A cat that keeps squatting in the litter box may be having trouble urinating—or may have another problem, such as constipation. The difficulty is that these can look alike, and a urinary blockage can become life-threatening.
This guide explains what to observe and when to seek veterinary care. You don’t need to diagnose the cause: if your cat may be unable to pass urine, treat it as an emergency.
What to look for
Watch for repeated trips to the litter box, prolonged squatting, crying, restlessness, or licking around the genitals. Check whether your cat is producing a normal amount of urine, only a few drops, or none that you can see. Blood in the urine, urinating outside the box, and more frequent trips can also signal a urinary problem.
Straining can be mistaken for constipation. If you can’t tell whether your cat is trying to urinate or pass stool, don’t assume it is constipation. Contact a veterinarian and describe what you have observed.
What to do
- Observe without pressing or restraining your cat. Note how often your cat visits the box, how long it stays, and whether urine or stool appears. Do not press on your cat’s belly to check for a full bladder.
- Look for urine output. Check for fresh clumps or wet spots if you can. In a home with multiple cats, you may not know which cat used the box; don’t delay getting help while trying to identify the culprit.
- Check for emergency signs. Repeated straining with little or no urine, or an inability to urinate, needs immediate veterinary attention. Vomiting, marked weakness, or unusual lethargy alongside urinary trouble makes the situation especially urgent. A blockage is more common in male cats, but any cat with these signs needs prompt assessment.
- Call a veterinary clinic now if blockage is possible. Tell them your cat is straining and may not be passing urine. Ask where to go; if your regular clinic is closed, contact an emergency veterinary hospital. Don’t wait to see whether the problem clears overnight.
- Arrange transport in a carrier. Keep your cat as calm as possible and take any notes you have about the symptoms. If you know when your cat last urinated normally, share that with the clinic.
- Call your vet promptly for other new urinary changes. If your cat is still passing urine but has blood in it, is going more often, seems uncomfortable, or starts urinating outside the box, contact a veterinary clinic the same day for advice. If urine output stops or your cat becomes very unwell, seek emergency care.
What not to do
- Don’t wait for a complete lack of urine to prove there is a problem. A cat may pass only a few drops while still having a serious urinary condition.
- Don’t give human medicine or leftover pet medication. A veterinarian needs to assess the cause and advise on treatment.
- Don’t try home remedies or force water. These steps cannot clear a blockage, and they may delay needed care.
- Don’t assume a small amount of urine means the danger has passed. Tell the veterinary team exactly what you saw and ask what to do next.
Things to know
Urinary problems can have different causes, and the signs alone can’t tell you which one your cat has. A veterinarian can examine your cat and decide what tests or treatment are needed. A suspected blockage is urgent because it can become dangerous quickly; it is not a problem to manage by watching at home.
It can help to keep track of changes in litter-box habits, but tracking is not a substitute for care when your cat is straining or producing little or no urine. If you are uncertain whether urine is coming out, call a veterinary clinic and describe the situation rather than waiting for certainty.
When a cat’s litter-box behavior changes, a calm observation and a prompt call can help you choose the right next step. If your cat may be unable to urinate, seek emergency veterinary care now.
