Could Cat Urine Problems
Mean Kitty Is Sick?

Cat urine changes often indicate that Kitty is in need of medical attention. This section of the website goes through the common signs you should watch out for.

This section of the website doesn't cover the reasons why your cat may be spraying or not using his litter box. To go to the section that deals with litter box problems, click here.

Hopefully you already have a reasonable idea of your cat's normal toilet habits. You probably know how much he drinks, what his pee smells and looks like (to an extent!), how often he has a pee and the rough volume he pees each time.

Changes to any of the above may indicate a problem. I've listed the most common cat urine problems below. For more information on any of them, please click on the text links. For advice on health insurance for your cat, click here.

1) Increased or decreased thirst and urine production

A marked change in Kitty's thirst and urination isn't normal. You may find he starts peeing during the night, trying to pee frequently, drinking out of the sink and spending much more time hanging round his water bowl and / or litter box.

There are several potential causes for this behavior. In all cases, the sooner he's seen by a vet, the better:

Cat Urinary Tract infection
Common signs include trying to pee frequently but only small amounts being produced, and suddenly starting to pee away from the litter box.

Chronic Cat Kidney Failure
Usually occurs in older cats, due to kidney function deteriorating with age.

Acute Cat Renal Failure
Usually occurs as a result of infection, poisoning or physical injury.

Cat Diabetes
The main signs are increased thirst and urine production, weight loss and increased appetite.

2) Blood and / or pus in Kitty's urine

Blood and pus are not normal components of a cat's urine, and if they are present, Kitty has a problem.

The mixture of the blood staining and pus may actually look like cat constipation, so owners may not even realize that Kitty's urine is the problem. It could be caused by a cat urinary tract infection, physical injury or acute cat renal failure. All need prompt veterinary treatment.

3) Offensive smelling urine

The smell of cat urine isn't exactly pleasant, but if it suddenly becomes more pungent, Kitty likely has a problem. The most probable cause is cat urinary tract infection, but once again, a speedy trip to the vet is required.



4) Kitty appears unable to pee

If Kitty is spending most of his time straining over the litter box but not producing anything, then getting out of the box and licking the area under his tail, you could have a very serious problem on your hands.

This behavior is suggestive of him being unable to pee - i.e. there's an obstruction that's preventing him from passing urine. This could be caused by a physical injury, a tumor or cat bladder stones blocking the exit to his bladder. Whatever the cause, immediate veterinary attention is needed. If he can't pee, he will die without treatment.

Kitty's diet plays important part in the treatment of many cat urine problems. For advice on feeding your cat and information on cat nutrition, click here.

Click on these links for advice on how to clean cat urine and cat urine cleaning products.

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