Why does my cat pause when peeing? Is it a urinary health concern?

It's theoretically possible that the stress of switching foods could cause this if he has a condition called Idiopathic Cystitis. But that's quite the stretch if he's never had any urinary problems before at his age. I'd put my money on this being unrelated and take him in for a check up and urinalysis and x-rays of his bladder. I hope he's feeling better soon!

From what I can see in the photo, it appears to be a scratch under the eye and by the mouth. If he was recently put outside, he may have injured himself. They appear to be only minor scratches, but you should make sure they don't appear to be getting worse or developing any swelling or drainage, as these are signs of infection. As for taking longer to urinate, this is more concerning to me. One potential cause is a condition called FLUTD (or feline lower urinary tract disease). For reasons that we do not fully understand, cats can get inflammation in the urinary tract that can lead to swelling and even complete blockage. This is an emergency, because the bladder can rupture. Often these cats are placed on special diets to help control the symptoms. I recommend having him checked by a veterinarian to see if a special diet may help Alex. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thanks for your question about Papoose. I can tell you're worried about Papoose's well being, and it's great that you're keeping such a close watch on him! When a cat has a urinary blockage or obstruction, typically owners notice a lot of non-productive straining in the litterbox (and often while crying), and a cat with a urinary blockage gets quite sick very quickly. So, if you're not seeing any of those symptoms, and if Papoose is acting normal and eating & drinking normally, then I wouldn't be too concerned, especially if your vet has already done a recheck exam and thought he looked good. You are absolutely right - if Papoose is able to do spray marking, then his urine flow is doing fine. If you continue to be concerned, it might be worth one more quick recheck with your vet to make sure his bladder continues to be comfortably small (a cat with a blockage gets a firm, large, painful bladder within a day) - and if he continues to look great to your vet, then I would conclude that he probably just isn't needing to urinate very often, and he might be pretty stealthy about doing it! Sounds like he's doing great. :-) Hope this helps!

Hello! I would recommend keeping his litter completely clean so you can monitor his urine output. A blocked cat will continue to return to the litter box, strain unproductively or only pass small amounts of urine that may be bloody, and often be vocalizing. If you notice any of these signs, he needs to be taken to a vet immediately to be assessed for possible blockage. Feeding wet food, fountains, and dripping sinks and good ways to encourage cats to drink more water. Urinary tract infections in cats are fairly uncommon. Usually the urinary disease is a result of a production of crystals or stones or a sterile inflammatory bladder disease. Keeping Jack on a urinary diet forever may be necessary for him to maintain good urinary health. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It certainly sounds like Lolo could have a urinary tract issue as urinating in small amounts without producing much is definitely abnormal. I would take her to your vet. They may want to check her urine for infection and take an x-ray to check for bladder stones. Often cats don't have UTIs but still can have bladder inflammation. Making sure they drink plenty of water, and feeding wet food can help with bladder health. Good luck!

HI there! I'm so sorry to hear about Gulbi's troubles. Although there can be some discomfort following a neuter, I would definitely keep a close eye on Gulbi. Male cats can have a condition where they are unable to pee. Often we will say a cat "is blocked". This is a medical emergency because when an animal cannot urinate, it can back up their kidneys, and cause them to become toxic, very sick, and possibly pass away. I would continue to watch Gulbi as you are. He needs to produce a nice stream of urine, and large quantities of urine in the litter box. If there is any straining, especially frequent straining, or just tiny circles of urine in the litter box, then he should be evaluated by a veterinarian. He may need some pain medications, and if he already has some, he may need some additional ones. It may be helpful to put Gulbi in a small room by himself for a couple of days, like the bathroom, with his litter box. This way you can keep an eye on his litter box and the amount of urine he is putting out. If he is licking at his neuter area, I would pick up a cone from the pet store. Also important is to bring Gulbi to see the vet if there is any swelling, redness, or discharge, like pus, around his neuter site. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

It's not likely a UTI, cats tend to suffer from a condition called FLUTD that mimics a UTI but it's actually related to stress and doesn't involve a bacterial infection. in most cases it advances to a urinary blockage and the c at can die within several hours of that happening. you must take him to the vet urgently for treatment.