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Peeing outside of box.

Species: Cat
Breed: domestic short hair
Age: More than 15 ye
Hi Dr Marie,
My Cat Nikki is 21 yrs old......he was shot in the mouth when he was 1.5 yrs old, and still has the bullet lodged behind his shoulder blades......he has been a very fiesty, strong, healthy cat.
He eats a great deal...combo of wet food and dry. He is now blind but amazingly manages to get around with no problems.......he does not groom as much in the past few years....since his accident he has very little of the combing texture on his tongue and now he has many burrs in his fur. I try to bbrush him, but he hates it and puts up a fight.....I jut don;t want to hurt him.
My major issue is his urine habits.....sometimes he makes the litter box but mostly he pees on the carpet.
I restrict his open areas in the house but the smell and energy it takes to clean up and change papers and plastic are becoming too much. He also pees alot....in the morning I have at least 2 or 3 areas from during the night. We clean the litter box all the time making sure it is always fresh for him.I watch him after eating and immediately take him to the box....but he'll leave without peeing or do it out of the box a few feet away.
He has used this litter box and this litter for years, we do have 2 other cats and they have all shared these items in the past (we have an additional box upstairs as well but keep him away form that area of the house now. I have avoided the Vet because I am upset about havng to put him down if that is my only option. I thought he would have gone on his own a few times, but eats and gets around really well considering the blindness and his age......please advise.
Marie


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Sorry to hear that you are having this frustrating problem.

I would highly advise a vet visit. I know it is not what you want to do, but when an older cat starts to develop problems related to urinating there is often a medical cause.

It may be a problem with his kidneys, diabetes, or even hyperthyroidism. If so, there are a number of things that can be done to help.

Some cats will urinate out of the box as they get older because of arthritis in their hips or spine. Unfortunately there are no over the counter medications that are safe and effective to use for cats. But, there are things that your vet can prescribe that should help.

I really hope everything is ok!

Dr. Marie.

---This question was asked in our Ask A Vet For Free section.---


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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

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Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.