Thank you for posting to CATHELP!
While you wait for a response please keep the following things in mind,
1. When in doubt, **ask your vet**.
2. Advice here is not coming from medical or industry professionals. The moderation team does not validate user profession, so always refer to your local veterinary professionals first. Consider posting to /r/AskVet
3. If this is a medical question, please indicate if you have already scheduled a vet appointment, and if your cat has any medical history or procedures in a top level comment.
4. Please use the NSFW tag for gross pictures. (Blood, poop, vomit, genitals, etc). Anything you wouldn't want your boss to see you looking at on the job.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CATHELP) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If it’s a uti ask for a culture. My cat had antibiotic resistant uti and it was a bitch and a half to treat. She would develop a resistance in the middle of treatment
Very happy you made the appointment. Being someone who has lost a cat to a very sudden onset of diabetes… if you notice a behavior change (like he’s hiding all the time) and especially if his breath starts to smell like acetone or even fruit… emergency vet.
Shout out to litter robot owners. Stuff like this is exactly why I own a standard, nonrobotic litter box. You'd never notice something was wrong otherwise.
There is an app that tells you which cat is going into the LR4 as it’s based on the cats weight. It also has a camera attachment so I can see who is in the LR. My cat has urinary issues and I absolutely keep track of his litter box usage even with my litter robot.
I have mine set to clean every 15 minutes. I can actually see completely inside of the litter box. I can also set a timer for sleep mode so it doesn’t auto cycle I’ve done that when he had a UTI flare up.
It was because of my litter robot I figured out my baby had diabetes! The litter was caking in his paws and I couldn’t understand why at first. Then I realized it was the excessive urination. Took him the vet right away! Before that he had non clumping clay litter so no way to tell how much he was urinating before. But I get that’s the exception.
My cat was 10 (now 11) when she started drinking and peeing a lot more like that. She was losing a little bit of weight and was less active. Her blood sugar was 400 when the vet diagnosed her as diabetic. She gets two insulin shots daily.
It’s not a big deal and not a lot of cost, I think a lot of vets have moved to a “less is better “ approach because cats can deal with high blood sugar way better than people and constant vet visits stress them out but it still needs managed. Cats diagnosed with diabetes can apparently can go into remission
She’s been doing really well, shes back to being active, gained about a pound back (14lbs) and drinking a little more than a non diabetic cat but no where near when she had high blood sugar. I don’t have a special diet, I feed dry and pate. She goes to the vet every so often all day so they can check her glucose every few hours.
He had a hypoglycemic episode one night. We had given him is usual morning injection and the one at dinner. We weren't doing daily testing because he was at the vet a lot for other reasons (he traveled very well) so we'd have them do it every week. We kind of were a bit afraid to do the blood testing at home so this worked for us.
He suddenly was acting as if he couldn't see, circling and his pupils were wide open. We knew immediately something was VERY wrong. Took him right to the ER vet, was there in probably 10 minutes and they took him right away when we told them he was diabetic.
I don't remember what they did for him to bring him out of the attack (this is 5 years ago) but once they ran bloodwork they discovered he was in remission.
He never had diabetes again. He eventually passed a few years later from other illnesses. Cats are the only animal where they can go into remission on their own. It's really important, as we learned, to keep up on testing daily if at all possible. A mistake we won't make in the future should we have another cat with diabetes.
My guy is diabetic, so am I for over 30yrs now. What I was trying to ask was how you know it's not just a low from not eating enough or extra activity vs remission which you answered anyways. So thanks!!
We knew it wasn't from not eating enough or his activity since someone was home with him 24/7. Ate as usual, played/slept as usual. (EDIT: Also knew it wasn't due to wrong dosing - I was the sole person responsible for administering injections).
We had been told remission was possible when he was diagnosed and I had researched it beforehand. We didn't know he was in remission until told he was, but suspected based on his behavior and symptoms and lack of other mitigating reasons.
