Abstract

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a common clinical syndrome in cats characterized by disorders affecting the bladder and urethra, leading to signs such as dysuria, haematuria, pollakiuria, and periuria. This study aimed to identify bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in urine samples of FLUTD-affected cats. Twenty clinically diagnosed cases were included. Urine samples collected by transurethral catheterization or ultrasound-guided cystocentesis were subjected to routine urinalysis and cultured on brain heart infusion agar. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Urinalysis revealed predominantly yellow (70%) and clear to slightly cloudy urine, with isosthenuria in 70% of cases. Proteinuria (100%), haematuria (90%), and bilirubinuria (70%) were frequent, with pH ranging from 5.0–7.5. Microscopy showed erythrocytes (85%), leukocytes (80%), crystals (20%; struvite and calcium oxalate), and bacterial forms including cocci (40%), bacilli (50%), and mixed types (10%). Bacterial growth was observed in sixteen out of twenty samples, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the most common isolate, followed by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. Carbapenems and amikacin showed highest efficacy, whereas β-lactams and cephalosporins exhibited widespread resistance. The study highlights multidrug resistant uropathogens in FLUTD and emphasizes culture based antibiotic selection for effective therapy

Keywords : Feline lower urinary tract disease, Urinalysis, Urine culture, Antibiotic sensitivity