You are here:

Cats/13 Yr old (Spayed) female urinated, a red color once

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/18/2009


Question

Lacey
Dear Norma,

I have to senior cats, one male 15, one female 13. both are fixed.
Each has their own litter box.

Tonight my wife noticed our female running from a spot near the closet. She urinated on a white plastic bag. It seems like the urine has a red tint to it.

Normally, she will only go in that closet if her litter box isn't very clean.(It is automatic and is clean)

When she saw me looking at her urine, she got the look she always does when she gets caught(This doesn't happen often at all)

Do I need to wait to see if she urinates red again, more times in order to take her to the vet, or could this be something like passing a kidney stone?

She doesn't seem to be doing anything else out of the norm. In fact she is as playful as ever and has brought her favorite nightly toy out to play with, as she does every night, as I type this.

They have both fooled a vet who estimated their age at 7 and 8, he was 6 years off, Lacey, our little lady friend,[which this is about] and half off, on our good buddy Dakota (15 yr male)and he was 6 years off, Lacey, our dainty lady friend.

We never call them "our Pets" as I feel they choose me as much as I choose them. Both were rescues, and 6-8 weeks at time I befriended them.

Kind Regards,

John

Answer
John,

At age 13, Lacey is geriatric (and very pretty, by the way!!!!).  Like elder humans, elder cats can develop health issues.  I would have her urinary tract checked out by your vet.  You may not see the red tint in her urine when she uses the litter pan, so you do not know if this is a new thing or has gone on for a while.

Please let me know what you find out.

Best regards... Norm.  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank You, Norma! I am making an appointment for her today! I agree. She is so pretty, and stole my heart, right from the beginning. She was a rescue, who a neighbor found in our back alley mewing, without a momma to be seen. Her brought her to me, knowing I had Dakota, thinking I'd know what to do. So little, she fit, and sat in my hand shaking, until I got her into a small, soft blanket, and warmed up a small bottle of milk. When I took her to the vet that afternoon, he told me she might have been 5 weeks! I paid for 1 1/2 weeks of around the clock care, and took her home. She is so loved! I will let you know as ASAP about what I find out. Thanks Again!


  • Add to this Answer
  • Ask a Question

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.