Why is my senior cat peeing outside box, losing weight, but tests are clear?

Question

Our 14yo cat has recently begun urinating and dedicating in different areas of the house, as well as in her litter box. She is also drinking a ton and urinating 12-20 times per day. Bloodwork and x-rays were completely clear. Vet did not see cancer on the x-rays but she doesn’t appear stressed. However, she’s lost a third of her weight in the last eight months. Any other thoughts? She’s confined to a small area until we figure out an answer. Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Female | spayed | 14 years and 1 month old | 12 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It's interesting that her blood work was normal with that information. If she is losing weight and urinating a lot, it is possible that she could be losing protein in her urine. A urinalysis would check for this. Hyperthyroidism is another cause for weight loss in an older cat. Thyroid hormones are easily tested for but not commonly found on routine lab work - it has to be specifically requested. Another possible cause for the inappropriate urination and defecation in a senior-aged kitty would be pain from arthritis. It sounds like your vet hasn't quite gotten to the bottom of Olivia's medical concerns. I would take her back in for follow-up so they can move on to the next step in diagnostics. Also, we can never completely rule out cancer, since there is no simple cancer test. It can be a little tricky to find if the body isn't showing us specifically where it could be, but I am hoping that isn't what is going on in this case.

Why is my senior cat peeing outside box, losing weight, but tests are clear?

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