Why Is My Female Cat Peeing Standing Up? 10 Common Reasons

Cats are social and active animals. They are kept as pets for various reasons, like keeping rodents and other insects from getting into your home. However, cats may also show some behaviors that might leave you worried. For instance, your cat stopped squatting to pee, or you may be worried about seeing a vertical peeing cat.

The following are ten reasons why your female cat may be peeing standing up:

1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

This is an infection that always affects the urinary system in cats. UTIs can cause pain and discomfort while urinating, leading cats to assume different positions, including standing up.

Cats with a urinary tract infection may associate the litter box with discomfort or pain, leading them to avoid squatting entirely. Other signs of a urinary tract infection can include frequent urination, blood in the urine, or accidents outside the litter box.

2. Blockage in the Urinary Tract

A blockage, such as a bladder stone, can cause changes in urination posture. If your cat is experiencing difficulty passing urine, it may resort to standing up. You should contact your vet as soon as possible since this could be detrimental to the cat’s health.

3. Injury

If your cat has an injury or is experiencing pain in her hind legs or lower body, she may have difficulty assuming the regular squatting position to urinate, making it difficult to urinate while standing up.

Your cat may be experiencing discomfort or pain while trying to squat due to an underlying health issue like arthritis or injury, resulting in an upright posture while peeing.

4. Castration Problems

Even though it is advisable to neuter your female cat to help in reproduction, it can cause a defect in urine passage. Spaying your female cat may alter the position she assumes while urinating, including standing up.

5. Spraying Behavior

Sometimes, cats mark their territory by spraying urine onto vertical surfaces. This behavior is more commonly seen in intact cats, but some female cats may do this as well as a way of marking boundaries.

6. Neurological Problems

Certain neurological conditions can affect a cat’s ability to control its bladder and may cause changes in urination posture. Ensure you visit a veterinarian to assist you in case it worsens.

7. Psychological or Behavioral Problems

Cats are playful and social animals. However, if they are subjected to stress, anxiety, or a traumatic circumstance, it can lead to changes in a cat’s bathroom habits, including urination posture.

Changes in the household, such as a new pet or a move, can be contributing factors to their urinating while standing up.

8. Old Age

As cats age, they may develop arthritis or other joint issues that make it uncomfortable to squat. This could lead to changes in urination posture.

Always play with your cat to ensure its physical fitness.

9. Litterbox Problems

If your cat has faced issues with using the litterbox in the past, she may try out different positions to find a more comfortable way to urinate. One of them could be peeing while standing.

10. Choice

Just like humans, cats have their own unique preferences and behaviors. Your female cat might have simply developed a preference for standing up while urinating. However, you should be careful, as it could also be a result of a defect.

Is It Normal For a Female Cat to Pee Standing Up?

No, it is not normal for female cats to pee standing up. Female cats typically squat down when urinating, similar to male cats.

If you notice your female cat peeing in a different posture, such as standing up, it could be a sign of a health issue, like a urinary tract infection or bladder problem.

Female Cat Vertical Peeing

Vertical peeing in female cats, also known as spraying, is a behavior commonly seen in male cats but can occur in females as well, although less frequently.

The following are three reasons why a female cat may start vertical peeing:

1. Territorial Marking

Cats are dominant animals. They use urine to mark their territory. When a female cat feels threatened or wants to establish her territory, she may engage in vertical peeing.

2. Stress

Changes in the environment, household layout, or the presence of other cats can cause stress in female cats, leading to vertical peeing as a way to cope with their anxiety. Ensure you make gradual changes in the cat’s environment to reduce the stress.

3. Medical Issues

Medical conditions like a urinary tract infection or bladder inflammation could be causing the vertical peeing behavior. If your cat’s behavior suddenly changes, it’s important to consult with a veterinarian for a thorough examination.

Why Does My Cat Pee Standing Up in Litter Box?

