 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Lower urinary tract signs (LUTS) in cats encompass a range of clinical symptoms, that may have been altered by the unique circumstances of confinement and increased human interaction during the lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress of confinement could exacerbate underlying behavioral issues, while increased caregiver presence might influence the expression of LUTS, potentially leading to either improved monitoring and early detection or increased stress-related symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and outcomes of LUTS in cats by examining the potential influence of increased caregiver presence and confinement-related stress on clinical manifestations and disease progression. This retrospective study reviewed 298 cats with LUTS seen at a veterinary hospital from 2019 to 2021. Inclusion criteria required a complete set of examinations, including urinalysis, imaging, and urine culture. Cats were divided into a before-pandemic (BP) group and a during-pandemic (DP) group. Key variables, such as urethral obstruction, recurrence rates, and mortality, were statistically analyzed. The DP group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in relapses (p < 0.001) and mortality (p < 0.05) compared to the BP group. Despite a rise in urethral obstructions in the DP group (p = 0.036), there was an overall reduction in adverse outcomes. BP cats were more likely to experience multiple episodes of LUTS than DP cats (p < 0.01). The findings suggest a positive impact of caregiver presence during the pandemic on LUTS outcomes, possibly due to improved monitoring and timely intervention. These insights underscore the potential benefits of increased caregiver engagement in managing feline LUTS.
Keywords: COVID-19, Feline Urinary Disorders, home confinement, Owner Engagement, Pandemic Pet Health, Stress-Related Urinary Conditions
Received: 16 Dec 2024; Accepted: 13 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Paulino, Meneses, Almeida, Dinis and Tavares De Oliveira. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Andre Meneses, Center for Animal and Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusophone University, Lisbon, Portugal
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