What could be the cause of a 3 year old male cat leaking urine?

Question

I have a male cat...He is neutered, and a healthy cat. I have noticed that when he sits or lays down he occasionally has urine "leak' out. He is not spraying, just leaking and he stays in his litter box for a long time when he is trying to urinate. I dont have much money, so I am wondering if there might be something over the counter I could try. If not, of course, I will take him to the Vet.

Answer 1

This sounds like something is wrong with his urinary tract - hopefully, it's just a urinary tract infection, not something worse like crystals...

Take him to the vet. If it's just a UTI, some antibiotics should clear it right up. Sorry, there's nothing you can try first - this is potentially too serious to wait.

Urinary tract problems can turn very serious in cats - in males even more than in females, because they're more likely to get a blockage, which can lead to the body poisoning itself. You don't say if you cat still successfully urinates or not (apart from the leaks) - if re doesn't, this is an emergency, and he needs the vet NOW. If he does, he still needs to see the vet asap, before this turns into an emergency.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

It is most likely a UTI. You should take him to the vet to have a urinalysis done and he will need antibiotics. You should take him as soon as you can, because it is usually very uncomfortable for them (if you've ever had a UTI you know how much it hurts!).

If at any point he STOPS urinating--meaning he is squatting and nothing is coming out, not even leaks--this is a life threatening condition and he needs treatment right away.

Some cats can get recurring UTIs for reasons ranging from crystals in the urine to stones to reasons that nobody knows. After his treatment is finished, keep an eye on him and check the litter box every day to make sure he is urinating.

Answer 4

It sounds like a UTI. For male cats, that can be life-threatening and quickly if not treated. If you take him to the vet right now they might be able to flush his bladder and give him anti-biotics, but waiting could result in blockages developing and when that happened to my baby, he ended up at the vets for a week, and yeah, that was expensive ($1K). Now we're managing the problem with a different kind of food that is a bit more expensive than the middle of the road we were feeding, but he hasn't had a reoccurrance.

Answer 5

Sounds like a urinary problem, possibly an infection. Only a Vet can cure these things. Please get the kitty to a Vet...most will make a payment plan with you.

One thing I will suggest is go for a natural litter. It has been said that males can have issues with the normal (clay) stuff. There is a pine shaving one that is nice: http://www.naturesearth.com/?WT.srch=1&gclid=CInd0sD87YoCFSTCXgodPxjZkA

Good luck and give the sick kitty a kiss for me.

Answer 6

yes its a uti you need to get meds for the cat. call and see if your vet will just give you a sample med. some have that..

Answer 7

Sounds like a bladder infection.

Answer 8

Urinary incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of urination. Normal urination requires that the nerves and muscles of the bladder are working properly. Urinary incontinence sometimes may be confused with inappropriate urination. Inappropriate urination often is a behavioral problem. Diagnostic tests may be needed to distinguish between urinary incontinence and inappropriate urinations.

Probably the most common form of incontinence in cats is called “primary sphincter mechanism” incontinence and is thought to be caused by weakness of the urethral muscle. It is most common in middle-aged medium- to large-size spayed female cats.


Urinary incontinence can have neurogenic and non-neurogenic causes.


(1) Neurogenic causes of incontinence include those that are caused by abnormalities of parts of the nervous system involved in regulation of urination.

(2) Non-neurogenic causes of incontinence include congenital problems (abnormalities present at birth) such as a misplaced ureteral opening (ectopic ureter), over-distension of the bladder due to partial obstruction, hormone-responsive incontinence, and incontinence associated with urinary tract infection.

What To Watch For:
(1) Dribbling of urine
(2) Finding of wet spots where the pet was sleeping
(3) Irritated skin from contact with urine

Finding wet spots in the house does not necessarily imply that the pet is incontinent.

Pets with increased thirst and increased urination may urinate in the house due to increased urine volume and not being able to get to the litter box in time.Straining while urinating and blood in the urine suggest other disorders such as bacterial cystitis or bladder stones.

Diagnostic tests must be performed to confirm the diagnosis of urinary incontinence and exclude other diseases that may cause similar symptoms such as urinary tract infection or urolithiasis (stones or calculi). Tests may include:
(1) Complete medical history and physical examination, including palpation of the abdomen
(2) Urinalysis to evaluate for presence of white cells, red cells, and bacteria
(3) Urine culture and sensitivity to evaluate for presence of bacterial urinary tract infection
(4) A complete blood count and serum biochemistry tests to evaluate the pet's general health and function of other body systems
(5) Plain abdominal X-rays to evaluate for stones
(6) Contrast dye studies to evaluate for congenital abnormalities and bladder position

Treatment:
Whenever possible treatment for urinary incontinence will be determined by the underlying cause. Definitive treatment involves elimination of the underlying cause of the urinary incontinence.

Examples include correction of an anatomic defect, removal of a neurologic lesion, relief of partial obstruction, effective treatment of a urinary tract infection.
In many cases, the cause of incontinence remains unknown after all diagnostic tests have been performed. In this instance, urinary incontinence must be treated symptomatically. The drug phenylpropanolamine is commonly used to treat urinary incontinence thought to be caused by weakness of urethral muscle (“sphincter mechanism incompetence”).
Home Care and Prevention

Administer medications prescribed by your veterinarian to your pet as directed. Allow your pet free access to fresh clean water and frequent opportunities to urinate. Make sure the bedding is clean and dry.

Follow-up with your veterinarian for examinations and urinalysis. If your pet has an inadequate response to treatment, additional tests may be necessary to identify the cause of the incontinence.

Contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of urinary tract infection (e.g. straining, blood in the urine) or urinary obstruction (e.g. painful urinations, frequent unsuccessful attempts to urinate).

Answer 9

possible UTI (urinary tract infection)