As a professional pet sitter, as well as a pet parent, I know the importance of monitoring the health of the animals in my care. One of the primary ways I do this, is by paying attention to the food and water intake of the pet as well as the elimination, as urine and stool. The input and output give us a lot of important information as to the pet's general well-being. Input can be monitored by seeing how much of the food and water you offer the cat has actually been consumed. Output for a cat is monitored by checking what has been deposited in the litter box and observing litter box habits. Because the litter box is such an important tool in staying on top of the cat's state of wellness, I do not like or support the use of the automatic litter boxes that wipe the waste away just minutes after the box is used. It makes it extremely difficult to tell what is going on.
The litter box will not only tell you the amount of urine (best seen with clumping litter), but also if there is any blood in the urine or the feces. This is critical as blood is an indication of a problem. The amount of output of urine also tells a story. If the cat is drinking a lot of water and producing a lot of urine, this could be indicative of an underlying condition, particularly in senior cats. An excess in these two areas could suggest diabetes, thyroid problems or kidney issues. I highly recommend that if you notice this habit in your older cat, you get a checkup and blood panel done as soon as possible. Another thing to be aware of is the frequency of your cat's trips to the litter box, especially a male cat; as well as the production of urine at each trip. If your male cat is going to the litter box and spending an unusual amount of time waiting for urine to come out, or going back and forth to it every few minutes, he could have a blockage in his urethra, a potentially life-threatening situation. If you notice this, get your cat to the Vet or an emergency clinic as soon as possible.

If your kitty is peeing outside of the litter box, and this is a relatively new happening, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. not uncommon in both male and female cats. A trip to the Vet is required for this and they are usually put on an antibiotic to clear up the infection.
As you can see, the litter box is more than just a kitty toilet but an important key to the overall well-being of your feline. Please pay attention!
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