How Often Do Cats Pee? What’s Normal for a Cat (Plus 4 Travel Tips!)

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How often do cats pee? It depends on the cat, but the average is about two to four times a day. Some cats may go a little less often, while others may go a bit more. However, if your cat is urinating more frequently than usual, it could signify a health problem.

Cats typically squat when they urinate rather than lifting their leg as dogs do. Some cats may also spray urine on vertical surfaces to mark their territory.

If you’re planning to take your cat on a long car trip, you may be wondering ‘how often do cats pee?’ Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your cat uses the litter box more often than she used to.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about cats’ toilet habits.

How Often Do Cats Pee?

The answer to this question depends on the cat. Some cats may only need to go twice a day, while others may need to go several times. Cats don’t generally drink much water as they get most of the moisture they need from their food.

How often your cat needs to go also depends on their diet. If you feed your cat a dried food diet, he may need to pee less frequently. Dry food contains about 5% water compared to 75% in wet foods. Therefore a cat fed a dry food diet will pee less or drink more water than a cat that eats tinned meat.

You can observe your cats peeing habits by counting the number of wet patches in your cat’s litter. If you use clumping litter, you’ll need to count the clumps. If your cat has suddenly started to urinate more frequently than usual, it could be due to a medical condition, and you should take her to the vet.

What is a normal cat urine color?

Normal urination for a cat is usually clear or slightly yellow and relatively small in volume. If your cat is urinating more frequently than usual and the urine is dark, cloudy, or smells bad, this could be a sign of a medical problem.

Also, look out for changes in your cat’s urine that would indicate an issue:

Bad smelling urine
Increase in frequency
Blood in urine

How much do cats urinate?

The urine volume produced by a cat depends on their diet and how much water they’re drinking. Most cats do small pees several times a day. It’s estimated that over the course of a 24-hour day, an average cat will produce 28ml per kg of body weight. This works out that the average 4.5Kg cat will pee 126ml or about half a cup a day.

What’s important is that your cat’s toilet habits remain consistent rather than the exact amount or number of times they are peeing.

How often do female cats pee?

Female cats generally pee about three or four times daily. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your cat as more frequent urination can signify a health problem.

It’s worth noting that pregnant female cats are likely to pee more often as their uterus presses on their bladder. This may lead to accidents outside the litter box, especially in the last stages of pregnancy.

Related Article: How Many Kittens Do Cats Have?

Sometimes female cats spray to mark their territories. However, this is more common in tomcats. Females that are unneutered, are very territorial, or share a house with many cats may spray as a way to communicate.

Unneutered female cats will also pee more often when they are in heat and will be more likely to spray to scent mark at this time. Scent marking will help the cat attract a mate.

If you have problems with a female cat spraying, speak to your vet. In most cases, neutering will put a stop to this behavior.

How often do male cats pee?

Like females, male cats also pee about three or four times a day. The amount they pee will depend on how much water they are drinking.

As mentioned above, cats spray urine to mark their territory. This is especially common in male cats. If your cat starts spraying urine, you should take them to the vet as it could be a sign of a medical problem. Having your cat spayed will likely stop spraying.

Common cat pee problems

A few common problems can cause your cat to urinate more frequently than usual. Increased urination is known as Polyuria and has many causes, including:

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

This is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract and is one of the cats’ most common health problems. Symptoms include increased frequency of urination, straining to urinate, and blood in the pee. You may also notice that your cat looks in pain when urinating. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Cats that suffer from regular UTIs may have a condition called urolithiasis; this is similar to a person having kidney stones.

Kidney disease

This is a common health problem in older cats and can cause increased frequency of urination. Kidney disease can be severe and lead to long-term degeneration, which causes renal failure. It can also be caused by a sudden trauma, known as acute renal failure.

The initial symptoms of kidney disease include frequent urination, bad breath, and mild depression, which will make your cat lethargic. In more severe cases where the kidneys are functioning at 30% or less, your pet will experience vomiting and seizure, which will cause a decrease in mobility. If you think your cat may have kidney disease, take him to the vet for a check-up.

Diabetes

One of the main signs of diabetes in cats is that their coats lose their shine. This condition causes high blood sugar levels and can make your cat urinate more frequently. Other symptoms include increased thirst, weight loss, and lethargy. If you think your cat may have diabetes, seek help from a vet.

Diabetes is more common in older cats and cats that are overweight.

Stress

Stress can be a significant factor in increased urination. If your cat feels stressed, try to provide them with a calm and relaxed environment. You may also want to seek advice from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist to help you identify the source of the stress and find ways to reduce it.

Litter box problems

If your cat is avoiding the litter box or urinating outside of it, this could be a sign of a medical problem or an aversion to the litter.

If you think there may be a problem with the litter box, try changing to a different type of litter or moving it to a different location. If your cat continues to have problems, take them to the vet for a check-up.

Urine marking

If your cat seems to have control over his bladder but is peeing outside the litter box or is spraying urine, marking is the most likely cause. Cats scent mark their territory and are more likely to do so in areas where people or other pets often sit.

Bladder infection

A bladder infection is similar to a UTI but is located in the bladder. This may cause more frequent urination, blood in the cat’s pee, and pain. Cats with a UTI or bladder infection may also lick their genitals more often than usual.

A bladder infection has a few different causes; it’s often a result of a bacterial infection but can also be caused by stress or a dietary imbalance.

Weak bladder

As cats age, they can suffer from bladder weakness, resulting in more frequent urination and accidents outside the litter box. Older female cats are more prone to a weak bladder and may pee when standing up from a sitting position as they cannot hold it in.

This can also happen to pregnant cats in their last stages of pregnancy.

Traveling with a cat: How long can a cat hold their pee?

If you’re traveling with your cat, it’s essential to be aware of how often they’ll need to relieve themselves. It’s generally best to stick to their usual routine as much as possible.

A healthy cat can hold their pee for up to 24 hours and, in some cases, longer. However, it’s not ideal to make your cat wait that long, and holding urine for too long can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Sometimes cats that are stressed will hide and won’t pee for as long as 48 hours.

How to Have Toilet Breaks When Traveling with a Cat

Four travel tips for taking your cat on a long car journey:

1. If you’re planning to take your cat on a long car journey, make sure you frequently stop so they can relieve themselves.

2. It’s also a good idea to have some wet food available for your cat to eat on the journey, as this will help them stay hydrated.

3. If your cat starts to show signs of stress or anxiety while traveling, try to provide them with a calm and relaxed environment.

4. If possible, take a break from driving every few hours so you can spend some time with your cat and help them feel relaxed.

How often should a cat pee and poo?

How often a cat needs to pee and poo depends on a few factors, including their age, diet, and health. A healthy adult cat typically urinates three to four times per day and defecates once, sometimes twice daily. Cats will often go without a poo for up to 36 hours but any longer than two to three days indicates there’s a problem.

Kittens and senior cats may need to go more or less often. If you’re concerned about your cat’s bathroom habits, it’s best to consult with a vet.

Kittens

Young kittens need to go to the toilet very often as their bladders are smaller. They may need to pee and poo after being fed, so make sure your kitten has easy access to the litter box after a meal to avoid accidents.

As a kitten gets older, it will go to the toilet less frequently.

Elderly cats

Older cats are more likely to suffer from medical conditions that cause frequent urination. They may also suffer from bladder weakness as they age.

How often do cats pee: Final thoughts!

Cats typically need to urinate three to four times per day. If your cat is urinating more frequently than this, it could be a sign of a medical problem, and you should take them to the vet for a check-up.

That being said, all cats are different, and there are often variations in cats’ toilet habits. Monitor your pet and see what’s normal for your cat.

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