I have a really old cat with some issues. Keeps peeing!?

So I have a cat that is literally about 20 years old. Really old cat. Not but recently she started constantly peeing in random places and taking dumps on the bathroom floor. At first me and my fiance thought it was just a random occurrence and she stopped for a few days. Now it's becoming a habitual daily thing.

She's lost a lot of weight this year and seems pretty weak. Someone told me she might have arthritis and have a problem getting in the litter box? She manages to hop up on the bed every day though.

Not sure what to do with my ol' kitty cat :-/

2009-05-21T19:51:41Z

Symn, thanks. We tried moving the litter box and she still does it. I'll check water consumption. Any other pointers?

Symn2009-05-21T19:49:02Z

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Check her water consumption and make sure it's normal. If it's higher than normal, she could be diabetic. Cats don't usually just piss everywhere when they are going this way, but it's possible she is trying to alert you to an issue.

Try also moving her litter box into the bathroom if it isn't already there. Just see what happens.

Also, older cats DO lose weight. It's a normal thing, but if the weight loss is extreme, and she is weak as you say, she sounds like she's getting a bit diabetic. Have her checked out. :)

HummusJunction2009-05-21T20:28:20Z

Hi,

My old siamese had a hyperthyroid problem, which leads to renal (kidney) failure, something that is very common in old cats. If shes peeing a lot more, chances are that its a kidney problem.Towards the end she also got thinner and thinner despite having her thyroid retested. My vet said it was just her natural decline and that her body wasn't absorbing nutrients anymore. I kept her going for a few months on a really high protein food called Wellness.
I know theres some treatments they can do for renal failure, but they're a short term solution. The blood test for the thyroid is only about $30 and the medication is really cheap too if thats the problem.
Also, for the peeing in random spots - don't rule out dementia. She could be getting confused. Towards the end, my cat used to get lost in my apartment.

Best of luck.

Anonymous2009-05-21T20:50:35Z

Someone mentioned dementia--that could be a good point. She may be confused. If it's possible I would suggest maybe putting a litter-box close to her favourite hangout spots, if you haven't already. I tried that with my senior cat and it's working well for the most part.

You might need to help her out and make sure she gets to the litter-box regularly. When my cat's litter-box was on the other side of the house and she was having accidents, we would just pop her in a couple of times a day.

Also it couldn't hurt to take her to the vet and get their opinion.

amy2009-05-21T23:20:37Z

I would be worrying about its kidneys. My cat started peeing all over around the house when he developed kidney failure. At first it was just pee but then he later he started getting blood in his urine. We found that if we put out some puppy pads on the floor he would go on them instead of the carpet. Worth a try. I think it became uncomfortable for him to use the litter box.

The weight loss is also a major concern. You need to take her to the vet immediately and have them do tests on her kidneys and liver. If it is the kidneys she will be put on special food.

tazzmainiandevils2009-05-21T20:54:01Z

You really need to get some tests. I always try to speculate with these things too, but when it comes right down to it, you won't know until you get tests. The first test she needs is just a urinalysis. It is very likely she could just have a UTI (urinary tract infection). Those are terribly painful to live with, even one hour more than necessary is a horrible condition.If you can get her in tomorrow morning, she would be very grateful.

If the urine tests are okay, do some blood work. Her condition could be anything from old age to cancer. It's better to know.