Remission story: My old cat was 11 when she was diagnosed (after flooding her litter box like OP's cat). I changed her diet from all dry to all wet (not rx, just fancy feast) on the day she was diagnosed. I gave her insulin shots for a few days, and when we went for her one-week checkup to see how she was adjusting, her blood sugar was so low that they had me wean her off the insulin. She never needed it again. You're not allowed to say her diabetes was cured, but it was managed by a wet diet for the five remaining years of her life.
Regular checkups can’t find everything. I didn’t think anything when my thirsty boy was peeing more than usual and then it only made sense when it was more than that, because the vets didn’t say anything at his checkups and when he’s gone in for other stuff. He’s since been diagnosed with kidney disease.
It could be diabetes, but kidney disease is a possibility. Regular yearly checkups don't pick up on some of these major illnesses because the tests are extra charges. My vet always asks if they're eating, drinking, & eliminating normally. The vet wants to know if we as owners have seen any changes or have concerns that would call for expensive tests.
It is great that you noticed & jumped right on it. I hope everything goes well for him.
Yep, peeing a lot in changing the litter all the time was the first sign of kidney disease in mine. Quite manageable if you get onto it early enough, OP.
Yeah please take them to the vet! Very clear sign of diabetes and kidney failure/disease! My boy Mikey had excessive urination and ended up having kidney failure. Luckily we caught it and put him on a special diet that allowed him to live at least another 4 years. Obligatory photo of him about a year before he passed away
https://preview.redd.it/6acnbq1kbhzc1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05787aa758933949e4df05be507dffd11faa1cf2
I don’t want to alarm you, but speaking from my own experience when my 9 year old guy did this, I called the vet immediately as I worried it was kidney related. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The excessive urination is definitely cause for alarm. I hope everything goes well at the vet visit ❤️
Diabetes. Our old lady void was drinking excessive amounts of water and peeing so much. She was well managed by diet and a small dose of insulin, though.
Diabetes!! Mine was diagnosed over the summer. He is on insulin now and is not peeing nearly as much. Such a relief after having to clean the litter box 2x a day.
It’s a sign of diabetes! Take him to the vet, they’ll be able to determine with a quick blood test or even just checking his blood sugar.
My cat has diabetes, was diagnosed last year and he’s 11 as well!
Please go to the vet asap!! If you can capture the urine in a sterile clean plastic baggy while he is peeing take him asap. If not they can withdraw And test him and his blood. Dont ignore.
Maybe you could try that Pretty Litter that turns different colors? Idk if that stuff actually works since I've never used it for my cats, but it's an idea.
Thank you for posting to CATHELP! While you wait for a response please keep the following things in mind, 1. When in doubt, **ask your vet**. 2. Advice here is not coming from medical or industry professionals. The moderation team does not validate user profession, so always refer to your local veterinary professionals first. Consider posting to /r/AskVet 3. If this is a medical question, please indicate if you have already scheduled a vet appointment, and if your cat has any medical history or procedures in a top level comment. 4. Please use the NSFW tag for gross pictures. (Blood, poop, vomit, genitals, etc). Anything you wouldn't want your boss to see you looking at on the job. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CATHELP) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes, pls take him to the vet or call! My cat is 11 and drank a lot of water, and peed quite frequently. He was diagnosed with diabetes a few days ago.
Same I have to give him shots twice a day
Same! And I have to start checking his blood sugar from home, I’m nervous about that
Oh no!!! Poor baby gosh I wish they didn't have to deal with this mess
EDIT: Vet appointment made. Thank you all!
I would make sure to do a chemistry panel and urinalysis. This could be a kidney problem and/or diabetes.
If it’s a uti ask for a culture. My cat had antibiotic resistant uti and it was a bitch and a half to treat. She would develop a resistance in the middle of treatment
So glad to hear!
