Why Is My Male Cat Hissing While Urinating?

Cats, whether male or female, neutered or not, will normally stay quiet while urinating. Hissing or making any other kind of noticeable sound while urinating is a sign that the cat has a physical problem that requires immediate veterinary attention or that there is a strange cat lurking about the cat's territory.

  1. Territorial

    • If a cat is upset about another cat encroaching on his territory, he will spray and vocalize to let the intruding cat know that this territory is taken.

      Spraying can be done by spayed or neutered cats, as well as those not fixed. Females also can spray, but it is not common. Spraying releases only a few drops of urine on a surface, such as a wall or tree trunk. Cats back up to the object that will be sprayed with their tails straight into the air. The tail may twitch as they project the urine onto the object, according to the Cummings School Veterinary Medicine.

    Stop Spraying

    • Cats that hiss and urinate when a strange cat appears will usually cease doing so when the strange cat goes away. If the cat keeps spraying at the same location, it might help to draw a window shade or block access so the cat cannot see outside.

    Urinary Tract Disease

    • Cats with a feline lower urinary tract disease will cry, growl or hiss when urinating because of the pain, according to CatChannel.com. Neutered and overweight cats are more likely to get a FLUTD than cats that have not been neutered.

      If small puddles of urine are found on the floor outside of the litter box and spraying is not observed, this is another sign that the male cat has a urinary tract disorder. He may not be able to reach the litter box in time when he has to urinate or may dribble urine. "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" notes that if the cat still uses the litter box for feces, then he is not spraying to mark territory.

    Warning

    • Male cats are more likely to develop urinary salt, grain-sized crystals, than female cats because the end of their urinary tract has a much narrower opening than that of females. These crystals, made up of mucus and a composite of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate, can block the urinary tract entirely and may eventually kill the cat.

      Symptoms of crystals are the same as for a feline urinary tract infection or disease in addition to passing blood in the urine, according to "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."

    Treatment

    • Cats with urinary tract infections need vet care, which usually results in lifetime diet changes. In addition, antibiotics may be prescribed. Emergency surgery is necessary if the urinary tract is blocked.