Administration of Strobilanthes crispus in an Angora Cat with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Abstract

The occurrence of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUD) in Indonesia has not been widely reported. However, the incidence of the disease has increased due to dietary cat patterns. The diet habitually consists of commercial dry food only, without wet food, such as meat. FLUD often affects certain breeds of cats. Surgical therapy is the first option to remove kidney stones; however, rural areas in Indonesia often lack animal surgical facilities. This condition requires alternative therapies to cure the disease. A one-year-old male Angora cat was brought to Rumah Satwa veterinary clinic in Tanah Datar, Indonesia, for examination, with a history of urination difficulties or dysuria, pain in the abdomen when being handled, and lack of desire to mate. A macroscopic examination of urine showed a cloudy and dense appearance. The ultrasound examination revealed a stone (struvite) and a thickening of the urinary bladder wall. The angora cat was diagnosed with obstructive FLUD caused by urolithiasis. A capsule containing 125 mg Keji Beling (Strobilanthes crispus, Bl) extract was administered to the cat once daily to aid the struvite stone dissolution. Keji Beling is a herbal plant easily found in Indonesia and used to treat human kidney stones. After 32 days of therapy, the clinical condition of the cat improved. The ultrasound examination did not find any stones left in the bladder. In conclusion, based on local wisdom, Keji Beling leaves can potentially be an alternative therapy for FLUD in Angora cats with certain conditions.