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.
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.
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Safe deviations from normal values
In some cases, male cats may exhibit deviations from the norm in the number of urinations per day.
A cat may not pee for several reasons; deviations in consequence do not pose a danger:
- changes in climate, place of residence, owner;
- dramatic changes in diet;
- stress;
- castration or sterilization.
After the animal adapts to new conditions, the urination pattern returns to normal. It takes 2-3 days for your pet to recover from castration. Cats take longer to recover after sterilization - in the first days they walk “little by little” through a catheter.
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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.
Territory
Some cats may have a strong territorial nature and they may not allow other cats to use the same litter box.
If you have multiple cats in your home and you share one litter box for multiple cats, territorial conflict will arise.
A stronger cat will sit in the litter box most of the time to prevent other cats from using it. If other cats approach the litter box, the stronger cat will reach out and look at them.
Weak cats often develop urinary tract problems due to the lack of a litter box. Hence, you need to take due care in this case and introduce new cat litter into your home.
Main symptoms
Signs of urinary dysfunction are visible to the naked eye: the cat pees more often than usual. If the volume of daily urine excretion is exceeded, then we are no longer talking about pollakiuria, but about polyuria. This can be understood by the litter in the cat's litter box.
For example, if you used to change it once a week, and recently - 2-3 times a week, it means that a serious failure has occurred in the cat’s body. For reference: the normal volume of urine excreted in an adult cat is on average 28 ml (about half a tea cup) for 2-3 visits to the litter box per day.
Frequent urination may be accompanied by other signs - increased thirst, discharge of blood and pus along with urine, fever, weight loss. Due to frequent urination, the water-salt balance is disturbed and the appearance of the pet worsens.
The fur on the hind legs, belly, and lower part of the tail is constantly wet, emitting an unpleasant odor. For cats, which are naturally very clean animals, this causes considerable discomfort, forcing them to constantly lick themselves.
It is worth observing the cat's condition. Perhaps the dry food is too salty or she has eaten too much of it. If pollakiuria is associated specifically with the diet, then within a day urination will normalize.
Improper urination
When a cat sits in the tray for a long time, it may be sick. If your cat won't move away from the litter box, she may be suffering from dysuria.
In this condition, cats are unable to urinate properly and this can lead to blood in the urine, increased frequency of urination, unproductive urination, and more.
As they helplessly try to urinate and are unable to urinate properly, they begin to spend most of their time in the litter box. It can also lead to exhaustion, fatigue and nausea as they constantly try to urinate.
Kidney stone
This is probably the most serious reason that can cause this behavior in cats. Bacteria present in the kidneys can cause urinary tract infections, and the acidic nature of urine can form several types of crystals.
These crystals can cause blockage in the urinary tract and can also lead to urinary tract infections. If you suspect any symptoms in your cat, you should take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
This urinary tract blockage can lead to kidney or heart failure within 24 hours. If a cat has intestinal cystitis, the cat may constantly urge to urinate.
You need to be attentive to your cat and take him to the veterinarian if you suspect any of these ailments.
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How can I help the cat?
To help your furry pet, you must first determine the cause of the frequent urge. Do not try to diagnose yourself! In any case, especially if there is bleeding, immediately consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment. In the first stages, diseases of the urinary system are completely curable. Going to the clinic on time is the most important thing you can do for your adult pet or kitten!
If there is a suspicion of diseases of the urinary system, the veterinarian will prescribe a number of tests and other studies:
- blood biochemistry;
- hormone analysis;
- general urine analysis;
- for the presence of acetone and the level of acid-base balance;
- the ratio of the amount of urine and fluid consumed;
- X-ray;
- Ultrasound.
If the diagnostic results reveal cystitis, the doctor may prescribe
- antibiotics;
- sulfonamides (if there are bacteria in the urine);
- antiparasitic drugs (if parasites are found in the urinary canals);
- flushing the bladder with a catheter;
- antispasmodics (to relieve pain);
- diuretic.
Stones and pleurisy on x-ray
If a cat has urolithiasis, you need to contact the clinic immediately as soon as you notice the symptoms, otherwise the animal’s death may occur in 3-5 days. If you contact her late, when your pet no longer walks and refuses to eat, even a qualified specialist is unlikely to help. Remember that urolithiasis is characterized by relapses, so the animal needs constant medical supervision. With timely contact with a specialist, the development of the disease and repeated outbreaks can be avoided.
If frequent urges to go to the bathroom are caused by stress, you need to eliminate their source. To do this, try to remember when the symptoms began and what changes were happening in your pet's life at that time. If possible, reduce the impact of the stressor. This could be an ingrown toenail that needs to be trimmed, flea dermatitis that is treated with special sprays, and other situations that are unpleasant for the cat. However, to be sure that the cause of urination problems is stress and not a physical illness, you need to show your pet to a veterinarian.
When diagnosing diabetes, the form of the disease is important: insulin-dependent diabetes and insulin-independent diabetes. In the first case, the cat will most likely be prescribed insulin injections 1-2 times a day. In the second case, it is recommended to reduce the cat’s weight and follow a special diet that excludes foods containing a lot of sugar. Drugs that stimulate the pancreas are also prescribed.
