Decrease In Frequency Of Urination

Hi, all! My eight-month-old longhaired male stayed at a cat hotel for three weeks while I was out of the country. It’s been three days since our reunion and I’ve noticed that he’s only been peeing once every twenty-four hours. Before, he would go two or three times a day, and the cat hotel has informed me that he also went two or three times a day while he was staying with them.

He is acting normal otherwise. Eating both his wet and dry food, drinking lots of water, playing, being affectionate. When he does pee, he doesn’t cry out or seem to be in pain. The clumps look normal and are fairly large in size. I’ve also been checking around the apartment and he hasn’t been urinating anywhere else, either.

I haven’t changed the brand of his litter and his three litter boxes are all in the same places they’ve always been, but while I was abroad my cleaning lady rearranged some of the furniture, so my cat did come home to a slightly altered layout. Other out-of-the-ordinary things that I can think of: He was given a 1.5 ml dose of Metronidazole twice a day from April 25 to April 30 because he had some mild diarrhea. It’s also very warm these days, with temperatures in the afternoon hitting 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

Could he simply be readjusting to the change in environment, or could it be a side effect of the medication or maybe even the weather?

Note: I would usually have no problem taking him to the vet straight away, but, as I’ve mentioned, it’s only been three days since he arrived from the cat hotel and I worry about stressing him out for something that might not even be a problem? Basically, I just want to know if anyone has experienced this with their cats and if it would be okay to just wait and observe his litterbox habits for a few more days.

Thank you for reading!

Hi! His poop is normal? Along with setting up a vet appointment, try adding a little warm, or room temperature depending on what he likes, to his food.

This is quite a difference in pee habits, and you're right to be concerned. Try obtaining a calming treat, and use a calming spray on the carrier and the car seat.

If he is peeing, especially the usual quantity, then it cant be a blockage. It could well be a readjustment as you suggested. Just keep an eye on him for a day or so and hopefully he will be back to normal. To put your mind at rest, you could always give your vet a ring and ask advice over the phone.

Hi. If he were reacting to the recent changes he has been through, I would think there would be other signs besides a change in pee habits. Is it possible he contracted an infection while in the cat hotel? The Metro for his diarrhea may not be the correct antibiotic for treating a UTI.

If you would be lucky enough to catch some of his pee in a sterile container, most vets will accept the sample for urinalysis/urine culture so they can confirm or rule out a UTI.

If that is not possible, you might want to consider - as said above - the use of a cat calming product in order to help calm him a bit before the vet visit. Not all work on all cats, but one I have heard a lot about is Bach Rescue Remedy which are drops you can rub into a cat's ear to help calm them before a vet visit. You could also even try chamomile tea bags (standard grocery store variety, German - NOT English, with no additives. Brew it, cool it, and add a couple of teaspoons to a small amount of water to see if he will drink it. The tea has natural calming effects.

I wouldn't wait too long before taking him to the vet or getting the urine sample, as UTIs in male cats can turn into serious issues due to their urinary anatomy.

Furballsmom said:

Hi! His poop is normal? Along with setting up a vet appointment, try adding a little warm, or room temperature depending on what he likes, to his food.

This is quite a difference in pee habits, and you're right to be concerned. Try obtaining a calming treat, and use a calming spray on the carrier and the car seat.

Click to expand...

Yes, his poop had already gone back to normal after three days of medication at the cat hotel but I was advised by the vet to just finish the five-day course.

I’ll start adding water to his food, and that is a great idea about the calming treat and spray. I will buy some tomorrow morning as soon as the pet store opens. Thank you!

verna davies said:

If he is peeing, especially the usual quantity, then it cant be a blockage. It could well be a readjustment as you suggested. Just keep an eye on him for a day or so and hopefully he will be back to normal. To put your mind at rest, you could always give your vet a ring and ask advice over the phone.

Click to expand...

Yes, that’s what I was thinking, that if he were blocked he wouldn’t be peeing the usual amount. Still, I’ll take him to the vet if he’s not back to normal soon. And that’s a great idea about calling... I don’t know why I didn’t think of it?? Lol. Thank you!

FeebysOwner said:

Hi. If he were reacting to the recent changes he has been through, I would think there would be other signs besides a change in pee habits. Is it possible he contracted an infection while in the cat hotel? The Metro for his diarrhea may not be the correct antibiotic for treating a UTI.

If you would be lucky enough to catch some of his pee in a sterile container, most vets will accept the sample for urinalysis/urine culture so they can confirm or rule out a UTI.

If that is not possible, you might want to consider - as said above - the use of a cat calming product in order to help calm him a bit before the vet visit. Not all work on all cats, but one I have heard a lot about is Bach Rescue Remedy which are drops you can rub into a cat's ear to help calm them before a vet visit. You could also even try chamomile tea bags (standard grocery store variety, German - NOT English, with no additives. Brew it, cool it, and add a couple of teaspoons to a small amount of water to see if he will drink it. The tea has natural calming effects.

I wouldn't wait too long before taking him to the vet or getting the urine sample, as UTIs in male cats can turn into serious issues due to their urinary anatomy.

Click to expand...

Yes, his pee habits are the only thing that has changed about him since he got home. I will try to catch some of his pee, but honestly I think I will have better luck getting a cat calming product and taking him to the vet xD Ooh, great suggestion about the chamomile tea, I will try that if I can’t find any calming products at the pet store tomorrow. Thank you so much!

Also, try some MusicForCats . com, he might like it

Update: He urinated twice today! At around midnight and then at nine in the morning. But I was home all day and I noticed that he is grooming himself more than usual. He’s not licking his genital area at all, which I’ve been watching out for, but he’s grooming everywhere else.

The number of times a cat urinates varies, twice a day is fine. Was it the usual amount? Increase in grooming is another sign of stress. Is he eating ok. Just watch him and contact your vet if in doubt.