How Long Can Cats Hold Their Pee?

The average cat’s lifespan is quite a bit shorter than that of humans.

The average cat can live up to 15 years. As a result, your aim as the owner is to keep your feline dry throughout the day.

On average, your feline will urinate every 4 to 6 hours. So, how long can cats hold their pee?

This is an important consideration to keep in mind as an owner. Cats have different biological needs compared to humans; therefore, they require specific care in order to survive.

A cat’s basic needs include food, water and shelter. You may also consider a cat litter box as part of your feline’s basic needs.

In addition to food and water, cats need a way to eliminate waste. If you leave a cat alone in your home for an extended period of time, your feline may soil your home by urinating or defecating on the ground.

Therefore, as an owner, you will need to keep a close watch on your feline throughout the day to make sure they do not soil your home by urinating or defecating on the floor.

How Long Can Cats Hold Their Pee?

Most cats can retain urine in the bladder for 3 to 10 hours.

If you’re comparing yourself to a cat, you’re better off doing your own thing.

Nevertheless, forcing your cat to hold their urine for a long period of time may lead to negative side effects in your pet.

In such situations, the bladder begins to develop crystals known as uroliths.

So, if you’re going on a day trip with your cat, you may want to consider bringing a litter box along for their use.

Is It Dangerous for Cats to Hold Their Pee?

Cats are not designed to hold their urine for long periods of time; therefore, it is not recommended that you force your feline to hold the urine in their bladder for several hours at a time.

Kidneys may become damaged, inflamed, and scarred from prolonged exposure to urine in the bladder.

Urine can burn the urethra and bladder lining when held for long periods of time.

Urethritis may develop due to prolonged exposure to urine in the bladder. In extreme situations, the kidneys may not be able to function properly due to prolonged exposure to urine in the bladder.

Therefore, it is recommended to take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible if they begin to show signs of this medical condition.

Toxins will build up if the urine is not excreted from the cat’s body in a timely manner.

This has the adverse effect of leading to arthritis and joint damage in the cat’s body.

If a crystal blocks the urethra and the cat is unable to void the bladder, serious infections may arise in the bladder.

After 48 hours, the bacterial infection will become resistant to antibiotics in cat’s body.

If this isn’t occurring, make an effort of releasing your cat’s urine every few hours to prevent the development of this medical condition in your cat’s body.

How Long Can Cats Go Without Bathroom Privileges?

Compared with dogs and other breeds of cats, Persian cats tend to urinate and defecate more often and also have smaller litter trays.

Expensive urine testing machines are not needed to diagnose them – they are able to tell you exactly what’s wrong with your cat from the very first visit and avoid any unnecessary test or treatment.

Naturally, the duration varies widely from cat to cat depending on their metabolism, breed, environment and health conditions. However, on average, your cat will urinate every 4 to 6 hours.

Your cat has similar anatomy to a human in terms of kidney functioning, and is able to control water balance and secretion in their body.

Generally, a healthy cat’s body should be able to produce enough urine to last several hours a day without urinating or defecating.

Rethink your trip if you’re traveling with a Persian cat that needs constant bathroom attention or frequent litter boxes.

Can A Cat Go All Night Without Peeing?

Although cats don’t need to use the bathroom as frequently, they can still urinate as often as every 10 minutes or every few hours.

So while your feline friend is sleeping through the day and night, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have to use the restroom at all.

If your cat is awake and restless at odd hours of the night while you are trying to sleep, then you may want to check their bathroom schedule.

How Often Should Cats Pee?

The majority of cats will urinate between 6 and 8 times each day.

However, they will vary from pet to pet and could go longer or shorter periods of time between pees.

It’s crucial for you to pay close attention to how frequently your cat urinates so you can provide him with the right support.

This will let you identify any unexpected changes in your cat’s urination schedule and notify you if he starts urinating less often than usual.

How To Know If Your Cat’s Bladder Is Blocked?

Characteristic symptoms of feline urinary bladder blockage include crying, straining to urinate, and urinating less than 2 times a day.

You should take your cat to the vet if his urination schedule suddenly changes or if he experiences any unusual symptoms.

A blockage or a urinary infection will cause your cat’s kidneys to become overworked and could lead to other complications.

Why Can’t Cats Pee?

Drinking Less Water

Cats do not need as much water as humans do.

While it is helpful to make sure they’re well hydrated, they can survive for several weeks without ever drinking any water at all.

Stress

Cats’ response to stress will be reflected in their urination patterns.

Cats that don’t pee outside their litter box or not as often as they used to could be stressed or in pain.

Older felines might prefer to take more naps during the day and this may affect how much water they drink.

As cats get older, their bladder and urination reflex tend to decrease. As a result, cats may urinate less frequently as they get older.

In certain situations, your cat may not be able to urinate at all due to being in pain due to an injury or surgery.

This is a sign of stress, which should be evaluated by a vet as soon as possible.

Feline Urological Syndrome

Cat owners should pay close attention when their cat suddenly stops urinating for any reason.

Some cats may urinate more often or outside their litter box after consuming sweets or food with too much sugar in it.

Regardless, this is a dangerous condition and needs to be evaluated by a vet as soon as possible.

Can Stress Cause A Cat Not To Pee?

Yes, stressful situations such as moving house or becoming a pet parent for the first time can cause a cat to urinate less frequently or not at all.

Put simply, feline urinary bladder blockage occurs when a feline experiences a sudden or prolonged blockage of the urethra or the urinary bladder.

This usually happens when a foreign object is stuck in the urethra or urinary bladder or when there is a blockage in the urinary bladder itself.

This may affect both urination frequency and how often the cat urinates.

How To Cure Urinary Obstruction In Cats?

Urinary blockage in cats may require a surgery to remove the foreign object or unblock the bladder if the obstruction is located there.

Urinary obstructions in cats generally demand immediate veterinary care because felines cannot drink water for themselves and this makes the condition even more dangerous for them.

When you go to the vet’s clinic, a physical examination will be done and a urine sample may be taken to confirm your cat is experiencing a feline urinary bladder blockage.

They’ll quickly palpate your cat’s kidneys to determine any abnormalities or detectable pain associated with them.

If the bladder is affected then a vet will administer a sedative to intubate your cat’s windpipe to ensure that the animal is relaxed and all.

If your cat is very blocked, then your vet will need to insert a catheter directly into the urethra to remove the object causing the blockage or unblock the urinary bladder.

To check for abnormalities such as tumors or cysts, your vet may use a laparoscope or ultrasound to diagnose and rule out any cancerous growth.

Also Read: Why does My Cat Pee By The Front Door?

Conclusion

Maintaining a clean litter box for your feline is an important part of caring for your feline.

A clean litter box will help to prevent your feline from soiling your home by urinating or defecating on the ground. In addition to keeping a clean litter box for your feline, it’s essential to keep your feline dry throughout the day.

The average cat will urinate every 4 to 6 hours; therefore, keeping your feline dry is crucial if you are to keep your feline from soiling your home.

If you leave your feline home alone for an extended period of time, your feline may soil your home by urinating or defecating on the ground.

If your cat is drinking a lot of water, or urinating frequently, give your vet a call immediately to determine whether your feline may need to see a specialist.

Common reasons for a cat not passing its stool are medical conditions such as: Sugar and starch intake, such as bread, pasta or cereal.

Make sure it is kept in an easily accessible area, such as near the litter box or where your cat typically sleeps.