Expert: Jessica - 8/27/2010

Question
Hi, I have a question about my cat. He is 12 years old and went into the vet about a month ago. He got his bloodwork done and the vet let us know that his kidneys weren't perfect, but they said it could just be that he had not drink any water before his appt. They said it could also be a UTI or Kidney Disease. The vet wanted us to bring him back in for a urine sample, but he would've had to stay there and I knew that would stress him out. So, I have looked for symptoms of a UTI on this website: http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Symptoms-of-Cat-Urinary-Tract-Infection-and-What-You...
He has had no blood in his urine that I know of (I know it would be hard to see in our litter), no urinationg outside of the box, no crying while urinating, no grooming of genitals often, I don't think he has been urinating more but I am not sure because we have another cat and they share the same box. It doesn't really look like he has lost weight, his back one sticks out more and is more noticable but he has still got his belly. Are there any more symptoms you reccomend me looking out for? What do you think I should do in this situation? I have read to get him to urinate on something light-colored to check for blood, should I do this? Thanks so much!

Answer
You can try this method.  This might help you determine if there is blood in his urine, but it won't help you determine if he has kidney issues.  I still would suggest trying to collect a urine sample to have the vets send it out for a urinalysis.  That will tell you once and for all if he has a urinary tract infection, dehydration or kidney disease.  

There is a type of cat litter that can help detect irregularities in the urine that can help suggest what type of problem your cat might have, but it cannot replace a proper diagnosis.  The litter is called Health Meter and is available at Pet Smart.  The litter will usually (I stress USUALLY) turn green where the cat urinates if the cat has kidney failure (and also liver failure).  If the cat has a high urinary pH, which typically goes along with infection, the litter usually turns blue.  Of course, if you notice either of these, you'll have to get Tom back to the vet, and the vet will probably still want to do a urinalysis before starting treatment.  But at least it will give you a sense of direction.

Hope that helps!

Jessica