Interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome, is a common urological disease. As the IC pathogenesis is complex, no standard animal model has been established for the comprehensive and in-depth study of IC. Current IC models include intravesical infusion of chemical drugs, intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide, autoimmune cystitis, neurogenic inflammation and psychological and physiological stressors/ natural models. Each model has advantages and disadvantages. This paper reviews the research progress on animal models of IC.