Cat has watery eyes, runny nose, and meows in litter box. Is she sick?

Litter box issues can be extremely frustrating! If Luna is both urinating and defecating outside of her litter box, this is more likely a behavioral issue. If she is only urinating outside of the litter box, there is a chance that there is an underlying medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection or bladder stones. Sneezing can be due to a number of issues in cats, including simple irritation to the nasal passages from dust or pollens, nasopharyngeal polyps, upper respiratory infections, among others. I'm glad to hear that Luna has recently been to her vet and seemed to be healthy, but it may be worth going back to the vet for a urinalysis if this was not already done. This urine test will rule out a UTI and crystals in the urine. Your vet will also be able to determine if an upper respiratory infection is suspected. Once medical issues have been ruled out as a cause of Luna's litter box issues, consider several at home strategies. Add an extra litter box to the house, consider changing the litter type to one with less dust (Yesterday's News is one brand), add or remove a hood/cover to one of the litter boxes, and consider using a calming pheromone collar or diffuser (Feliway is one example). If all of these attempts fail, you may need to talk to Luna's vet about anti-anxiety medications. I hope this helps! Good luck! :-)

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Jojo isn't feeling well. Loose stool is not uncommon during times of stress in cats (such as when they are sick), but it could be caused by many other things as well. New or strange foods, parasites, and infections can also be culprits. Since Jojo is fighting off what sounds like an upper respiratory infection (runny nose with mucous), it's not all that surprising that she's also have some soft stool. Excess mucous that is swallowed can also cause some intestinal upset. I do highly recommend that Jojo visits the vet for her runny, irritated nose and loose stool. While most upper respiratory infections in cats are viral in nature and may subside on their own, it sounds like Jojo may be dealing with some other issues that are causing her to not feel well. In the meantime, keeping Jojo's nose clean with a soft cloth and some warm water will be helpful in preventing further irritation. Additionally, putting her in a small room that is humidified (like a bathroom with the shower running hot) can help keep these secretions fluid and moving, instead of getting all gunked up. I recommend doing this a few times a day for 15 minutes at a time. At the vet's office, Jojo will have her heart and lungs listened to. This is very important as some upper respiratory infections, even if caused by a virus, can cause a secondary bacterial infection in the lungs which can lead to pneumonia. She'll have her temperature taken (I'm glad that you are able to check this at home and that it has gone down), and they may want to collect a stool sample to check for parasites. Antibiotics and potentially some fluids under the skin (to help prevent dehydration from all the mucous and loose stool) may be in Jojo's future. These are all things that will help her on the road to recovery, but can only be administered by your vet. I hope that you can get an appointment for Jojo soon! If she becomes lethargic, starts vomiting, or seems to have trouble breathing, please bring her to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away. Good luck, and I hope she feels better!

It sounds like Poppy could have an upper respiratory infection causing her cough, nasal congestion and eye discharge. The lack of pooping probably isn’t related - unless she is straining to defecate I’d guess that she’s not constipated but instead may not be comfortable with the new litter box. She will most likely poop when she has to go badly enough. I would recommend making an appointment to see your vet to determine whether or not she might have an upper respiratory issue.

Poor girl. It sounds very likely Lola has an internal problem causing her to have an accident outside the box as well as a decrease in her appetite. This could very well be constipation, since constipated cats will strain and can often-times get nausea causing them to eat less or even vomit sometimes. I would highly recommend getting her seen by your vet soon to have her fully evaluated via physical exam to see if constipation is the underlying cause for her illness. If it is, then the vet will likely get her on a stool softener and recommend fluids to hydrate her. I hope that Lola's condition improves soon! Best of luck and take care.

Hello. It sounds like your poor kitty is unwell. This could be anything from an upper respiratory infection to some dental issues, such as an infected or abscessed tooth. Most of these things are just too complicated to try & deal with at home, especially if antibiotics are needed. It is always best to have these things looked at as soon as possible before any symptoms worsen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection though something else like bilateral corneal ulcers or even dry eye are possible. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and oral antibiotics and cats usually respond well to therapy. I recommend that you have Deimos evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they agree that based on an examination, that seems to be the issue, they will likely prescribe medications to make him feel better. In the meantime, you may try to decrease his activity and rest him up which may help. Good luck and best wishes!