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Male cat peeing often, now better. Was it dehydration or a UTI?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 4 years and 2 months old | 11 lbs

Male cat was visiting cat litter multiple times within the hour, producing one good amount, and then repeated bouts of small amounts. This happened Thursday night and Friday morning. After vet visit friday was given antibiotic, pain meds and urine acidifyer. Will do Urine Analysis Monday. Was on dry food only. I think all this happened because he was dehydrated. (noticed wasn't visiting water bowl) Now feed wet food and extra water and everything seem to have poofed just that fast. Thoughts?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 20th, 2018

I'm sorry Thor had such problems, but you did exactly the right thing by taking him into the vet. I would be thinking that he may have had a UTI or idiopathic cystitis. These conditions can be treated with antibiotics and pain medications as well as a urine acidifier, and you would have noticed an improvement pretty quickly after treatment. Cats typically are not big water drinkers, but it is very important to make sure they are kept hydrated. You are doing the right thing by feeding wet food and giving him extra water, and I would keep doing that. Monitor his litter box behavior, and if you notice that he starts going back to the box frequently again, he strains to urinate, he tries to urinate but nothing comes out, and/or he howls when urinating, those are signs of a urethral blockage, which can occur in male cats as a common complication to idiopathic cystitis . That is a medical emergency because it is fatal without treatment, so rush him into a vet right away if you see those signs. Good luck!

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