How Vets Diagnose Cats That Pee Frequently
The majority of vets will want to examine your cat from head to tail, feeling around the kidneys and bladder. With a thorough examination, it is occasionally possible to feel stones inside the bladder or locate painful areas close to the kidneys. They will probably ask a lot of questions regarding your cat’s nutrition and past litter box experiences during the procedure.
Next, your veterinarian will want to examine a urine sample. Without a urine sample, a diagnosis is usually not possible. Cats with urinary tract issues frequently have small bladders, and it may take several hours for them to fill up enough for your veterinarian to take a sample. Having a sample with you can help you save both money and time.
In light of the results of the aforementioned tests, your veterinarian might advise blood work, an ultrasound, or an x-ray. These tests are frequently performed on cats who have recurrent urinary issues, those who exhibit additional symptoms like appetite loss or weight loss, or those who may be diabetic candidates. Having all the information your veterinarian needs will make it much easier to diagnose and develop a treatment plan.
Factors That Affect How Much a Cat Pees
The two main things that will determine how much a cat urinates are their diet and health.
A healthy cat on a canned food diet ought to urinate copiously two or three times a day. Dry food cats typically produce a little less, which over time may cause urinary issues.
Senior cats experiencing health issues—particularly diabetes or kidney disease—have a tendency to urinate more frequently than they did in the past.
Certain drugs, like diuretics, can also cause an increase in the volume of urine produced. Because of the potential for daily fluctuations in all of these variables, it’s critical to understand what is typical for your pet.
When to See a Vet for Excessive Urination in Cats
Whether the puddles are small and infrequent or large and infrequent, you should schedule a vet visit whenever you notice that your cat is urinating more frequently.
It’s an emergency and you should see an emergency veterinarian right away if your male cat exhibits any of these symptoms:
- Urinating small amounts frequently
- Straining to urinate and not much is being produced
- Any blood in the urine
Generally speaking, your cat should still be seen by a veterinarian right away if they are urinating in larger-than-normal clumps and appear to be acting normally, but it is unlikely to be an emergency.
Within a day or two, if your cat doesn’t seem well, take them to the veterinarian. In every case, bringing or dropping off a urine sample in advance of your appointment will probably expedite the response time.