Characterization and comparative analysis of urinary bacterial microbiome profiling in healthy cats and cats with feline idiopathic cystitis

Over the past decade, the make up of urinary microbiota and its association with disease has garnered substantial attention. However, the urinary microbiota patterns in healthy cats remain unclear, as do the potential dysbiosis conditions in cats with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). We hypothesized that urinary microbiota differ by age and sex in healthy cats, and vary between healthy cats and those with FIC. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the urinary microbiota of 25 healthy cats and 15 cats with FIC. Our results indicate that the feline urinary microbiota is primarily composed of Proteobacteria. While no significant differences in bacterial abundance were found between sexes in healthy cats, some taxa showed variations by age. Cats with FIC demonstrated microbiota disruption, characterized by an increase in Firmicutes and Bacilli, along with a decrease in Proteobacteria, particularly a reduction in the Pseudomonas genus, compared to healthy cats. These results demonstrate the presence of a bacterial microbiome in the urine of cats and suggest a potential association between altered microbiota and FIC. Multi-omics approaches could provide further insights into the core urobiome and its role in feline urinary tract disease.