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acute, symptoms such as increased urination,
weight loss, lethargy, increased thirst, decreased
appetite and vomiting may be seen.
e Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder in cats and
occurs when the body does not produce enough
insulin to balance the cat's blood sugar or glucose
levels. The exact cause of diabetes in cats remains
unknown however cats that are overweight,
older, have other underlying hormonal diseases,
on some medications or certain breeds seem to
be more at risk. Frequent urination, weight loss,
increased water intake, lethargy, vomiting and a
dull coat are all signs of diabetes in cats.
e Incontinence
Sometimes frequent urination is due to
incontinence or a weak bladder. A weak bladder
can develop as cats age or can be caused by an
injury. Signs of incontinence include urinating
when moving from lying to sitting or when
jumping and a frequent wet bottom.
If your cat does seem to be urinating more
frequently or in larger volumes, observe them
closely for other signs, symptoms or unusual
behaviours and contact your veterinarian. For
your vet to correctly diagnose the cause they will
conduct a physical exam and usually run blood
and urine tests to check organ function.
There are a number of different reasons that your
cat may start urinating more frequently, including
medical conditions and behavioural reasons.
Discussed below are some of the common medical
causes to be aware of.
e Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infections are common in cats and
occur when a bacteria gets into the usually sterile
urinary tract. A UTI can often be identified by
frequent urination, pain on urination, urinating
outside the litter box and/or blood in the urine.
It can also be a sign of other underlying issues
like kidney disease.
e Cystitis
Feline interstitial cystitis or feline idiopathic cystitis
or FIC is inflammation in the bladder. The direct
cause is unknown however stress seems to be a
likely factor as well as abnormal bladder lining or
neurological inflammation. Other signs of cystitis
include blood tinged urine, passing only small
amounts of urine at a time, pain when urinating,
irritability, lying on cold surfaces (tiles or showers)
and/or tiny crystals or sand like grit in the urine.
e Renal Failure
Renal failure can occur over a long period of time
or be an acute sudden onset, either way it can
be a life threatening condition. In renal failure
the kidneys stop functioning correctly causing a
build-up of toxins in the bloodstream. There are
a lot of causes of renal failure and it is particularly
common in older cats. During early stages of
chronic renal failure symptoms can be hard to
identify. As the disease progresses or becomes
CAUSES OF FREQUENT URINATION IN CATS
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