The cat sits in the litter tray for a long time

Cats develop unusual habits due to their quirky personalities. They may run around the house, hide in confined spaces, rub their heads against the wall, and much more.

These habits are quite natural for many cats. If your kitten spends a long time in the litter box, you may consider the behavior harmless and accept the kitten as it is.

However, if your cat develops this behavior later in life, you should pay attention to her health. Any unusual behavior may indicate an illness, and you should take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. This article will look at all the possible reasons why a cat sits in a litter box for a long time.

Pathological causes of frequent urination

Frequent urination is often not associated with various diseases of the genitourinary system.
However, it is important for any owner to know how such pathologies manifest themselves in order to provide first aid to the animal and take it to the veterinarian in time

Cystitis

This disease is one of the most common genitourinary diseases in domestic cats. The initial stage of the pathology has no external manifestations, but over time, inflammation of the bladder mucosa causes urination problems.

Any pet owner can recognize the signs of the disease:

the cat often sits down to pee, but there is no urine, or it comes out in small portions;
the animal begins to meow before urination begins, and continues to do so during the process;
the pet often licks the perineum;
the cat has a tense stomach and sometimes starts vomiting;
the animal is thirsty all the time;
urine has changed color to darker;
the appearance of an ammonia odor from animal secretions.

Cystitis cannot be neglected, as it can become chronic. The most common causes of pathology are the animal’s lack of protein food, a small amount of fluid, infection, hypothermia, kidney inflammation, and helminthic infestation.

Urolithiasis disease

This disease most often develops in older or neutered animals. Rarely, the disease is diagnosed in young pets.

If your cat often runs to pee and his appetite has decreased, measure the animal's body temperature. Elevated levels combined with lethargy, vomiting and dark-colored urine almost certainly indicate the development of urolithiasis. Pathology is caused by:

unhealthy diet with a predominance of foods that contain purines, calcium, phosphorus, potassium;
flavored and canned additives from inexpensive industrial feeds;
infectious lesions;
excess weight;
lack of water for drinking;
predisposition to the disease at the genetic level.

Diabetes

This disease is called "fat man's disease." Diabetes most often affects overweight pets. Their body does not cope well with the absorption of glucose, so animals instinctively try to lower its concentration with large quantities of water.

Table 2. Signs and causes of diabetes in cats

Symptoms of the disease	What causes the disease
The cat often goes to the toilet in small quantities, but the amount of urine does not decrease	Stressful state
The animal is very thirsty, regardless of the weather	Disturbance of hormonal processes
The pet does not feel pain during urination (if the disease is not advanced)	Pregnancy
In the case of a long-term illness, the cat’s weight drops sharply, interest in games disappears, vomiting may begin, and appetite changes are observed.	Using inappropriate foods in the diet

When diabetes develops, a cat's breath begins to smell like acetone. If such a symptom appears, it is necessary to urgently show the animal to a doctor.

Cushing's syndrome

This pathology is hormonal and is rarely diagnosed in domestic animals.

To prevent possible illness, it is important to carry out preventive examinations on a regular basis.

The disease can be triggered by treating your pet with corticosteroids or a tumor in the adrenal gland or pituitary gland. Hormonal imbalances lead to impaired cortisol production, which gives rise to the development of Cushing's syndrome.

Signs of the disease:

loss of appetite, rapid weight gain;
thirst;
frequent urination;
development of apathy;
the appearance of defects on the pet’s skin and fur.

Sometimes Cushing's syndrome develops as a result of diabetes. To establish a diagnosis, special tests are performed, urine and blood tests are performed, and the animal is given x-rays and ultrasounds.

Why does my cat urinate often?

Frequent urination, or scientifically called pollakiuria, in a cat can occur for various reasons.

The symptom of frequent urination in a cat almost always indicates serious health problems. Some of them are easy to correct and treat, but there are also those that can lead to the death of the cat. When assessing whether a cat is urinating frequently, one must assume that it is normal for a cat to urinate up to three times a day.

The reasons for frequent urination in a cat can be both physiological and pathological.

To frequent urination in cats

The following physiological reasons may be given::

Stress. When moving to a new place of residence, a cat may experience severe nervous shock, as a result of which the cat experiences a reflex contraction of the bladder. A noisy campaign or a trip to the veterinary clinic also causes stress in the cat.
Mating period. During this period, male cats begin to mark their territory with a small amount of unpleasant smelling urine. Additionally, during this period, the behavior of male cats changes dramatically - they become very restless, twitch their tails, and scream loudly (estrus in cats).
Elderly age. As cats age, the bladder sphincter weakens.
Intense thirst. When a cat drinks a lot, it urinates a lot. At the same time, severe thirst is often one of the symptoms of diabetes in a cat.
Taking certain medications (diuretics, cortisone, anticonvulsants, etc.)
In winter, when the cat is very cold, frequent urination will be the norm for him.

Pathological reasons that cause frequent urination in a cat:

Cystitis . Cystitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, as a result of the presence of an infection in the bladder or mechanical damage to the mucous membrane from urinary stones.

Etiology. Most often, this disease occurs as a result of prolonged hypothermia. This usually occurs in those cats that like to sleep on the windowsill with the window open or near the door (in places where there is active air movement). As a result of complications in diseases of the genitourinary system: pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, damage to the urinary tract by parasites. The presence of both internal and external parasites in the cat (fleas, ticks, lice eaters and helminths). Parasites cause mechanical damage in cats in the area of the external genitalia, and given that the cat’s anus and urethra are almost very close, and when the cat begins to lick, the infection is carried through the urethra into the bladder. Additionally, parasites will release toxins that lead to metabolic disorders and the occurrence of secondary cystitis. The cause of cystitis, which is difficult to treat, can be such widespread infectious diseases in cats as calcevirus infection, chlamydia, and rhinotracheitis. These infectious diseases are chronic and have a carrier form. Mechanical damage to the urethra.

