A vet provides easy way to figure out how much your cat should urinate every day.
“The normal water intake for an adult cat is 45 ml (about 1-1/2 oz) per kg (2.2 lbs.) of body weight per day,” begins Jean Hofve, DVM, who has 20+ years’ experience in both conventional and alternative veterinary medicine, and author of the eBook, “What Cats Should Eat.”
She continues, “A 10-lb. cat is about 4.5 kg, which translates to 202 ml, or about 7 oz per day (a little less than a cup).
“They will urinate out a little over half of that, 28 ml (1 oz), per kg per 24 hours. (Note: kittens are far more variable, and much more susceptible to dehydration.).”
Other Variables Affecting How Much a Cat Urinates in a Day
Dr. Hofve explains, “A cat may drink more during hot weather or after exertion, but the amount of urine may actually decrease, because the body keeps more of that water.
“Normal feline kidneys have an amazing ability to regulate urine concentration to maintain fluid balance in the body.
“Most cats will urinate 2 to 4 times per day. The key is to figure out what is normal for your cat, and watch for changes.
“An increase in number or frequency of urinations, especially with reduced volume, may indicate bladder inflammation (FLUTD), crystals or stones.
“An increase in number of urinations with the same or increased volume can signal issues including diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and many other metabolic problems.”
Behavior Can Affect Urination Frequency in a Cat
A cat may urinate outside the litterbox due to anxiety or territorial marking.
Stressful situations, such as changes in the household, new pets or altered routines can trigger anxiety-related urination.
This behavior is often a response to feeling unsettled or threatened.
Additionally, cats may mark their territory by urinating in various areas to assert dominance or claim their space, particularly if they perceive other animals or environmental changes as a challenge to their territory.
These behavior issues, though, are about when and where the urine is deposited, and even frequency—but not the volume.
Dr. Hofve says “the amount of urine produced per day does not change very much.”
Now retired from veterinary medicine, Dr. Hofve has researched pet nutrition and the pet food industry since the early 1990s. She has written dozens of articles and has been interviewed for print, radio and television around the world. She is author of the eBook, “
