Only about 25% of the cats with urinary tract problems have the problems due to crystals. In these cases a diet can help. In about 50% of the cases the reason is unknown (the reason could be auto-immune, or an unknown virus or whatever)- so it's called iFLUTD (idiopathic Feline Lower Urinsray Tract Disease). My Tigris suffers from a chronic inflammation of that type. It occurred when he was 9 years old.

In the acute case, it is normal that not only the inflammation is very active but there are bacteria as well. Against the bacteria, antibiotics will help. For the inflammation Tigris became cortisone and it helped well.

He does not have to eat diet food (as he has no stones) and I mix some water in his food as he doesn't like to drink much.

There is nothing you can do to prevent that type of disease- but you can deal with it when it happens.

And maybe Tiki doesn't get it at all.