What this means
Cats normally urinate quietly. If a cat cries, moans or yowls on its way to the box, in it or on leaving it, it almost always means that urinating hurts. Sometimes the sound is heard only once, but it is still a signal that should not be ignored.
The most important thing is to tell whether the cat then passes urine. If it cries, strains and passes little or nothing, the urinary tract may be blocked. This is especially dangerous for a male cat, but a female can be affected too. Urine builds up, the cat weakens, and its life can be in danger within hours, so go to a vet straight away.
Cats hide pain, so the sound may be the only sign you notice. Watch as well whether the cat licks its genital area a lot, whether there is blood in the urine, and whether its appetite or behaviour has changed. Do not wait for the pain to go away by itself.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Bladder stones
Rough stones or grit irritate the bladder wall and cause pain when urinating. A stone can slip into the urethra and block it.
About the condition: Bladder stones -
A blocked urinary tract
A plug in the urethra causes severe pain and holds urine back. It is life-threatening, male cats above all.
About the condition: Urethral blockage -
Inflammation or irritation of the bladder
An inflamed bladder hurts, and the cat visits the box often and passes small amounts, sometimes with blood.
About the condition: Cystitis and FLUTD -
Urinary tract infection
An infection irritates the urinary tract and causes pain. Only tests can tell it from the other causes.
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Other pain in the urinary or genital area
Other damage or inflammation in this area can also cause pain. A vet finds the exact place on examination.
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Pain from an injury
After a fall or a blow, urinating may hurt because of damage. In that case seek help urgently.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- When the cat cries: on the way to the box, in it or after urinating
- Whether it then passes urine, and how many clumps appear
- Whether it strains, and how many times an hour it returns to the box
- Whether it licks its genital area a lot
- Whether the urine is pink or bloody
- Whether it is eating, hiding or looks weak
When to book a routine visit
When a cat cries while urinating, contact a vet the same day. If little or no urine comes, go straight away, at any hour of the day or night.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Bladder stones Kidneys and urinary tract Hard, stone-like lumps of minerals that form in the bladder. They rub against its lining and make passing urine painful, and a stone or grit that slips into the urethra can block it completely, which is an emergency.
- Cystitis and FLUTD Kidneys and urinary tract Inflammation of the bladder, which makes passing urine painful and sends the cat back to the litter box again and again. In cats it does not only come from stones or infection: sometimes no clear cause is found, and the signs flare up after stress.
- Urethral blockage Kidneys and urinary tract A condition in which the urethra, the narrow tube that carries urine out of the bladder, is blocked by a plug or a small stone, and the cat can no longer pass urine. It is an emergency that can threaten life within hours.
Body systems: Kidneys and urinary tract