As we discussed, I think that the most likely cause of these signs is a urinary tract problem.  It is not uncommon for cats to have urinary tract problems and it is particularly common in middle-aged, neutered and overweight indoor cats.

There are various causes of urinary tract symptoms, such as for example:

- Urinary tract infection

- Obstruction caused by deposits in the urinary sediment or urinary stones

- Stress, which often leads to inflammation of the urinary tract

Here are some examples of signs that are commonly seen in cats with urinary tract disease

- increased frequency or urination

- apparently unproductive attempts to urinate with frequent straining.

- Often only very small amounts of urine are produced at each attempt

- Signs of discomfort during attempts to urinate and even vocalisation. (Due to this, urinary problems in cats may be confused with constipation).

- Frequent visits to the tray and/or long periods squatting in the tray

- The cat may licks more than usual around the penis or vulva due to the pain and discomfort from the urinary tract

- Urination outside the box, for example on furniture, the floor, or even in the sink or bath

- The urine may be blood stained or appear to be just drops of blood

- Cats may seem normal between attempts to urinate or they may seem increasingly unwell

NOTE - Any cat that is struggling to urinate and seems poorly should be treated as an emergency, particularly a male cat.

NOTE - If your cat cannot urinate at all or only produces drops of urine, and the cat is bothered and shows signs of pain, you should always see a vet for an urgent examination.

In the worst case, it can be a blocked bladder and this can be life-threatening. Blocked bladder is much more likely with male cats as they pass urine through a narrower urethra. Female cats may block but this is very rare.

It is important to find out what is causing the cat's discomfort and often the vet may want both blood and urine samples. X-rays or ultrasounds are sometimes included in the examination as well.

Cats showing mild signs of urinary tract disease should always have a physical examination by a vet and I therefore recommend that you contact you veterinary surgery for an examination as soon as they open again. 

I recommend that you keep the cat indoors while you wait to visit the veterinary clinic.  Then you have the opportunity to observe how and how much urine your cat is passing in the tray. It is best not to give food before the vet visit, if the vet wants to give a sedative injection for a closer examination. The cat may drink water as usual.

A significant proportion of these urinary issues (particularly in younger cats) are caused by stress and your vet may want to discuss ways of reducing this. For many clients this comes as a surprise as it may be the only obvious sign that something in the cat's environment is causing it to be stressed.