As a cat owner, you’ve probably noticed your furry friend run to the litter box when they need to go. But have you ever wondered just how long cats can actually hold it when needed? Understanding your cat’s bathroom schedule and signals can help you keep their litter box clean and avoid accidents around the house.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Healthy adult cats can generally hold their urine for 24 hours and their poop for 1-2 days. Kittens and senior cats will need to go more frequently.
How Long Can a Healthy Cat Hold Their Pee?
Adult Cats: Up to 24 Hours
Most healthy adult cats can hold their urine for up to 24 hours before feeling uncomfortable or stressed. Their bladders have evolved to be quite elastic and accommodating over time. However, just because they can wait that long does not mean they should.
Cats that regularly hold their urine for extended periods may be at higher risk for urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or incontinence later in life according to veterinarians.
A typical housecat urinates between four to six times spread throughout the day. Outdoor and feral cats will go even more frequently since they drink more water while hunting prey. On average, adult cats pee about 1/3 a cup each time.
Some signs that a cat urgently needs to void include pacing, crying loudly, squatting, or going outside the litter box. Cats rely on their owners to provide ample opportunity, so we suggest having one litter box per cat plus an extra.
Kittens: 8-10 Hours
Young kittens under six months old have smaller bladders that fill up faster than grown cats. Most only have control and sensation to wait about 8-10 hours max before eliminating somewhere. If left alone all day or at night, accidents around the house are inevitable.
Luckily kittens need to urinate more frequently to stay healthy, about 6-10 times daily according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA).
To potty train kittens, the ASPCA, Rover, and other cat experts recommend keeping their litter box easily accessible at all times.
Place it in a quiet, low-traffic area and avoid sudden location changes. Buy one designed for smaller cats or line the bottom with puppy pads if needed at first.
Senior Cats: 8-12 Hours
For elderly cats over 10 years old, their maximum pee-holding capacity diminishes due to natural muscle weakness, organ changes, infections, or disease. Bladder stones and masses also press on the bladder wall making storage uncomfortable.
Senior cats tend to urinate smaller amounts more frequently as they age – but still require accessible litter around 8-12 hours given health variability.
Since senior cats use the litter box more, insufficient cleaning or sudden box location/type changes can distress them and cause accidents. Ensure your cat’s favored litter, boxes, food, water, beds, etc stay in the same convenient places day-to-day.
Visit your veterinarian if you notice any potty training regression, blood, straining, crying, or frequent attempts. Catching issues early makes treatment easier for elderly cats.
How Long Can a Healthy Cat Hold Their Poop?
For most healthy adult cats, holding in poop for 1-2 days is generally not a major issue. However, beyond this timeframe, constipation and other health problems can occur. Kittens and senior cats have lower poop holding capacities.
Adult Cats: 1-2 Days
The digestive system of healthy adult cats is usually efficient enough to store feces for up to 48 hours. However, holding for longer can lead to constipation as the poop hardens and becomes difficult to pass. According to WebMD, constipation in cats is considered a pooping emergency.
Signs an adult cat needs to poop urgently include restlessness, crying, lack of appetite, and straining in the litter box. If you notice these behaviors, ensure your cat has easy access to their litter box. Monitoring daily poop habits can also help avoid constipation issues.
Kittens: 8-12 Hours
Baby kittens have very small digestive systems and colons. They usually need to poop every 8-12 hours. Holding poop longer can quickly lead to discomfort, fussiness, and even obstruction.
Kittens also have looser poop than adult cats. Water makes up higher poop percentages in young kittens. This softer poop has more urgency for elimination than harder adult cat feces.
Ensure kittens under 4 months old have 24/7 access to a clean, accessible litter box location. Watch for signs of straining or discomfort indicating a need to poop.
Senior Cats: 12-24 Hours
An aging cat’s digestive tract can face various changes. Issues like dental disease may make chewing food harder, slowing digestion. Decreased mobility can also make litter box access more difficult.
Signs a senior cat urgently needs to poop include crying by the litter box, squatting, and straining. Create easy access ramps and entry holes to accommodate elderly cats. Check for poop every 12 hours minimum.
| Cat Age Range | Max Poop Hold Time |
| Healthy Adults: 1-7 years | 24-48 hours |
| Kittens: 0-6 months | 8-12 hours |
| Seniors: 10+ years | 12-24 hours |
While healthy adult cats can hold poop for 1-2 days, kitten and senior cat digestive systems work much faster. Carefully monitor young and elderly cats for signs of constipation or poop holding distress.
If you have concerns about your cat’s poop habits, discuss optimizing their digestion with your veterinarian.
