When we combine the two, we stop asking “What is wrong with you?” and start asking “What happened to you?”
FIC is a painful inflammation of the bladder with no known infectious or structural cause. For years, it was untreatable. Today, we know FIC is a stress-driven neurogenic condition. Veterinary treatment includes pain management and urinary diet, but the cure is behavioral : environmental enrichment, predictable routines, multiple litter boxes, and reducing inter-cat conflict.
The Integration of Animal Behavior and Veterinary Science: A Clinical and Ethical Framework 1. Introduction