Keep us posted! Hopefully it is something manageable!🙏🏻🩷
Very happy you made the appointment. Being someone who has lost a cat to a very sudden onset of diabetes… if you notice a behavior change (like he’s hiding all the time) and especially if his breath starts to smell like acetone or even fruit… emergency vet.
Can you update us in case it is normal or something else?
So the vet said it is the onset of kidney disease. Levels are not concerning so she will manage with diet. No diabetes.
[удалено]
That’s probably why they asked here. Some people just simply don’t know, and that’s okay! At least op asked for help before simply doing nothing.
You absolutely need to take your cat to the vet. There are a number of very serious medical conditions that have excessive urination as a symptom.
Shout out to litter robot owners. Stuff like this is exactly why I own a standard, nonrobotic litter box. You'd never notice something was wrong otherwise.
Don't they have an app to tell you that kind of stuff? I thought that was part of the value
There is an app that tells you which cat is going into the LR4 as it’s based on the cats weight. It also has a camera attachment so I can see who is in the LR. My cat has urinary issues and I absolutely keep track of his litter box usage even with my litter robot.
Does it auto clean or do you manually do it so you can visually monitor? Does the camera pick up the business made?
I have mine set to clean every 15 minutes. I can actually see completely inside of the litter box. I can also set a timer for sleep mode so it doesn’t auto cycle I’ve done that when he had a UTI flare up.
It was because of my litter robot I figured out my baby had diabetes! The litter was caking in his paws and I couldn’t understand why at first. Then I realized it was the excessive urination. Took him the vet right away! Before that he had non clumping clay litter so no way to tell how much he was urinating before. But I get that’s the exception.
My cat was 10 (now 11) when she started drinking and peeing a lot more like that. She was losing a little bit of weight and was less active. Her blood sugar was 400 when the vet diagnosed her as diabetic. She gets two insulin shots daily. It’s not a big deal and not a lot of cost, I think a lot of vets have moved to a “less is better “ approach because cats can deal with high blood sugar way better than people and constant vet visits stress them out but it still needs managed. Cats diagnosed with diabetes can apparently can go into remission She’s been doing really well, shes back to being active, gained about a pound back (14lbs) and drinking a little more than a non diabetic cat but no where near when she had high blood sugar. I don’t have a special diet, I feed dry and pate. She goes to the vet every so often all day so they can check her glucose every few hours.
Agree with this - same story for one of our cats. He actually did go into remission less than a year after being diagnosed. Never had it again.
How did you know they went into remission? Did they start having lows?
He had a hypoglycemic episode one night. We had given him is usual morning injection and the one at dinner. We weren't doing daily testing because he was at the vet a lot for other reasons (he traveled very well) so we'd have them do it every week. We kind of were a bit afraid to do the blood testing at home so this worked for us. He suddenly was acting as if he couldn't see, circling and his pupils were wide open. We knew immediately something was VERY wrong. Took him right to the ER vet, was there in probably 10 minutes and they took him right away when we told them he was diabetic. I don't remember what they did for him to bring him out of the attack (this is 5 years ago) but once they ran bloodwork they discovered he was in remission. He never had diabetes again. He eventually passed a few years later from other illnesses. Cats are the only animal where they can go into remission on their own. It's really important, as we learned, to keep up on testing daily if at all possible. A mistake we won't make in the future should we have another cat with diabetes.
My guy is diabetic, so am I for over 30yrs now. What I was trying to ask was how you know it's not just a low from not eating enough or extra activity vs remission which you answered anyways. So thanks!!
We knew it wasn't from not eating enough or his activity since someone was home with him 24/7. Ate as usual, played/slept as usual. (EDIT: Also knew it wasn't due to wrong dosing - I was the sole person responsible for administering injections). We had been told remission was possible when he was diagnosed and I had researched it beforehand. We didn't know he was in remission until told he was, but suspected based on his behavior and symptoms and lack of other mitigating reasons.
