My cat drinks a lot and has trouble pooping. Should I see a vet?

Poor Bob! The symptoms you describe could be caused by quite a few different things, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine him and run some tests. Some possible causes would include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or chronic kidney disease, which are all common problems in cats. I would recommend taking Bob to the vet for an exam as soon as you're able to. He/she can do blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What you are describing (hard feces despite drinking and peeing, and drinking a lot of water) can definitely be caused by kidney disease, and that would be the number one concern. Other concerns would be diabetes, hyperthyroidism, megacolon, or possibly cancer. In terms of your medications comment, all medications have different times for how long they take to kick in, and how long they last. This can be changed based on hydration, age, kidney and liver function, and overall health status. It sounds like Jay might need to see a vet, based on your questions. Best of luck with Jay!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. With your history and knowing he is drinking and urinating quite a bit, I would be concerned about kidney disease or diabetes. I would recommend having a comprehensive blood panel run on pepper to rule these conditions out. I would also have his urine tested as part of a full workup. Blood work is a good place to start as it will help rule out many possible causes of the symptoms you are seeing. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

I would recommend a veterinarian. With his age I am concerned about dehydration and I would talk to your veterinarian about potential fluids. I would also recommend a bland diet for Beeper. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Definitely pursue those x-rays. That is a good idea. I also recommend that you have his blood and urine tested for abnormalities. Drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating excessively can indicate kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, liver disease or diabetes. Blood tests and the urine testing should give you some answers. Try to get these tests done ASAP. At home you can start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, as well as a joint supplement for cats. Both of these will act like natural anti-inflammatories and improve the health of the joints in the spine. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor kitty! In a 13 year old cat, I strongly suspect that she has a medical problem causing these issues. Some common possible causes would include hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to - he/she can do blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Some owners see a cat struggling in the litter box and they assume constipation but it is usually a urinary problem. With her having a recent problem with her urinary tract/bladder I would assume this is a continuation of the problem. I suggest you get a second opinion with another vet. This problem may be more than the ASPCA vet can handle. ( https://www.queensanimalhospital.com/ )