Clinical picture. The cat has a frequent urge to urinate (the cat often sits on the tray or in another place). Sometimes after visiting the litter box, the cat crawls out of it on half-bent legs. We note frequent urination in small portions (sometimes a few drops). When urinating, the cat experiences anxiety and pain. At the end of the act, the cat sometimes makes plaintive sounds. The smell of urine becomes pungent, ammonia-like or purulent. Mucus, crystals, blood, and pus appear in the urine. Sometimes there is a lack of urination. Due to pain in the abdominal area, the cat very carefully turns over from one side to the other. The cat begins to refuse food, becomes thirsty, drinks a lot, and becomes lethargic and apathetic. An unreasonable increase in body temperature (above 39°C) appears. The abdomen upon palpation is very painful, tense and tight, and does not allow touching the abdomen. In severe cases, the cat may vomit (vomiting in a cat), swelling of the limbs, collapse and coma.

During laboratory examination of urine, depending on the severity of the inflammatory process, protein, mucus, epithelium, leukocytes, red blood cells, pus, blood, and salt crystals may be present in the urine. During bacteriological examination, pathogenic microflora is isolated (Escherichia coli, cocci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, chlamydia, etc.).

The diagnosis of cystitis is made on the basis of anamnesis, clinical signs of the disease, results of laboratory tests of urine, clinical and biochemical blood tests, results of cytoscopy, results of an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, results of an X-ray examination of the abdominal cavity. If cystitis of infectious etiology is suspected, appropriate laboratory tests are performed. In case of severe cystitis in a cat, the clinic’s veterinarian sometimes has to resort to double-contrast cystography or excretory urography.

Treatment. In each specific case, the clinic’s veterinarian prescribes treatment depending on the type of cystitis, general condition, and the presence or absence of urethral or ureteral obstruction in the sick cat. Read more about the treatment and prevention of cystitis in our article (cystitis in cats).

Urolithiasis disease . Urolithiasis is a chronic disease of cats in which stones and urinary sand (urolithiasis) form in the urinary tract of animals.

Causes of urolithiasis. Urolithiasis in cats can be caused by two groups of causes, both exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) origin.

Veterinary specialists include endogenous causes: the anatomical features of the cat’s urinary tract. The urethra is quite narrow, which leads to turbulence in the flow of urine, changing its physical and chemical properties and contributes to the loss of mineral deposits in the urine, from which sand and urinary stones can form. When a cat is castrated early, the urinary canal takes on an S-shape, in which urine is often retained, causing urolithiasis.

One of the causes of urolithiasis may be a violation of the hormonal regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism by the parathyroid gland, the hormones of which (parathyroid hormone and calcitonin) affect the content of calcium and phosphorus ions in the blood and, accordingly, in the urine.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enterocolitis), a violation of the acid-base balance occurs due to impaired absorption of nutrients, calcium is retained in the animal’s body. The appearance of kidney stones is promoted by various infectious diseases of the urinary tract and the kidneys themselves.

Obesity in a cat also leads to the formation of urinary stones.

Exogenous causes. Of the exogenous causes, the greatest influence on the occurrence of urolithiasis is the diet that the cat eats. Especially when the diet contains a lot of proteins that are rich in nucleic acids. During the metabolism of proteins in the cat’s body, urea is formed, and during the breakdown of nucleic acids, uric acid is formed. When you overfeed your cat with protein foods, a large concentration of urea and uric acid accumulates in the body. Which in turn contributes to the formation of sand and urinary stones in the kidneys. Urinary disease in a cat can be caused by an increased content of mineral substances in the food consumed when owners feed their cat dry food and canned food, which leads to a lack of vitamin B6 in the body. The formation of kidney stones is greatly influenced by a lack of vitamin A in the diet, as a result of which the cat develops hypovitaminosis A. Pet owners should know that vitamin A is found in large quantities in fish oil, chicken egg yolks, caviar, butter, and other dairy products.

Exogenous causes of urolithiasis in cats include the mineral composition of water and soil, especially the content of calcium salts in it. If your cat drinks such hypercalcified water, then an increased concentration of calcium will form in his urine, which in turn can lead to the formation of calculi in the kidneys. If you live in a region with a hot climate, then your cat will release excess water from the body when breathing from the lungs, with a decrease in the amount of urine excreted by the kidneys. In this case, urine becomes very concentrated, which also contributes to the formation of kidney stones.

Symptoms of the disease. If a cat’s kidney stones are small and there is no blockage of the urinary tract, then the cat’s disease occurs without obvious clinical signs, but the results of laboratory tests of urine and blood indicate its occurrence. During such a latent period in the course of urolithiasis, symptoms can be detected in a cat that not only indicate its development, but also allow a veterinarian to determine the location of the urolithiasis. The cat's owners notice a decrease in appetite, drowsiness, and depression.

When a stone forms in the renal pelvis, a cat develops symptoms characteristic of pyelitis. Owners sometimes find blood in their cat's urine (hematuria), especially after active movements of the cat. The presence of stones in the cat's bladder is manifested by frequent urge to urinate and restlessness. In the case when a kidney stone begins to move along the ureter and causes its blockage, we observe ureteral obstruction. With partial obstruction of the ureters, owners note difficulty urinating in the cat. Urination becomes strained, and the cat sometimes cries during toileting. The cat's urination becomes frequent with the release of a small amount of urine; upon careful examination, blood can be detected in the urine. Additionally, the cat's owners note a lack of appetite, vomiting, and the abdominal area becomes painful upon palpation.