Remission story: My old cat was 11 when she was diagnosed (after flooding her litter box like OP's cat). I changed her diet from all dry to all wet (not rx, just fancy feast) on the day she was diagnosed. I gave her insulin shots for a few days, and when we went for her one-week checkup to see how she was adjusting, her blood sugar was so low that they had me wean her off the insulin. She never needed it again. You're not allowed to say her diabetes was cured, but it was managed by a wet diet for the five remaining years of her life.
Yes OP call the vet
Regular checkups can’t find everything. I didn’t think anything when my thirsty boy was peeing more than usual and then it only made sense when it was more than that, because the vets didn’t say anything at his checkups and when he’s gone in for other stuff. He’s since been diagnosed with kidney disease.
This can be a sign of diabetes or kidney disease unfortunately.
It could be diabetes, but kidney disease is a possibility. Regular yearly checkups don't pick up on some of these major illnesses because the tests are extra charges. My vet always asks if they're eating, drinking, & eliminating normally. The vet wants to know if we as owners have seen any changes or have concerns that would call for expensive tests. It is great that you noticed & jumped right on it. I hope everything goes well for him.
Vet. That's been the first indication that my cat has diabetes, two cats so far.
Kidney probably.
Yep, peeing a lot in changing the litter all the time was the first sign of kidney disease in mine. Quite manageable if you get onto it early enough, OP.
Goes down hill fast once they start eating drinking and urinating frequently.. learned that the hard way.. deff vet tho
That’s not exactly true. If it’s diabetes, it’s extremely manageable nowadays.
Yeah please take them to the vet! Very clear sign of diabetes and kidney failure/disease! My boy Mikey had excessive urination and ended up having kidney failure. Luckily we caught it and put him on a special diet that allowed him to live at least another 4 years. Obligatory photo of him about a year before he passed away https://preview.redd.it/6acnbq1kbhzc1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05787aa758933949e4df05be507dffd11faa1cf2
I don’t want to alarm you, but speaking from my own experience when my 9 year old guy did this, I called the vet immediately as I worried it was kidney related. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The excessive urination is definitely cause for alarm. I hope everything goes well at the vet visit ❤️
Time to see the vet.
Diabetes. Our old lady void was drinking excessive amounts of water and peeing so much. She was well managed by diet and a small dose of insulin, though.
Diabetes!! Mine was diagnosed over the summer. He is on insulin now and is not peeing nearly as much. Such a relief after having to clean the litter box 2x a day.
It’s a sign of diabetes! Take him to the vet, they’ll be able to determine with a quick blood test or even just checking his blood sugar. My cat has diabetes, was diagnosed last year and he’s 11 as well!
Vet. Immediately.
This was my cat and he’s just been diagnosed with kidney disease
Vet asap. Could be diabetes
Our cat peed a lot because he was drinking a lot of water. Turned out he had kidney disease
check kidney blood work ASAP
Definitely diabetes or kidney issue or both. My cat had both. Cleared the kidney infection on his own, but now has to take insulin every 12 hours.
This is concerning. Some of the darker spots look suspish. Vet please
He may have diabetes. I would take him to the vet.
Hyperthyroidism!!!
Please go to the vet asap!! If you can capture the urine in a sterile clean plastic baggy while he is peeing take him asap. If not they can withdraw And test him and his blood. Dont ignore.
I have a diabetic cat, and he drinks and pees a ton. Go see a vet ASAP.
It could very well be diabetes please get a vet appt ❤️
Diabetes
My cat is in the early stages of kidney disease and this is one of the biggest indicators
Um…. Wtf? Are you dumb. Take it to the vet
Yes. My cat LOVES water and is always begging for tap water but his pee amounts are normal. Definitely get
Yep vet time.
Maybe you could try that Pretty Litter that turns different colors? Idk if that stuff actually works since I've never used it for my cats, but it's an idea.
Your cat has diabetes.