How to manage cat incontinence and other urinary problems

If you’ve noticed your cat leaking urine while resting, or urinating outside the litter tray, don’t panic. There are a range of causes, but also effective treatment options that can be recommended by your veterinarian to put both you and your cat at ease.

Ahead, we give the lowdown on cat bladder issues, treatments, and how you can support them at home.

How common is cat incontinence?

If your cat leaks urine around the house, that’s a clear sign of potential cat urinary problem symptoms.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat is truly incontinent, though. What look like incontinence symptoms may be prompted by an underlying health problem that causes increased urination, diarrhoea, or pain when using their litter tray. Leaking caused by these disorders is usually not the same thing as cat incontinence. In fact, true incontinence (leaking urine without your cat knowing) is unusual in cats, and is always a reason to visit your veterinarian.

What are the causes of incontinence in cats?

The cause of true incontinence in older cats is usually related to a weakening of the muscles associated with the urinary or digestive systems, which results in a lessening of control over their bladder or bowel. There can be various reasons for weakness in these muscles, such as diseases of the spinal cord or neurological problems.

These conditions can make it harder for your cat to use their muscles effectively, resulting in bladder incontinence in cats. Therefore, when an ageing cat presents with apparent urinary incontinence, further investigation into the actual cause is important.

More commonly, there are several conditions that can increase your cat’s thirst, such as:

• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Hyperthyroidism

Increased thirst leads to an increase in drinking water – which will mean your cat urinates more often, which may give the appearance of cat incontinence.  Additionally, cats with those conditions are more likely to develop a urinary tract infection, which can cause them to pass pink-coloured urine, urinate outside the litter tray, and also leak urine in the house.

A further consideration is that senior (11+ years) and super senior (15+ years) cats can experience cognitive impairment (cognitive dysfunction syndrome) as they age. This may show itself in your cat as sleeplessness, increased anxiety, disorientation, increased vocalization, and loss of routine.

Cognitive impairment can result in behaviour that’s easy to confuse for urinary issues in cats. Put simply, they may have trouble remembering that the litter tray is the right place to urinate.

Cat urinary incontinence treatment

It’s important to visit your veterinarian if you spot any symptoms of incontinence in your elderly cat. If possible, take a urine sample with you – this can be collected from a clean litter tray using special non-absorbent litter available from your veterinarian.

Your veterinary team will be able to identify the cause and provide you with the best treatment. Treatment options will depend on whether your cat is truly incontinent or is living with another condition, and include a muscle stimulant, which allows your cat greater control over the muscles controlling their bladder or bowel.

To support your ageing cat’s urinary health, there are a few positive changes you can make to your environment, including:

• Shallow-sided litter trays that are easy to get in and out of
• Multiple litter-tray options around the home
• Ensure your incontinent cat is kept clean and dry to avoid skin soreness and infection

See some other ways to support your cat’s urinary health in our guide: Bladder problems in cats

While incontinence in your elderly cat can be distressing, there are ways to help support their recovery and improve their well-being. Visit your veterinarian for further help and information.