Old cat sitting in the rain :(

[Maxeh]

Hi everyone, need a bit of help.

My cat is 16 and over the last few weeks has been acting a bit odd, he's been to the vets and confirmed that nothing is that out of the ordinary aside from his kidneys being a bit overworked. Due to this he's on a low protein diet.

But today especially, its lashing it down outside and he's just sitting in a puddle getting soaked, seems very odd behaviour.

Anyone else had anything like this with older cats?

[Firefoot]

Do cats overheat? Could this be the cats way of getting a cool down?

[Simpo Two]

Neighbours cat does this a lot, and is diabetic. Whether they are connected I don't know though. Is he drinking a lot?

[Maxeh]

Vet also mentioned diabetes, he does drink a lot but that could be compensating for his kidney problems.

Hate seeing him like this. The vet suggested a urine sample which won't be fun but will try and convince him to use the litter tray.

[omgus]

One of mine seems to love the rain when it is not too cold outside, but she won't even get damp if she can help it in the winter.

[kooky guy]

Mine's not exactly sitting in puddles, but he does love to go out in the rain and get absolutely soaked.

[Maxeh]

He is drinking a lot and crying too, seems his quality of life isn't too great

[Simpo Two]

They could do a skin prick (like humans) and read the blood sugar directly.

[Mobile Chicane]

Vets suggest getting a urine sample from cats (via plastic litter in a tray) as it is less stressful for the cat than taking it to the surgery for bloods.

However, it sounds as though yours needs to be seen promptly. Rather than pissing around (pardon the pun) with urine samples - especially if the cat isn't a habitual litter tray user - I'd take it in.

[Simpo Two]

asap

[Maxeh]

Sorry, the vet got that conclusion from a blood test he did on him.

He said an additional urine test may be able to tell more?

[Morningside]

Maybe its the same sort of thing:
Our dog has liver cancer and due to the chemicals not flushing out of the body they are 'back logging' and starting to head to the brain giving a 'drunk' effect as the vet calls it.

She sometimes sits under a bush all day or (like yours) I have took her in as she was sitting outside in the pouring rain really not having a clue where she was.

[blueheron]

Before our cat passed away last year from a type of oral cancer, he took to sleeping bang in the middle of the back lawn. He hadn't done that before, was rather odd. We didn't know he was ill at the time though