A prospective randomized study of efficacy of 2 treatment protocols in preventing recurrence of clinical signs in 51 male cats with obstructive idiopathic cystitis

BACKGROUND: Urethral obstruction (UO) is a common complication of feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Robust treatment recommendations to prevent its recurrence are scarce. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate meloxicam treatment for prevention of clinical recrudescence in male cats with obstructive FIC. ANIMALS: Fifty‐one client‐owned cats. METHODS: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Every male cat with FIC‐associated UO was deemed eligible for the study and was recruited during hospitalization. After discharge, cats were treated with phenoxybenzamine and alprazolam for 2 weeks, with (24 cats) or without (27 cats) low‐dose meloxicam (0.025 mg/kg/day PO) and monitored for 6 months. RESULTS: Cumulative number (%) of cats with recurrent UO at 10 days, 1‐, 2‐, and 6‐months after discharge was 1 (2%), 2 (4%), 4 (8%), and 8 (16%), respectively. Overall, 12 (24%) cats experienced signs of recurrent FIC within 6 months, with (8 cats) or without (4 cats) concurrent UO. No difference in the cumulative incidence of UO within 6 months was detected with addition of meloxicam (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.63 [0.13‐2.97]; P = .70). All cats were alive at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: No clinical benefit was detected with the addition of low‐dose meloxicam to phenoxybenzamine and alprazolam treatment for 2 weeks after discharge. Nevertheless, this study was underpowered to identify potential differences, and its findings must be corroborated in larger studies.