In the chronic course of the disease, the cat may develop a chronic urinary tract infection - chlamydia, mycoplasmosis.

Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention are outlined in the article - kidney stones in cats - urolithiasis.

Diabetes . Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome caused by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with the development of decompensation of all types of metabolism, both acute and chronic.

Causes of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus in cats occurs as a result of insufficient production of insulin by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets of the pancreas, or when there is a malfunction in the body when the hormone insulin produced goes unnoticed by target cells. As a result, the cat's blood glucose levels rise sharply. In a cat’s body, the activity of almost all organs and tissues is disrupted.

Specific reasons leading to this condition in an animal include the following factors:

Irregularities in feeding cats, namely feeding an unbalanced diet in terms of basic nutrients, vitamins and macro-microelements, causing metabolic disorders in the body.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis in cats, flatulence in cats, etc.) cause increased load on the pancreas and ultimately provoke diabetes in the cat.

Chronic liver diseases (liver disease in cats), gallbladder diseases (cholecystitis in cats) are also contributing factors in the development of diabetes in a cat.

Obesity as a result of systematic overfeeding.

Hereditary predisposition (as in humans).

Infectious diseases (calcivirus infection of cats, panleukopenia of cats, chlamydia of cats, salmonellosis in cats).

Invasive diseases (toxoplasmosis in cats, worms in cats).

The use of hormonal drugs to control sexual behavior. Stress (leads to overexcitation of the central nervous system, and through it to disturbances in the functioning of the animal’s endocrine system.

Clinical picture. The clinical picture of diabetes mellitus in cats mainly depends on the type of diabetes mellitus. With the first type (absolute insulin deficiency), the owners note increased thirst in the cat, which is a consequence of the high concentration of glucose in the animal’s blood. The cat’s available insulin is not enough to absorb glucose, the excretory system is not able to process the sugar in the blood and it appears in the urine. The amount of daily urine in a cat increases (polyuria), due to which, as a result of increased thirst, the cat drinks a lot of water. A cat's urination is painless. The cat's appetite changes; it can either increase or decrease. Body weight increases in diabetes mellitus. Upon clinical examination, such a cat has dull fur and constantly sheds (why does a cat shed: possible reasons). Owners note that the cat has digestive disorders - vomiting (vomiting in cats), diarrhea (diarrhea in cats), cardiovascular system - tachycardia appears (increased heart rate). The cat becomes lethargic, develops weakness, and its gait becomes unsteady and uncertain. When a cat develops intoxication, a strong smell of acetone begins to emanate from it, and not only urine and skin smell, the smell can come from the oral cavity (bad breath in a cat). In advanced cases of diabetes, the cat may experience seizures, fainting, and loss of consciousness.

With the second type of diabetes, owners notice an increased appetite in the cat, and as a result, the cat quickly gains weight and becomes obese. The cat constantly drinks a lot of water, and frequent, painless urination appears. The general condition of a sick cat upon clinical examination is usually satisfactory. Unlike type 1 diabetes, the cat does not smell of acetone.

Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention are outlined in our article - diabetes mellitus in a cat.

Infectious diseases affecting the genitourinary tract (feline chlamydia, mycoplasmosis in cats).

Prostatitis . Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. It occurs in cats in acute or chronic form. Prostatitis occurs due to the penetration and impact of pathogenic microorganisms and protozoa on the prostate tissue, primarily staphylococci, streptococci, Proteus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, vibrio, trichomonas and chlamydia.

Prostatitis clinic. Discharge from the penis (clear, cloudy, yellow or bloody). Difficulty defecating, lethargy, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased body temperature, bloating, difficulty urinating, infertility in cats.

Pyometra. Pyometra is an accumulation of purulent exudate in the uterine cavity of a cat.

Causes of pyometra in cats. The appearance of pyometra in a cat can be provoked by a number of factors: trauma during childbirth, childbirth in non-sterile conditions, in violation of the rules of asepsis and antiseptics. Hormonal dysfunction of the ovaries. It develops in cats due to high levels of progesterone and estrogens in the cat’s body; it can develop when taking drugs for estrus (contrasex, anti-sex), etc. With hormonal dysfunction, a cat develops glandular-cystic endometrial hyperplasia, accompanied by the appearance of cysts. The body's defenses are weakened and the cat eventually develops pyometra. Inflammation of the genitourinary system (cystitis, vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis), in which the inflammatory process from the lower parts of the reproductive system enters the uterine cavity. Uncontrolled matings, matings with an untested cat. Infectious and invasive diseases, the causative agents of which affect the cat’s endometrium (chlamydia in cats, mycoplasmosis).

Signs of pyometra. Pyometra in cats can be open or closed. With an open pyometra, the cervical canal is open and pink or brown purulent contents are discharged from the vulva in large quantities. After lying down, the cat leaves whitish spots on the litter, and body temperature increases by 1 -1.5 ° C. A sick cat develops increased thirst, complete and partial loss of appetite, gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea in cats), and frequent urination. The cat licks its genitals every 20-30 minutes.

