What Compounds Make Up Cat Urine?

Cat urine functions both as a means of waste excretion and as a means of olfactory communication among cats. Each of these functions is carried out by different chemical compounds that are present in the urine, including metabolic wastes, urea, and some amino acids. Analyzing the compounds present in cat urine can also provide insight into diseases and health problems from which the cat might be suffering.

  1. Waste Excretion

    • Urine is the primary means of excreting metabolic wastes. Depending on a cat's diet, their urine can contain varying amounts of sodium, potassium and calcium. These compounds are derived from the breakdown of molecules in the cat's food, and must be excreted before they build up in the cat's body.

    Urine and Urea

    • The most important waste product excreted in any mammal's urine is urea. Urea is a nitrogen compound that results from the breakdown of amino acids, which are present in the protein in the cat's diet. Because urea is highly toxic, it must be diluted with water and eliminated from the body as urine.

    Scent Marking

    • Un-neutered male cats are prone to scent marking their territory by spraying urine on a vertical surface. Scent marking is a means of olfactory communication among cats, and the urine used contains two amino acids that are not present in normal cat urine. These amino acids, felinine and isovathene, both contain sulfur, and as they begin to degrade after the urine has been sprayed the sulfur is released and it begins to smell.

    Urine and Disease

    • Sometimes, a cat's urine will contain anomalous compounds that are indicative of disease. A qualified veterinarian may take a urine sample and test it to assist in their diagnosis. If the cat is suffering from urinary tract disease, its urine will have blood in it. And, as in humans, the presence of glucose is a sign that the cat has diabetes.