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Why is my cat going to the litter box constantly? Is she sick?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Why does my female Siamese cat go to her litter box 5-6 times an hour?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

Veterinarian

Published on June 2nd, 2018

I would be concerned she may have cystitis - painful inflammation of the bladder (or possibly colitis or constipation of the bowel). This is an extremely distressing and uncomfortable condition and should be assessed and treated by your vet as soon as possible. Try to encourage fluid intake with wet food and freshly boiled chicken broth in the meantime

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 6th, 2017
Oh no, poor Barney! He could be suffering from a UTI or cystitis which is inflammation of the bladder. I would have him seen by a vet as soon as possible of this to have a physical exam, blood tests, and urinalysis done on him. These tests can help diagnose the cause of his litter box behavior, and the vet can prescribe medication to treat him.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on July 2nd, 2020
That can definitely be a sign of a urinary issue such as an infection or even a potential urinary blockage which can happen in neutered male cats. Stress and a dirty litter box may also cause a change in urinary behavior if your cat is not able to use their regular box. I would continue to monitor Franklin and keep his box scooped once a day to see how he does. If the frequent urination returns, he is straining to go, seems in pain or distress or begins to vocalize a lot, these are all signs of something more serious that should be checked out right away.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my cat going to the litter box often but not producing anything?

Hello, thank you for your question about Atticus. The symptoms that you are describing could be indicative of two possibilities - constipation or urinary obstruction. Urinary obstruction is much more common in male cats due to their anatomy; however, if Atticus had an underlying condition such as bladder stones, she could experience an obstruction. Constipation is a not uncommon condition in cats. It can have many different underlying causes. Since Atticus is otherwise acting normally I would recommend continuing to monitor her for the next 12-24 hours. If she continues to go in/out of the box and does not produce any urine/feces or she develops any other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, inappetance) I would recommend having her seen by your veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!

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Why is my cat straining to go in the litter box and scooting around?

I would recommend having Paws examined by a vet. Sometimes cats will start to feel sluggish and uncomfortable in the litter box if they have a UTI, bladder stones, some inflammatory conditions, or constipation. Since you aren't seeing much in the box, it is hard to determine which is the case, but a vet should be able to figure it out on physical exam.

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Why is my cat spending so much time in the litter box? Is he sick?

This can be a sign of illness in cats. If he is there vocalizing and trying to urinate with no production it is an emergency. If he is not and just laying there and not wanting to get up then he may have a fever or have pain and not feel like moving. Try to get pick him up and take him to another spot for food and water and see how he acts. If he is painful and not eating then I would take him to the vet to see what is going on.

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Health & Wellness

Why is my cat straining, vomiting, and constantly in the litter box?

Hello, and thanks for your question. Poor Boo! It sounds like Boo probably has a urinary tract infection. She should be seen by your vet, where they will examine her and evaluate a sample of her urine to look for evidence of infection. They will set her up with antibiotics if indicated to treat the infection. I also see she is unspayed. Frequent attempts to urinate can also be a symptom of a life threatening uterine infection ("pyometra"), or very rarely a urethral obstruction (though this is much more common in male cats, and quite rare in females). If Boo gets sicker overnight she may need to be taken to the emergency vet. However, these possibilities would be much less likely than a urinary tract infection. I hope this helps and she feels better soon!

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Why is my cat going to the litter box every 15 minutes? Is it a UTI?

Unfortunately, it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to prescribe any medication without seeing the animal in person first. That's because we don't know if the medication is safe for your cat's current medical status, or if it's the correct medication for their symptoms. If he is urinating frequently, I would suspect he has a UTI. I would take him into the vet to confirm he has a UTI, and the vet can prescribe antibiotics to treat it.

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Why is my cat's urine cloudy and is there blood in her litter box?

It could be a urinary infection or a bladder inflammation it could also be coming from the anal area which would make me suspect of a gastrointestinal issue. either way i would strongly advise to take her to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated.

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My cat is peeing small drops often in the litter box. Should I worry?

That could be a sign that Skye is experiencing pain related to her bladder due to something like a bladder infection or cystitis. I recommend to have her urine checked for any abnormalities. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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