With a closed pyometra, upon external examination there is no vaginal discharge because the cervix is closed. In the uterine cavity, purulent exudate accumulates, causing intoxication of the body. Body temperature rises by 1-2°C, the cat has no discharge from the external genitalia, thirst increases greatly, appetite disappears, and the general condition quickly deteriorates. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted - diarrhea appears. Damage to the genitourinary system is accompanied by frequent urination. On palpation, the cat's abdomen is enlarged and tight. The cat develops intoxication of the body, breathing becomes heavy, and there is no reaction to external stimuli. In some cats, the development of pyometra can occur very rapidly, and the cat may die before the onset of symptoms of the disease characteristic of pyometra. The amount of purulent exudate in the uterine cavity can reach a liter in two days; the thin layers of the uterus cannot withstand the pressure, and pus escapes into the abdominal cavity with the development of purulent peritonitis. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention in the article - pyometra in a cat.

Urinary incontinence . Urinary incontinence (enuresis) in cats can be more or less pronounced for its owners.

Types of urinary incontinence in cats: Leaking or dripping of urine. This incontinence in a cat is accompanied by the leakage of urine in small quantities, sometimes in the form of a few drops. It is sometimes quite difficult for an owner to identify such a disorder in a cat and it does not always occur to them that the discovery of small wet spots on the carpet, bedding or floor is associated with urinary incontinence in your pet.

Constant or regular leakage of urine. With this type of incontinence, cat owners note that urine leaks out not only in an active state, but also when the cat is resting. With this type of incontinence, urine constantly leaks onto the floor, carpet, etc. as the bladder fills. and the cat is not always able to run to the tray when he feels another urge to urinate. That is, the cat reaches a state when he is unable to control the process of urination.

Urgeal incontinence. With this type of disorder, a fairly large amount of urine is released. Urgeal incontinence in cats is characterized by the fact that this process occurs unexpectedly, both for the cat itself and for its owner. At the same time, the cat with all its appearance tells the owner that this “accident” happened unexpectedly for him. Therefore, owners should not punish him for this.

Stress urinary incontinence. In a state of severe stress, even the healthiest and most well-mannered cat (like a person) can suddenly wet itself out of fear and unexpected nervous experiences. In the future, your cat, under normal circumstances, will no longer repeat such an action, unless it is not exposed to similar stressful situations.

What are the causes of urinary incontinence in cats? Let's look at the reasons why your pet may suffer from a similar illness that is undesirable for its owners. Congenital pathological changes in the genitourinary system. With this pathology, your kitten from birth is not able to control the processes of urination using its central nervous system. As a result, kitten owners, having failed to train them to use a litter box, send them outside. At the same time, a highly qualified clinic doctor can determine more accurately whether there is a congenital pathology using an ultrasound examination.

The presence of infectious diseases in the cat (mycoplasmosis in cats). Often, certain infectious diseases in a cat cause certain problems with urination in the animal, ultimately leading to urinary incontinence. However, it may not necessarily be only kidney damage. There may be general damage to the entire body, for example: feline panleukopenia, cystitis in cats, urocystitis in cats, nephritis, nephrosis, etc.

In recent years, among the cat family, often as a result of improper feeding (the use of cheap low-quality food and as a result of mixing dry and natural food), cases of urolithiasis in cats have increased many times over. In which one of the symptoms in your pets may be urinary incontinence.

Certain malfunctions in the functioning of the central nervous system that occur in cats as a result of an infectious disease, injuries and bruises of the spine, inflammatory processes in the brain itself, etc.

Metabolic disorders in the animal's body. As a result of metabolic disorders, the cat experiences weight gain, diabetes develops (diabetes mellitus in animals, diabetes insipidus in animals), and disorders associated with the urinary system occur, including. urinary incontinence.

Age-related changes. As a cat's body ages, it may experience certain disruptions. The cat is sometimes unable to control the functioning of its urinary system, resulting in litter, floor, etc. puddles or droplets of urine may appear.

Childbirth in a cat. In the case when, at the time of contractions and pushing, the cat’s bladder is full, the cat may experience uncontrolled spontaneous urination. In this case, the owners of the animal simply need to change the cat’s bedding.

The cause of urinary incontinence in a cat can be paresis, paralysis, bladder spasm, tumors and trauma. All of the above reasons, with your help, can only be determined by a highly qualified veterinary specialist at the clinic. Therefore, if you notice certain abnormalities in the functioning of the genitourinary system in your pet, you need to contact your veterinary clinic. For diagnosis, treatment and prevention of urinary incontinence, see our article - urinary incontinence in cats.

Malignant and benign tumors of the genitourinary organs ( oncology in cats ).

Cushing's syndrome. This syndrome is an extremely rare pathology in which a cat's adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of cortisol.

An excess of this hormone in a cat’s body causes the cat to constantly drink and urinate. At the same time, the cat develops a beastly appetite, but its body weight remains the same, although its belly grows. Over time, the cat loses mobility, the muscles become weak and flabby. Changes occur in the fur, which becomes thin and brittle; as a result, with minor mechanical stress, deep cracks and abrasions form in the cat.

Diagnostics. In order to make a correct diagnosis of why a cat often urinates, the clinic’s veterinarian, in addition to collecting a history of the disease and conducting a clinical examination of the cat, will need to conduct additional studies:

Blood and urine analysis.
Ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder and abdominal organs.
Radiography.
Test for hormonal antidiuretic complex.
If a bacterial infection is suspected, culture on nutrient media.

Treatment . After diagnosis, the clinic’s veterinary specialists will provide treatment aimed at the underlying disease causing frequent urination in the cat.

So, for diabetes mellitus, veterinary specialists will prescribe insulin therapy.

If your cat's frequent urination is caused by stress, then first of all we eliminate the source of stress and prescribe sedatives (Stop-Stress).