Factors That Affect Urination and Defecation
Diet and Hydration
A cat’s diet and hydration levels directly impact their need to urinate and defecate. Well-hydrated cats with a balanced diet of wet and dry food will have more regular bathroom habits. Dehydration from lack of water or moisture-deficient diets leads to infrequent, difficult urination and small, hard stools.
According to the ASPCA, an ideal cat diet contains at least 70% moisture-rich food.
Litter Box Setup
Having clean, easily accessible litter boxes encourages cats to urinate and defecate regularly. The number of litter boxes matters too – the general rule is one more litter box than the number of cats in a home. Boxes should be scooped at least once a day and dumped/washed every 1-2 weeks.
Using larger boxes with enough litter for digging/burying feces is also key for supporting natural elimination habits.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions impair a cat’s ability to urinate and defecate normally. Issues like kidney disease, bladder stones, constipation, diarrhea or arthritis can lead to abnormal frequency, urgency, pain or difficulty with elimination.
If a previously house-trained cat starts having accidents or shows signs of straining/discomfort when trying to go, there may be an underlying health problem requiring veterinary attention.
Stress and Anxiety
Stressful situations often negatively impact litter box habits. Changes to their daily routine, environment, or interactions can leave some cats feeling anxious. A 2020 study found cats experiencing anxiety urinated outside their litter box more frequently.
Providing environmental enrichment through toys, vertical space, hidings spots and socialization can help lower stress levels.
Signs Your Cat Needs the Litter Box
Pacing and Meowing
Cats who need to use the litter box will often pace around restlessly while meowing insistently. This is one of the most obvious signs that a cat is trying to communicate that it needs to relieve itself. The pacing and vocalizing occur because the cat is uncomfortable and anxious about holding it in.
Pay close attention if your cat starts exhibiting this behavior so you can direct it to the litter box right away.
Squatting
Another clear sign a cat needs to use the litter box is when it starts squatting on the floor. Cats will often assume the squatting posture when they are ready to urinate or defecate. If you notice your cat squatting, especially on furniture or carpet, promptly pick it up and place it in the litter box to avoid accidents.
The squatting posture may be accompanied by a visible tensing of the abdomen as well.
Restlessness
Some cats become restless when they need to use the litter box. They may wander around the house meowing or repeatedly go in and out of the litter box without doing anything. This signals that the cat feels an urge to relieve itself but can’t seem to settle down enough to do so.
Make sure the litter box is clean and located in a peaceful setting to encourage the cat to take care of business.
Accidents Around the House
One of the most frustrating signs that a cat needs the litter box is when you find urine or stool in places other than the litter box. According to the ASPCA[1], at least 10% of cats have accidents outside of their litter box at some point.
The cause could be medical issues, stress, or dislike of the litter box location or type. To resolve this, take the cat to the vet for a checkup and examine whether any factors in the home environment could be deterring litter box use.
Tips for Helping Your Cat Hold It Longer
Provide Ample Litter Boxes
Cats are territorial creatures and like having options when it comes to their bathroom habits. The general rule is to have one litter box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have 2 cats, aim for 3 litter boxes in different areas of your home. This gives them choices and reduces competition.
Having ample litter boxes can help prevent accidents from happening if a box is already occupied or dirty.
Use Preferred Litter
Pay attention to the type of litter your cat prefers. Some cats like the soft feel of clumping clay litter while others prefer natural litters like pine pellets. Providing their preferred substrate can encourage them to use the litter box more consistently.
You may need to experiment with different litters to discover your cat’s favorite. Scoop daily and change out the litter regularly to keep it clean and appealing.
Give Wet Food for Hydration
Feeding wet canned food can help cats increase their fluid intake. The moisture content in wet food is higher than dry kibble. Adequate hydration allows for more diluted urine which cats can hold longer before needing to pee. Aim for 25-50% of their diet coming from wet food.
You can also try adding some water to their dry food to boost hydration.
Limit Stressors
Stress is a common cause of litter box problems. If your cat feels anxious, they may urinate or defecate outside the box. Try to minimize stress by keeping their routine consistent, avoiding loud noises, introducing changes gradually (like new pets or furniture), and providing soothing activities like playtime and brushing.
Using calming pheromone diffusers can also help relax anxious cats.
Consider a Cat Door
Giving your cat access to safely go outside via a cat door can allow more freedom and flexibility to urinate and defecate. Installing a microchip cat flap can allow your cat to come and go while keeping other animals out. Just be sure to prevent access to plants that could be toxic and keep up with flea/tick prevention.
If you live near busy roads, a fully enclosed outdoor “catio” is a safer option than letting them roam unsupervised.
Conclusion
Understanding your cat’s potty schedule and signals can prevent messy accidents and keep your furry friend healthy and comfortable. Pay attention to their diet, litter box setup, stress levels, and bathroom cues. With a little vigilance, you can help your cat hold it as long as they need.
