My diabetic cat is hiding and pooping outside the box. Should I worry?

I would be concerned by the lack of normal urination in a diabetic pet - they are very prone to urinary tract infections due to higher than normal sugar content in their urine which can encourage bacterial infection. I strongly recommend a urine test to determine exactly what is going on. Your vet may have special cat litter to collect a urine sample or may be able to draw a sample directly from the bladder with a needle in order to investigate fully what is going on

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as it may be an indication that his diabetes is not well-controlled at the moment. I would highly recommend that you check in with a veterinarian as soon as possible to check for this possibility. If this is the case, they can work in getting him to feel better and then possibly focusing in controlling his diabetes better. Best of luck!

Hi there. It's possible that Plaxico may have a urinary tract infection, as this is a common problem in diabetic cats and also a common cause of peeing in in appropriate places. It's also possible that his diabetes is simply not as well-regulated as we would like, which can result in drinking and urinating more than normal and can also sometimes cause cats to have accidents. I would recommend taking Plaxico to the vet for a check-up. He will likely need a urinalysis and blood work to check for infection and see if his diabetes is appropriately regulated on his current dose of insulin. If a problem is found, treating it may help to resolve the behavior of peeing on the couch.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hugo. Yes, I do recommend that he sees his veterinarian. The diarrhea can be a result of his underlying gastrointestinal disease or a separate new problem. He may have urinated outside of the box as he is not feeling well. I suspect his veterinarian will want to test both urine and fecal samples though to determine how best to treat him. I hope this information helps!

If Major had not been urinating or had been in and out of the litter box a lot then it’s possible he could have a urinating blockage which is an emergency. If he is urinating normally but not eating I would still recommend a vet visit tomorrow. Hiding is something cats do when sick. There are any number of things that could have an older cat not feeling well including dental disease, renal disease or other organ dysfunction. I hope Major is better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

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.

Drinking a lot of water can be a sign of kidney problems or diabetes. Depending on your cat's age not using the litter box may be a sign of arthritis (most cats get arthritis by the age of 7) and squatting may hurt, so he would hold his bowel movement until he can't hold it any more and then does not make it into the litter box in time. I suggest you take him to your vet for a blood test and exam and assessment for pain medicine.