How Long Can A Cat Go Without Peeing?

​Have you ever wondered how long a cat can go without peeing? Perhaps you are curious, or perhaps you are concerned for your furry friend. There are a multitude of factors that can affect the amount your cat is urinating, so carry on reading to find out.

Cats can’t exactly tell you when they don’t feel well, but there are ways that you can tell. Lack of urination is a tell-tale sign that your cat may be unwell. So what is a normal length of the tie for your cat not to pee, and when should you be concerned?

You should be aware that cats can go from 24 to 48 hours without going for a pee. However, once it has surpassed 24 hours your cat's life could be at risk.

​This is because a dangerous level of toxins can accumulate within your cat's body that can cause complications and need medical treatment.

Possible Causes Your Cat Isn’t Peeing As Much As Usual 

There are various reasons why your cat may not be urinating as much as it should be, but the most common cause is cystitis. This is a health issue that affects cats, where the bladder is inflamed.

This means that the cat has difficulty passing urine and won’t urinate very often. This illness is caused by a bacterial infection or abnormal pH levels in the urine.

​Abnormal pH levels can mean that microscopic mineral crystals form in the cat’s urine that can block and prevent the flow of urine, hence why the cat is peeing less. 

This is a very uncomfortable and harmful illness that can become worse if it is left untreated. In fact, it could lead to something called feline lower urinary tract disease (also known as FLUTD) which is potentially lethal. You must stop cystitis as soon as you suspect this for that reason.

​What To Do If You Think Your Cat Has Cystitis

You need to take your cat to the vet if you suspect they have cystitis. The longer you wait, the less chance of survival. It will also significantly complicate the condition, so you should take a trip to the vet for treatment immediately.

​Male cats can end up suffering from total urinary obstruction which needs urgent treatment, so don’t wait around.

What Will Your Vet Do?

The first thing your vet will do is perform a physical exam to determine if your cat has cystitis. They will talk with you and ask questions to gather more information so that they can make a better prognosis.

They may also need to run a few tests and even X-rays to confirm if your cat has Cystitis.

If cystitis is found then you will probably be given antibiotics to give to your cat, that should clear up the illness in no time. If the X-ray shows something more sinister such as stones, your vet may need to perform more intricate treatments.

It depends on the size, location, and composition of the stones but they may even need to perform surgery.  Not all stones need surgery; however, some can be dissolved.

​With special diets and medicines the stones may be able to dissolve by themselves, if not, surgery may be necessary.

How To Avoid Cystitis In Cats

Luckily, there are many ways that you can prevent your cat from contracting cystitis. The first is to ensure that your cat always has fresh drinking water available to them and that they also have good quality food and a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

You should consider feeding your cat food that is formulated to reduce urinary pH to prevent the crystals from forming. Additionally, you will need to ensure that your cat's litter box is clean so they aren’t exposed to any excessive bacteria.

To make this easier to eat yourself you should consider investing in an automatic self-cleaning litter box.

​These work by using an automatic scoop that sweeps out cat waste into a designated compartment. These boxes use a crystal litter that helps to eliminate the stinky odors of cat waste!

Stress And How It Affects A Cat’s Pee

Like most animals, cats can become stressed quite easily. Stress is another factor that can cause a cat to stop urinating. Stress in cats can be caused by things such as changes in routine, a new person in the home, or moving to a new place.

​Not only can stress prevent your cat from urinating but it can also mean that your cat changes its urinating habits and ends up peeing in the places that it shouldn’t.

If you notice that your cat is stressed you need to try and locate the source of it. Then you should remove the source and keep a close eye on your cat and look for any improvements. If nothing you do seems to help, you should take your cat to the vet.

​FLUTD - What Is It?

FLUTD, or feline lower urinary tract disease, is a term that refers to multiple conditions that affect the urethra and bladder of cats.

This disease can happen at any age, gender, or breed but is most commonly seen in cats that are middle-aged, overweight, those using an indoor litter box, and those who have a diet of dry kibble. You should look out for these symptoms in your cat:

• Frequent urination
• Blood in Urine
• Painful Urination
• Restlessness and/or irritability
• Urinating where they aren’t supposed to

The most common cause of this disease in cats is cystitis which is why it is extremely important to have that condition treated as soon as possible.

​Other causes include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and a blocked bladder.

Final Thoughts

If you notice that your cat is acting abnormal or experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should take them to the vet immediately. Cats left with these diseases and no treatment are likely to die and suffer. 

So, while a cat can go up to two days without passing urine, it is always best to contact your vet if you suspect that something is up. Healthy cats will urinate roughly once or twice a day on average.