For other diseases, see treatment in our articles.

Prevention. Prevention of frequent urination in a cat should be based on compliance with nutritional rules of prevention:

Balanced feeding.
Obesity prevention.
Strong physical activity and active games.
For drinking, use filtered or bottled water.
Do not allow your cat to become hypothermic, both in the apartment and during walks.

Regularly treat for worms and vaccinate against infectious diseases that occur in your region.

Treatment for urinary problems

If you notice that your pet goes to the litter box very often - several times a day - but cannot urinate fully. What to do in this case? The animal must be shown to a veterinarian immediately.

In a hospital setting, doctors will be able to remove urine that has stagnated in the bladder, as well as prevent the development of dehydration.

The animal will receive painkillers and antibacterial agents. After the symptoms are relieved, it is handed over to the owner.

If your pet is predisposed to the formation of kidney stones, then he needs to follow a special diet.

Any foods containing salt must be excluded from the menu.
Fresh meat and fish products are completely prohibited.
Milk should be excluded from the diet as it contains a high percentage of magnesium.
It is strictly forbidden to feed pork. It is too fatty and can increase the density of urine, impairing its removal from the bladder.

To avoid “dry litter box” problems, it is necessary not only to monitor your furry pet’s diet, but also to regularly show your cat to the veterinarian for preventive purposes.

What can you do urgently before visiting a veterinarian?

If it is not possible to quickly deliver the animal to a veterinarian, first aid should be provided by the cat's owners at home.

First aid is as follows: a warm compress or heating pad is placed on the stomach and perineal area. The heating pad and compress should be warm, but not hot! You can place the animal in a bath of warm water, making sure that the water does not reach the heart area.

It is forbidden to massage the cat's belly - this can cause serious complications.

Make sure that the cat drinks enough, and if he refuses to drink, force the animal to drink clean water from a pipette. Add some chicken broth to your regular food to increase your fluid intake. Play with your pet a little - this activates the work of all body systems. You need to play carefully so that the animal does not become overtired.

How to calm a cat during heat: 3 ways

A cat's heat lasts about two weeks, in some cases longer. The animal experiences stress 3 times a year if castration has not been performed. There are often cases in which an imbalance of hormones occurs in a cat’s body, as a result of which estrus may occur more often. Regarding cats of oriental breeds, they are more susceptible to displaying love than pets bred in other countries. A characteristic feature of estrus is considered to be the unstable condition of the pet. The owner, in turn, grabs his head, wanting to help his pet.

From normal to alarming symptoms

Until puberty (6-7 months), a kitten usually urinates 2-4 times a day.

Adult animals – 1-3 times. Sometimes healthy cats can walk up to 5 times a day, or vice versa very rarely, once every 2 days (how normal this is will be determined by general health and tests).

In most cases, you can already start to worry if the cat has not peed all day.

Symptoms of difficult and painful urination are easy to notice. The animal wants to, but cannot, empty itself and sits in the toilet for a long time. Shows anxiety, constantly licks the urethral area and meows anxiously.

During inflammatory processes, urine is still released in small portions. You may see drops of blood or pus in the tray. With a mechanical blockage, the animal cannot pee at all. The abdominal wall becomes tense and painful.

Urinary retention leads to life-threatening conditions. Most often, owners worry that the bladder will not withstand the strain and will rupture, but no less terrible is intoxication of the body. In addition to this, stagnant urine is an ideal environment for pathogenic bacteria.

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If the cat does not pee, has stopped eating and drinking, or has become lethargic, you need to urgently find out the reason, provide first aid and not delay going to the clinic.

What should the owner do?

If a cat sits on the tray for a long time and behaves restlessly, but no bowel movement occurs, the owner is advised to immediately take the pet to the veterinary clinic, since only there he will be able to receive qualified assistance. If this is not possible, you will have to provide first aid yourself.

First you need to examine the animal and determine the degree of filling of the bladder. The animal needs to be placed on 4 legs, gently clasped with your hands and the bladder should be palpated perpendicular to the ovaries. If the inflammation is severe, the pet will not allow this to be done.

In this case, the only way out of the situation is to visit a veterinarian. If the size of the bladder does not greatly exceed the norm, the first step is to apply a heating pad or a warm compress to the abdomen and perineum of the pet, which will help relieve painful symptoms.

Massaging the stomach, much less pressing on it, is strictly prohibited, since such actions will only aggravate the pet’s condition.

If the cat refuses to drink or consumes too little liquid, he needs to be given a drink from a pipette. Better yet, give chicken broth, since the intake of food will help activate the work of internal organs and systems. To improve the condition of the animal, you definitely need to talk to it affectionately or even play a little.

It is worth considering that such actions will not eliminate the root cause, but will only weaken the symptoms for a while, so in any case, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian within the next few days.

On a note! Normally, a cat's bladder should be no larger than a nut and soft to the touch.

Safe deviations from the norm

Stress can disrupt a cat's routine.

The animal may occasionally experience deviations from the norm when urinating. The pet can walk small once every 1-2 days. The reason may be:

stress;
climate change;
change of feed;
carrying out sterilization or castration.

As for sterilization and castration, it takes up to 2-3 days for cats to restore function. Neutered cats take longer days because they undergo deep surgery. The first days after the procedure, they go to the toilet through a catheter.

Pathological deviations from the norm

The genitourinary system of a cat.

If your cat has not gone to the toilet for more than 2 days, or urination is difficult, comes in scanty doses, then you should examine the animal.