Other medical reasons
A cat may be sitting in the litter box for a long time due to another serious health problem. Chronic diarrhea or gastrointestinal upset may cause a constant urge to defecate.
You can check your cat's diet to make sure it is not causing diarrhea. If you find no reason for the stomach upset, you should take your cat to the veterinarian for a full examination.
If you have an older cat and she spends most of her time in the litter box, this may be due to severe pain in her bone joints.
This condition is called feline arthritis. The tray should be replaced with a box with low sides. This will help your older cat get in and out of the litter box without experiencing too much pain.
Why does the animal urinate frequently?
If you notice that your animal urinates frequently, this is a signal of some disturbance in the body's functioning. The urge can be caused by diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, urolithiasis), stressful situations. In this case, the cat runs to the toilet often, but little by little and, possibly, with bloody discharge. Also, the reasons for frequent urination may be the fact that the animal drinks a lot of water due to heat or diabetes, as well as marking the territory and urinary incontinence. In such a situation, the animal also goes to the toilet often, but without bloody discharge and with a normal amount of urine.
Cystitis
One of the reasons for a cat’s frequent urination, little by little with bloody discharge, may be cystitis, that is, inflammation of the bladder. This disease occurs in cats aged one year and older, and can occur acutely (several days) or become chronic (months). Cystitis is rare, however, the disease can cause toxicosis, inflammation of other systems and even death.
The main symptom of cystitis is that the cat often goes to the toilet in small portions, possibly with blood or pus. During urination, the pet may meow painfully or twitch. Also, a four-legged friend can pee past the trays, walk hunched over, and often lick the crotch.
What are the causes of cystitis and frequent visits to the toilet by a cat? This:
- improper metabolism;
- sand and kidney stones;
- mineral balance disorders;
- improper nutrition (lack of protein, lack of fluid, overfeeding with dry food);
- sexual infections;
- difficult childbirth;
- cold, draft, etc.
Urolithiasis disease
If a cat often goes to the toilet in small quantities, this may be a sign of urolithiasis. It consists of the formation of stones in the cat’s bladder and kidneys.
Main symptoms of the disease:
- urine is released in small drops;
- a cat or kitten often runs to the litter box;
- in the toilet, in addition to urine, you can find traces of blood;
- constant vomiting;
- heat;
- lethargy.
Your cat or kitten may get sick in the following cases:
- there are viral or bacterial infections;
- the animal receives an excess of food;
- sterilization has been carried out, which provokes appetite, which leads to overeating of the kitten or cat;
- poor heredity or vulnerable breed of cats and cats, for example, Scottish Fold, Persian, Siamese, etc.;
- improper drinking regime (lots of water).
Stress
Does your cat or kitten often want to go to the toilet? Perhaps these are the effects of stress! Stress reduces immunity, which leads to inflammation of organs, in particular the urinary system. Stressful situations occur in the following cases:
- the smells and furnishings in the apartment have changed;
- a new litter box for an adult pet or kitten;
- change of sleeping place;
- switching to another cat food;
- violations of the relationship with the owner (if there is not enough attention and care or, on the contrary, an excess);
- the appearance of a new pet, the fight for territory;
- moving;
- if a cat wants to “walk”, but cannot;
- Irregular cleaning of the litter box, because cats are clean animals.
The main symptom of stressful situations is that the pet often goes to the toilet in small portions with blood or without urinating at all. The kitten is also observed to be anxious, aggressive or apathetic, and shrill meowing. If your pet is stressed and goes to the toilet frequently, this can cause a blockage in the urinary tract, which threatens the pet's life.
Drinks a lot of water
An adult and a kitten may often go to the litter box due to increased thirst. This may be due to heat (drinking a lot and often) or diabetes. In both cases, the pet drinks a lot of water and, accordingly, goes to the toilet more often.
If the cause is heat, this is a temporary seasonal phenomenon. However, if the ambient temperature is normal, and the cat is thirsty and continues to drink a lot, this may be a sign of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a sharp rise in blood glucose levels.
Diabetes most often affects adults (sometimes it affects kittens) and overweight pets. Hormonal imbalances, pancreatitis, estrus, and pregnancy may also be the cause. If you notice that your pet has begun to walk around more often, you should know that this is one of the primary signs of the development of diabetes. Also symptoms of the disease are:
- smell of acetone;
- apathy;
- weight loss;
- vomit;
- increased appetite or lack thereof;
- the animal drinks a lot and often.
Marking territory
Your pet may go to or past the litter box more often not only because of some illness, it may be due to behavioral characteristics. Cats and even kittens love to mark their territory, especially if they are not alone in the house or the owner has brought a new addition. In this case, they often go to the toilet in small portions and in different parts of the house. In the next video you will learn how to stop your pet from marking.
Urinary incontinence
Urinary urges may become more frequent due to urinary incontinence (enuresis), due to which the bladder weakens and urine often leaks, which is similar to constant urges. The reason for this can be age-related disorders, spinal injuries, or stressful situations. Urination occurs as soon as the pressure in the bladder increases. This problem is especially relevant for older pets and sterilized ones.
