Do Cats Pee When Scared? Deciphering Your Cat’s Behavior

Cats are highly sensitive, which means they can be afraid of certain things in their surroundings. Many cats can freeze up, pull their ears back, show signs of aggression, or hiss as a response. Another common reaction when a feline gets scared is urinating.

So, if you ever wondered if cats pee when scared, the simple answer is yes. If this has happened to your cat, know that you’re not alone; cat parents around the world are dealing with this issue. Keep reading to find out more about the causes of stress peeing and how to help your kitty.

The 4 Reasons Why Your Cat Pees When Scared

There are different reasons that your cat might pee when scared. Some cats might do it accidentally, while with others, it indicates submission.

1. Urinating Involuntarily

When your feline gets too scared or startled, they can urinate involuntarily. Involuntary peeing can also happen to humans and dogs. When this happens, the cat cannot control the amount of pee that they release, so minor accidents and emptying their full bladder could happen. Commonly, this occurs when your feline feels threatened by something they have never seen before or if they’re too stressed. Your cat is more likely going to pee if they confront something bizarre. Some cats can also have this reaction and pee if exposed to loud noises or fights with other cats.

Involuntary peeing is a reflex that simply happens, so your feline cannot control it. We suggest not scolding your cat because there’s not much they can do about the issue. Instead, try to calm down your kitty and help them during the stressful situation.

2. Urine Marking

Felines have a lot of issues when they are stressed and feel threatened. A widespread problem is territorial marking. When a cat is scared, they can use different methods to produce and release pheromones around them.

Both male and female cats may pee when afraid, attempting to make new territory for themselves. Urine marking may happen if you move or adopt a new cat in your home.

3. Seeking a Comfort Scent

Cats can find comfort from known scents. That’s why some cats may pee when scared. Once they smell their urine scent, they will calm down faster. Most cats encounter this issue when they change their environment or if there is a new pet in the family.

It’s important to recognize these signs and try to comfort your feline so their urge to pee due to the discomfort of the unknown is less significant.

4. Not Being Spayed

Non-neutered cats will likely be more exposed to spray when scared. As a feline owner, you probably know that unneutered cats love to spray on walls, furniture, or other areas of your home.

To solve this problem it will be helpful to neuter or spay your cat, and speak to your vet about your options.

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How to Stop a Cat From Peeing When Scared

The most important thing is to help your feline cope with scary situations and stress. Here are a few things you can do if you notice your cat peeing when scared:

Peeing when scared can also indicate that there might be a health issue with your feline, so ensure your vet knows all the details about the situation.

Causes of Fear in Cats

Cats can be afraid of anything bizarre, unfamiliar, or threatening in their surroundings. Most cats have common stress triggers, which easily make them scared. The most common ones are:

It’s essential to try to notice your cat’s behavior in these sorts of situations so you can help and calm them. Let’s discuss the signs of a scared cat and how to notice that your feline is becoming nervous or upset.

Signs of a Scared Cat

There are behavioral signs of a scared cat that you can quickly notice. Knowing how your cat acts when afraid will help you recognize situations in which you need to react and help your feline. When your cat is nervous and frightened, you’ll likely notice these indicators:

If your cat is fearful, they can develop Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), sometimes called stress cystitis, a health issue that can cause even more problems. Try to be alert at all times and relieve your cat’s stress or fear when you notice any of these signs.

How to Calm a Scared Cat

You should know how to calm your cat and help them when they become frightened, and there are many ways to soothe your feline.

Provide Them With Their Own Space

Cats need their own space to feel comfortable and secure. You should create an area where your feline can relax and unwind. You can get them scratchers, toys, high perches, hiding spots, or anything your cat likes so they will have a way to calm when nervous or afraid.

Do Not Force Them to Socialize

When your cat is scared, do not force them to socialize. That might have a harmful effect. Instead, allow them to adjust to new people and situations at their own pace. Your kitty will interact once they feel safe again, so there’s no need to rush their recovery process.

Be Calm in Stressful Situations

If you see that your cat is scared or aggravated, stay calm and try to soothe your pet. If your feline is touch friendly, you can pet or cuddle them to reduce anxiety. If your cat notices you’re nervous, they might have an even stronger reaction and need more time to recover.

Aid in Their Recovery

Depending on how stressful or scary the reason was, felines might need a lot of time to process everything and feel safe and secure again. Regardless of why your kitty got scared, you should be patient and give them space and time.

Do not try to rush the recovery process because that might discourage your cat or scare them again. Your cat will come to you on their terms once ready.  Each cat is unique, so some might need days, while others only need hours to feel calmer.

How to Prevent Fears From Developing in Your Feline

Some cats are naturally friendly, while others are reserved. To try to reduce fears from developing in your feline, you can make a routine from a young age, which will help them cope with these situations.

Try to introduce people of all ages and other animals in the very early stages of your cat’s life. That way, they won’t be a stress trigger in the future. Have your feline face other possible triggers so they will develop positive reactions to new encounters.

Conclusion

As you can see, peeing when scared or feeling threatened is something that can happen to your cat. We advise preventing the problem as much as possible, but you should not punish your cat. Instead, be there for your kitty, and show them that they can rely on you when frightened.

See also:

• Signs That Your Cat May Be Sick
• How to Find Hidden Cat Pee & Get Rid of the Smell

Featured Image Credit: Olimpik, Shutterstock