Inflammatory processes in the body can be accompanied by the following symptoms:

lack of urination;
difficulty urinating with scanty discharge;
it is painful for the animal to go to the toilet, which is expressed by frequent meowing;
the presence of various impurities in the urine (blood, mucus, sand);
apathy, bad mood;
lack of appetite;
elevated temperature;
general poor health (dry and hot nose, hot tips of the ears, pale and unhealthy-looking gums);
swelling in the abdominal area.

Urolithiasis

Frequent diseases in adult cats and kittens may include urolithiasis and kidney disease.

Symptoms of urolithiasis.

They often occur due to hypothermia, as well as poor nutrition, cheap feed, and poor animal hygiene. They affect cats more, both regular and neutered, due to the specific structure of the genitourinary system.

If the animal has no desire to go to the toilet for more than two days, the pet does not feel well, its stomach is swollen, or there are any impurities in the urine, then immediately contact your veterinarian. If the disease progresses, surgery may be required.

Don't forget to change the water in your cat's bowl.

To protect your pet from urinary problems, owners should:

feed your cat or cat in a balanced manner (2-3 times a day);
give clean water;
include in the diet not only dry food, but also canned food, boiled chicken, meat, fish (no more than once a week), dairy products, cereals;
wash the tray thoroughly;
keep the house clean;
do not allow the animal to become hypothermic;
notice changes in your pet’s behavior in time and contact a veterinarian.

The health of cats depends primarily on their diet. As a rule, kidney and bladder diseases often occur in overweight cats.

In addition, food also influences the occurrence of pathologies. It is not recommended to give dry food frequently. Veterinarians advise choosing premium products. If your pet already suffers from urolithiasis, then it is necessary to include appropriate food in its diet.

How many times a day should a cat go to the toilet?

Problems with going to the toilet are one of the most common and familiar to all cat owners. Some people think that their pet goes to the toilet too often, while others think that it goes to the toilet too rarely. And this is really a serious cause for concern, because in both cases such behavior can be a consequence of illness. So, how many times should a cat go to the toilet, and when should you start to worry?

Preventive measures

It is quite difficult to cure the reason why a cat cannot urinate; out of 10 cases there will be 9 obligatory relapses. To alleviate your pet’s condition, preventive measures are important:

Avoid overcooling your cat. The pet should not lie in a damp place, on concrete; if he wants to soak up the sun, it is better to do this on a warm blanket.
Timely vaccination will lead to fewer diseases, which means fewer microorganisms will enter the cat’s body.
A well-designed diet for an animal helps to avoid recurrences of inflammatory conditions in the animal’s genitourinary function. It is necessary to completely exclude all prohibited foods. Even once using a prohibited product can cause a relapse.
Drinking plenty of fluids helps flush out your pet's bladder. Moreover, the water must be fresh and clean, and always be freely available to the animal.
There is a special dry food available for sale for cats with disorders of the genitourinary system.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure urolithiasis in a cat. A caring owner should surround the pet with attention, regular preventive examinations, constant use of medications and a balanced diet. Such measures will help the cat lead a normal life.

First aid

Now let's move directly to the question of what to do, how to get a kitten, cat or female cat to go to the toilet?
It is not possible to induce urination in case of trauma or congenital defects on your own.

For cystitis, urethritis or urolithiasis, first aid is to relieve urethral spasm. No-spa and its domestic analogue Drotaverine belong to the category of drugs that are contraindicated for cats.

An intramuscular injection of Papaverine at the same dosage (0.1 ml/kg) has a similar effect without potential harm.

In addition to spasmolytic, spasmalgon also has a mild analgesic effect (dosage 0.1 ml/kg, IM). Heat applied to the pelvic area will help alleviate the condition a little if the body temperature is within the normal range (37.5-8.5°C).

In some cases, a gentle massage can help your cat empty his bladder. It is done in case of non-critical filling of the bladder and only if it does not cause pain to the animal.

In case of high fullness and complete obstruction, massages are contraindicated. It still won’t be possible to “squeeze out” the stone or relax the urethra, but it’s easy to injure the walls of the organs.

It doesn’t matter whether a cat is neutered or not, if he suffers from urolithiasis, attacks of retention will occur periodically. During the period of exacerbation and movement of stones, as well as courses for prevention, Kot Erwin or Cystenal (a preparation from the roots of madder) are indicated.

They are used to relieve spasms, facilitate the release of sand and small stones of phosphate and oxalate nature. After taking cystenal, the urine turns into a characteristic reddish tint. Courses of treatment 1-2 months

During the period of exacerbation and movement of stones, as well as courses for prevention, Kot Erwin or Cystenal (a preparation from the roots of madder) are indicated. They are used to relieve spasms, facilitate the release of sand and small stones of phosphate and oxalate nature. After taking cystenal, the urine turns into a characteristic reddish tint. Courses of treatment are 1-2 months.

Attention! If the urinary tract is blocked and the bladder is full, it is very dangerous to give a diuretic. It will not solve the problem, but will add water to an already distended urinary tract.

How to tell if your pet has urinary problems

If a cat cannot go to the toilet in a small way, then it will be difficult not to notice, because she moans loudly, meows, and screams in a voice that is not her own. When she does manage to urinate, very little urine comes out. The pet can come up to its tray, stomp next to it, and snuggle up to it. It’s as if he doesn’t dare to go into it; in fact, the cat is trying to help himself go to the toilet to urinate. He does not allow you to touch his bloated belly, like a drum, which is very painful. The pet cannot lie on its tummy. Sometimes there are traces of pus or blood in the tray.

Time alone

Cats may spend most of their time in the litter box to be alone. The litter box is their paradise, where no one bothers them.

