Why is my cat drinking a lot and still constipated? Kidney issues?

Drinking a lot of water can be a sign of kidney problems or diabetes. Depending on your cat's age not using the litter box may be a sign of arthritis (most cats get arthritis by the age of 7) and squatting may hurt, so he would hold his bowel movement until he can't hold it any more and then does not make it into the litter box in time. I suggest you take him to your vet for a blood test and exam and assessment for pain medicine.

This is very abnormal for a cat this young to have these chronic issues. If your family vet is stumped then it would be best for your kitty to see a specialist. I would recommend asking for a referral to a veterinary internist. Internists have advanced training beyond a family vet and can diagnose and manage more complex cases such as this one. Any blood work performed? This is a crucial first step. Xrays of the spine? Have these UTIs been diagnosed and treated by running urine cultures? With a chronic history this is very important. Has any endocrine testing been performed? There are some congenital/developmental disorders that should be ruled out as well given the history. An abdominal ultrasound is important as well to assess for structural changes to organs. Unfortunately in order to help your kitty she needs more tests. Not all pet illnesses are easy to diagnose and some cases can be complex. It sounds like you are worried about her so i would recommend reaching out to your family vet with your concerns and/or to ask for a referral. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! It sounds as though Jax has some inflammation in his colon with the blood in his stool. With the constipation it may indicate not enough fiber or hydration in his diet. I would recommend switching the dog food to a food with a higher fiber content and trying to increase his water intake to see if that helps. Vetasyl capsules are something you can also try adding to the diet to help increase the fiber content. I usually recommend Science Diet, Royal Canin, Natural Balance or Purina One for diets. Hopefully this helps! If not, please post a follow up question if Jax is still having issues defecating.

Cats with kidney disease are prone to constipation so if this behavior continues or he seems to be straining in the litter box I’d recommend seeing your veterinarian. Most appetite stimulants would be safe to give with these medications but it would depend on the actual drug - check with your vet to make sure it’s okay before you give any other medication.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds like your kitty is very ill. I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic (or his regular clinic tomorrow if an emergency clinic is not possible) for an exam and labwork. This could be something treatable (or at least manageable, if not curable) or it may not be. I would be worried about kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease - it could definitely be other things too, but these are at the top of my list. Good luck with your kitty. Let me know if this was helpful advice or setup a consultation if you need further help.

If Anano is in pain I recommend an emergency visit. If not then tomorrow morning I would call your veterinarian to make sure we are not constipated. If Anano is they can prescribe medication to help draw water into his colon. He may need medication daily now to help him pass stool. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend getting Tiga on a prescription kidney diet like Hill's k/d. I would add some non-flavored powder metamusil to the food daily (1/4 tsp to start). The prescription diets have proven to extend the life span of cats with kidney disease. If adding metamusil doesn't help I would ask your Vet about prescribing lactulose to help with the stools. Good luck!