Primarily, cats do not naturally pee standing up in the litter box. If your cat is peeing in a standing position, then the following could be four possible reasons behind this behavior:

1. Medical Issues

Your cat might be suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, or other similar issues that might cause pain during urination. The standing position might, in its view, help to lessen the discomfort.

2. Litter Box Problems

The litter box might be too small or hard for them to squat on comfortably. Additionally, if the litter box isn’t cleaned regularly, your cat might be trying to avoid coming into contact with their waste.

3. Behavioral Issues

Changes in a pet’s behavior can sometimes indicate stress or anxiety. If your cat’s environment has recently changed, this could be causing unusual behavior, and hence there is no cause for alarm.

Unneutered male cats or even neutered males in some cases may exhibit spraying behavior, where they mark their territory by spraying urine on vertical surfaces instead of squatting in the litter box.

4. Age and Arthritis

Older cats may suffer from arthritis or other joint issues that make the squatting position uncomfortable or painful. This causes the cat to urinate while upright in the litter box.

Stop Cat Standing Over Edge of Litter Box

Ensuring your cat uses the litter box appropriately can be solved with careful procedures and aid. The following are six ways in which you can stop cats from vertical peeing:

1. Change the Litter Box Location

Cats are often sensitive about where they use the restroom. If your litter box is in a high-traffic location, your cat might feel exposed and unsafe, hence a possible reason for standing over the edge. Try moving the litter box to a quieter and more private location.

2. Add Another Litter Box

Some cats either want more private places to go or do not like sharing, even if they are the only ones using it. It’s recommended to have one litter box per cat plus one extra. If you have only one cat, try having two litter boxes.

3. Change Litter Box Design

Some cats, particularly larger ones, may not feel comfortable in smaller or covered litter boxes. Consider upgrading to a larger, open-top litter box. An under-bed storage box can make a good large cat litter box.

4. Cleanliness

Regularly cleaning the litter box can also make it more inviting for your cat. Dirty litter boxes are a common reason why cats end up standing on the edge.

5. Check for Medical Issues

If your cat’s behavior can’t be remedied by adjusting its environment, there might be a medical cause. Standing on the edge of the litter box can indicate your cat is experiencing discomfort or pain when urinating or defecating. Consult your vet to rule out any medical issues.

6. Training

If there’s no medical issue and the new changes in the environment still don’t work, then you might have to reintroduce the litter box and gradually train your cat to step inside completely.

Is Cat Spraying the Same as Peeing?

No, cat spraying is not specifically the same as peeing or normal urination. Peeing is a bodily function where cats squat to urinate as a way to release waste from their bodies. This usually takes place in their litter box.

On the other hand, cat spraying, also known as urine marking, is a social and communicative behavior. A cat spraying will back up to a vertical surface and release a small amount of urine. It’s a way for them to mark their territory and send messages to other cats.

How Do You Tell If a Female Cat Is Spraying or Peeing?

The following are some of the signs to help you know whether your cat is spraying or peeing:

1. Posture

When a cat is peeing, it usually squats and manages to release a fair amount of urine. However, when they are spraying, they will most often be standing with their tail erect. They might also shake or quiver their tail while they are spraying.

2. Location

A cat that is peeing will generally do this in a litter box, or, unfortunately, on a flat horizontal surface if they have a urinary problem or there is an issue with their litter box.

However, a cat that is spraying will typically do so on a vertical surface like a wall, furniture, or curtains. Spray marks are normally found at the nose level of the cat.

3. Smell

The smell of cat spray is stronger and more pungent than that of normal cat pee because it contains pheromones, signaling chemicals that are used to communicate with other cats.

4. Volume

Normally, the volume of a cat’s urine is gushing compared to a spray when they are marking their territory. Spraying usually results in a smaller amount of liquid being released.

5. Behavior

Often, but not always, a cat will show up to mark the territory. They might perform a treading motion with their hind legs, twitch their tail, and spray urine at the same time.

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