If they are tired from the daily chores, they may decide to spend the rest of their time alone in the litter box.

If the litter box is located in a suitable corner of the house, cats can spend most of their time in the litter box. If so, we can confirm that your cat certainly enjoys your litter box cleaning skills.

How to train a cat to go to place

The cat began to shit wherever she wanted, just not in the litter box. What can you do if you notice that your pet has started going to the toilet in a different place?

If everything is fine at home, then perhaps the reason is in the toilet itself:

the tray should be slightly larger than the animal itself;
change the contents in the tray;
do not use fragrances, she may not like the smell;
Clean your cat's litter box as often as possible;
purchase trays with high borates for adult cats, and low ones can be used for kittens;
If a cat goes to the toilet past the tray, then there is no point in scolding him.

Safe Haven

Cats may behave differently when they are under duress or stress. There can be many reasons that can cause anxiety problems in cats.

Changing a cat's fixed schedule can be one of the most common reasons why a cat behaves this way.

The litter box may be the only place in the house where they feel most safe, and they probably struggle to find a calming environment.

Kittens are more prone to this behavior. If they are sitting in litter boxes, the kitten is likely continuing his habit. They may find a small, cozy litter box more comfortable than a cat bed.

How many times a day do dogs urinate in normal condition?

The daily amount of bladder emptying that is considered normal for a dog is influenced by quite a few factors, including:

Age of the animal. In a puppy, the urge to urinate occurs much more often, but as the puppy grows older and the muscular system develops, the body adjusts to longer breaks between “trips to the toilet.” At the same time, in older dogs, due to natural degenerative processes, the condition of urinary incontinence may begin to gradually return.
Sex and fertility (the ability to create offspring). As a general rule, unsterilized males urinate more often than females, but this is not due to the peculiarities of the genitourinary system, but to the fact that the animal uses urine to mark its territory and leaves warning signals for “competitors” and inviting signals for potential partners);
Estrous (relatively speaking, menstrual) cycle in females. During estrus, the blood supply to the female's pelvic organs increases, which can increase the urge to urinate, but the main reason for more frequent emptying of the bladder is the same marks that the estrous bitch, like the male, tries to leave literally everywhere.
Time of year and weather conditions. The cooler the weather, the more often the dog pees, since in the heat a large amount of liquid is spent on cooling the body - through the work of sweat and salivary glands (sticking out the tongue for a dog is a standard way to reduce body temperature).
Type of food. If there is a lot of liquid in the food, the animal will urinate more often. Dogs that eat exclusively dry food drink a lot, but rarely pee.
The amount of water you drink over the next few hours.
Steady state. An adult dog can be taught to empty its bowels and bladder once a day, for example, if the owner cannot walk the pet more often.
Breed and size of the animal. Small toy dogs usually urinate somewhat more often than larger ones.
Emotional condition. A dog can react to any strong emotion, both positive and negative, by changing the frequency of urination, although more often in the direction of increasing it.
Current health status. In inflammatory processes accompanied by hyperthermia (increased body temperature), as well as gastrointestinal disorders (profuse diarrhea or vomiting), the amount of fluid in the body decreases significantly, dehydration develops, and accordingly, urination becomes more rare.
Individual characteristics of the individual. First of all, we are talking about the quality and speed of metabolic processes in the body, as well as the state of the genitourinary system, the presence of chronic diseases, etc.

There are no strict criteria for determining the normal amount of urination in a dog during the day. For puppies, emptying the bladder 10–15 times a day is not a pathology; in adult animals, this can occur during regular daily walks of 7–10 “approaches.”

What can cause such a condition?

Many owners of mustaches are interested in why problems with urination occur? Your pet rarely goes to the toilet for several reasons:

Low urine output can be caused by insufficient fluid intake. A small amount of urine contains a high concentration of salts, from which stones subsequently form.
Hereditary factor. If a cat has had similar diseases in its family, then it is more likely to have problems with urination than those animals whose heredity is not burdened with such issues.
Physiological features. There are cases when a kitten is born with a urinary tract obstruction. This issue can only be resolved surgically.
Improperly managed cat nutrition can lead to heavy urination. Excessive consumption of raw meat and fish, salty and mineral foods can provoke this problem.
A cat may rarely go to the toilet if he is overweight. As a rule, such pets lead a sedentary lifestyle, which can cause poor urine flow.
This reaction occurs after suffering stress. This could be a sudden move, a change of owner, or a trip on public transport.

There is an opinion that cats that eat dry food are more likely to develop urolithiasis. However, this is a misconception; on the contrary, dry food is a more balanced source, the main thing is that the cat always has fresh water available.

The right steps for owners or what to do if the cat can’t pee?

When keeping pets, you often have to deal with the pathology of such a process as urination. Noticing that the cat cannot pee, what should the owner do in such a situation? There can be several reasons for disruption of natural intercourse: from banal sexual overstimulation of a male to serious kidney diseases. The first thing to do in this situation is to immediately provide the animal with qualified assistance.

How to identify the problem

It is more difficult to notice similar signs in cats visiting the street or living in a private home. If your pet exhibits symptoms of urinary problems, you should immediately take him to a veterinarian. There may be several reasons for the development of such a pathological condition of the urinary system.

Diagnosis of the causes of pathology of urination is complex. A urine test is informative, suggesting an inflammatory process, urolithiasis. A diagnostic examination of the kidneys and bladder using ultrasound can reveal the presence of salt formations in the organs and establish urolithiasis in a pet.

