My cat pees outside box, drinks lots, losing weight, bad breath. Why?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Increased drinking in cats with a urine that has a strong odor is concerning for a couple possible medical issues, such as diabetes, a urinary tract infection, a kidney issue, or another underlying issue. I would recommend having Missy be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if she has an underlying condition that needs to be addressed, have any diagnostic testing done (urinalysis, bloodwork, etc) and a treatment plan made if needed. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Losing weight despite having a good appetite is a classic sign seen with hyperthyroidism. This is just one possibility among other conditions. I recommend you check in with a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this and proceed with therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

Cats can have chronic urinary tract infections, stones, bladder cancer, or any number of issues causing them to urinate outside the box even after treatment. Sometimes this is very frustrating to treat. I am concerned that she is pawing at her mouth, as this usually indicates severe dental disease or oral infection (stomatitis), both of which being very painful conditions. If she has not had a full oral examination, she needs this to address whatever is going on in the mouth. She probably needs to have her urine cultured as well if she seems to have an infection that is unresponsive to antibiotics.

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.

Poor Gabby! If she seems like she's feeling unwell, is having frequent accidents, or you suspect an issue it would be best to bring her in for a checkup to your local vet. Bringing in a urine sample (if possible) or having the get one is best as they can use it to run a urinalysis to check for issues such as infections, glucose in the urine, etc. Other symptoms you may see that can indicate a urinary issue include increased vocalization, accidents, cloudy or bloody urine, straining to go, dribbling urine, frequent trips to the litter box, changes in weight/appetite, and changes in thirst/water intake. Be sure to let your vet know if you've seen any of these additional signs.

Diabetics can have a peculiar odor to their breath, especially when they are producing a compound called ketones. The breath kind of smells like nail polish remover, and this can indicate that that Missy is in diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a potentially serious complication of diabetes. It's also possible that Missy has dental disease (which, by the way, can make it difficult to regulate diabetes in cats, so I would recommend specifically asking your vet about that) and that could be causing the odor you are smelling. At this point, it's worth calling your vet and inquiring whether you might need to bring Missy in to check her urine for ketones, which is the most reliable indicator of ketoacidosis.

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.