If medication is stopped based on how the cat appears to feel, treatment may be terminated prematurely and a relapse will probably occur. Many cats have a recurrence of cystitis. This is one reason that a virus is suspected as the cause. It is also the reason that a proper diet should be fed in the future. Although we do not believe that any type of commercial cat food causes cystitis, we know that certain things can be done to the diet to minimize a recurrence.
Dietary prevention depends upon what type of crystals are present.
If struvite crystals are present, they can be dissolved in acidic urine. Therefore, diets that cause urinary acidification are recommended for these cats. If your cat's crystals are not struvite, acidification may actually make recurrence more likely so a non-acidified diet is the appropriate one. If at all possible, the crystals in the urine should be analyzed for their composition. This is the most important step in preventing future problems.