First aid for an animal

If a cat can't pee, what can you do to help the animal? Often, when owners discover a problem in their pet, they turn to pet stores or veterinary pharmacies, where I advise them to purchase the drugs “Stop-cystitis” and “Kotervin”. In the early stages of development of urinary pathology, these drugs will relieve pain and inflammation, but such self-medication can be fatal for the animal.

If you notice signs of difficulty urinating, scanty amounts of urine, or blood in the tray, you should immediately seek veterinary advice. The owner should be aware that urinary retention for more than a day is a life-threatening condition for the pet and can lead to death.

Catheterization

In a clinical setting, a veterinarian may perform manual bladder massage. Sometimes this is enough to remove the sand plug. If the massage does not produce results, the doctor performs catheterization. This procedure is the only way to remove urine from the bladder and save the animal’s life. The manipulation can be carried out by a veterinary specialist at home, but it is better to do it in a specialized institution. Before the procedure, the animal is given anesthesia, and in case of contraindications, sedatives are given.

Conservative treatment

Regardless of the reasons that gave rise to difficulty urinating, the animal is given painkillers to relieve pain; in severe cases, novocaine blockade is used. The use of no-shpa and other antispasmodic drugs in the form of injections has a good effect. After the pain is relieved and the spasm is relieved, treatment will be aimed at the immediate cause of the pathology. For urolithiasis, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, agents that absorb salt formations, vitamins, antispasmodics and analgesics are prescribed

Particular attention should be paid to diet

In the case of cystitis and urethritis, treatment will be similar, with the exception of drugs that dissolve stones.

Surgery

Unfortunately, conservative treatment of cystitis, urolithiasis and other pathologies of the urinary system is not always effective. In this case, veterinary specialists recommend surgery. If stones are detected in the bladder, a cavitary cystotomy is indicated, and if they are localized in the urethra, a preanal urethrostomy is performed.

If the cause of urination pathology is sterilization, then the question of what to do to make the cat pee after surgery is by no means idle. In case of postoperative complications, it is better to show the animal to a veterinarian. He will prescribe appropriate treatment and empty the bladder using massage or catheterization.

If the owner notices that the pet has problems with urination, you should not self-medicate. The animal should be immediately shown to a veterinarian, since a full bladder is a threatening condition for the health and life of a pet.

Why do cats sleep in the litter box?

Today we will continue our discussion of the strange habits that cats have and discuss why some cats tend to sleep in their litter box. There are probably many cat owners who have noticed that the cat, having gone to the toilet (or other place where the tray is located), instead of taking care of its natural needs, simply sits in it.

Usually the owner watches and waits for the cat to “get down to business”, but instead of meeting his expectations, she just sits down more comfortably and, turning her tail, continues to sit, only occasionally turning to her owner with such an expression, the word asks him “well , why are you staring, can’t I sit?” The situation is quite common, and, as a rule, does not bother the owner too much. In most cases, this behavior is characteristic of cats only at that stage of their stay in the house, when they were just brought there and in the next few days. Over time, this passes, and the owner forgets about this strange whim of his pet.

Treatment

If a cat does not walk for several days or does so rarely, then a large number of microorganisms multiply in his bladder. At first, the cat should be in a hospital so that stagnant urine can be professionally removed. Using injections, fluid is administered to the pet to eliminate dehydration. The veterinarian also prescribes antispasmodic drugs to help relieve pain and relax the urethra. Antibiotics and antibacterial agents are usually used to help relieve inflammation in the bladder. After treatment, the cat is discharged home, where all care falls on the owner.

Corrective diet

If a cat is susceptible to urolithiasis, then it needs a corrective diet. It is necessary that the food be rich in vitamins B6, A and glutamic acid. Food should not contain salt and minerals, namely:

The cat should have a complete exclusion of salty foods.
Raw fish and meat are prohibited.
The consumption of all types of fish is excluded. Phosphorus, found in any type of fish, is deposited as an excess mineral in the bladder and leads to the formation of stones.
Milk should not be consumed by a pet with urinary problems. The point is the increased magnesium content, which will lead to even worse urine flow.
Pork is too fatty meat, it will lead to thickening of urine, which will further complicate its outflow from the bladder.

The cat should eat special dry food, balanced for animals with problems in the genitourinary system.

Risk categories

Problems with urination often occur in cats that have undergone castration as children. There are cases when urinary retention occurs in kittens, but according to statistics, adults most often suffer from this condition, especially in cats. If a newborn kitten has a problem with urine discharge, then the reason, as a rule, lies in congenital mechanical obstruction of the urinary tract.

What can cause such a condition?

Many owners of mustaches are interested in why problems with urination occur? Your pet rarely goes to the toilet for several reasons:

Low urine output can be caused by insufficient fluid intake. A small amount of urine contains a high concentration of salts, from which stones subsequently form.
Hereditary factor. If a cat has had similar diseases in its family, then it is more likely to have problems with urination than those animals whose heredity is not burdened with such issues.
Physiological features. There are cases when a kitten is born with a urinary tract obstruction. This issue can only be resolved surgically.
Improperly managed cat nutrition can lead to heavy urination. Excessive consumption of raw meat and fish, salty and mineral foods can provoke this problem.
A cat may rarely go to the toilet if he is overweight. As a rule, such pets lead a sedentary lifestyle, which can cause poor urine flow.
This reaction occurs after suffering stress. This could be a sudden move, a change of owner, or a trip on public transport.

There is an opinion that cats that eat dry food are more likely to develop urolithiasis. However, this is a misconception; on the contrary, dry food is a more balanced source, the main thing is that the cat always has fresh water available.