Cats are not usually easily scared, but since they are highly sensitive, 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 your feline gets scared can also include peeing.
So, if you ever wondered if cats pee when scared, a simple answer is yes. We have created this article to help cat parents around the world who are dealing with this issue. Keep reading to find out more about the causes of stress-peeing and how to help your cat.
The 5 Reasons Why Your Cat Pees When Scared
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There are different reasons why your cat pees 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, it can urinate involuntarily. Involuntary peeing can also happen to humans and dogs. The limbic system is responsible for such a reaction because it pushes the cat to respond to a threat.
When this happens, the cat cannot control the amount of pee it releases, so minor accidents and emptying its full bladder could happen. Commonly, this occurs when your feline encounters something it has never seen before or if it’s too stressed. Your cat is more likely going to pee if it confronts 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 it can do about the issue. Instead, try to calm down your kitty and help them in a stressful situation.
2. Showing submission
Peeing can be a sign of your cat showing submission. It’s a common reaction among felines, especially if you have more than one in your home. Cat conflicts can quickly become quite rough, and one of the cats can become injured.
When things go too far, the cat will likely pee as a way of surrendering to its opponent. If this happens, the feline may keep peeing submissively every time it gets in fights with other cats.
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3. Stress Territory Marking
Felines have a lot of issues when they are overstressed. A widespread problem is stress territory marking. When a cat is scared, it can use different methods to mark its new spots. The most common ones are:
Scratching
Rubbing their head against something to place their smell on it
Using scent glands in their head and feet
Also, both male and female cats may pee when afraid, attempting to make new territory for themselves. Stress territory marking with pee will likely happen if you move or allow your cat in places of the home it hasn’t been before.
4. Comfort Scent
Both people and animals can get comfort from known smells. That’s why some cats may pee when scared. Once they smell their urine scent, they will calm down easier. 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 that their urge to pee due to the discomfort of the unknown is less significant.
5. Not Spayed
Non-neutered cats will likely be more exposed to peeing when scared. As a feline owner, you probably know that unneutered cats love to spray on walls, furniture, or other areas of your home.
If possible, it might be helpful to spay your cat, but of course, this is not something that you have to do.
It permanently removes the very worst pet stains and smells (and truly makes clean-up a breeze).Click here to learn more, order a bottle, and freshen up your home today.
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How to Stop a Cat From Peeing When Scared?
The most important thing is to help your feline to cope with scary situations and stress. Here are some things you can do if you notice your cat peeing when scared:
Discuss the problem with your vet
Provide your cat with more love and play-time
Cuddle with your feline
Create a safe, comfortable environment in your home for your cat
Thoroughly clean any previous spots the cat marked with pee
Clean the litter box daily
Peeing when scared can also indicate that there might be a health issue your feline is facing, so ensure your vet knows all the details about the situation.
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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:
Other cats and dogs
Unknown places and people
Thunderstorms
Firecrackers
Loud noises
Vet visits
Moving
It’s essential to try and notice your cat’s behavior in these sorts of situations so that you can help and calm it down. Below we will talk more about the signs of a scared cat and how to notice that your feline is becoming nervous, scared, 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, it can develop 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?
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You should know how to calm your cat and help it when it becomes 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 buy scratchers, toys, or anything your cat likes so they will have a way to calm when nervous or afraid.
Do not force it to socialize
When your cat is scared, do not force it to socialize. That might have a harmful effect on your feline. Instead, allow them to adjust to new people and situations at their own pace. Your kitty will interact once it feels 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 tranquilize your pet. If your feline is friendly, you can pet or cuddle it to reduce anxiety. If your cat notices you’re nervous, it might have an even stronger reaction and need more time to recover.
Some other things you can do:
Create a routine
Reduce all causes of the fear
Allow the cat to lead the way
Feline 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 some hours to feel calmer.
image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock
Prevent Fears From Developing in Your Feline
Some cats are naturally friendly, while others are reserved. To try and 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 early stages of your cats’ life. That way, they won’t be a stress trigger in the future. Have your feline face other possible triggers so that they will develop positive reactions to new encounters.
Conclusion
As you can see, peeing when scared is a typical cat issue. We advise preventing the problem as much as possible but do not punish your cat. Instead, be there for your kitty, and show that it can rely on you when frightened.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
