Step1
WHY No. 1 - Cat is NOT spayed or neutered.
Unaltered male cats (or Tom cats) use spraying to mark their territory and warn other outside Toms to “bug off”. Tom cat spraying involves mainly spraying urine UP on a wall or door, not on the floor (although dripping may occur giving the impression the cat urinated on the floor). I have dealt with several Tom cats spraying and each one stopped spraying (and being aggressive) after he was neutered.
Unaltered female cats sometimes (not common) when in heat leave a puddle of “musky urine” on the floor or in favorite spots to alert Tom cats they want to “get-some-loving”. This urine usually doesn’t have that overpowering pure cat urine smell to it. Altered females almost always stop this behavior problem and also all the "yowling" that comes with a female cat in heat.
The simple solution is to obviously, get your pet spayed or neutered. Altering your pet also extends the life expediency and health of your pet as well as preventing those surprise unwanted litters. It is the best gift a responsible pet owner can give to their pet and seeing barrels of euthanized pets because of not enough homes, you would be saving lives and preventing suffering and lives wasted.
Step2
WHY No. 2 - Cat is sick!
I have found this to be the main reason why cats go outside of their litter box. Urinary problems are often the cause. A cat knows something is wrong, so they tend to avoid the areas that they frequent most often—like the kitty litter box, favorite sleeping area or food area. Notice that most of the areas where the cat had their “accidents” were away from these common visiting grounds…usually these “accidents” are in a corner or behind something.
When a cat has a urinary problem, they sometimes cannot “hold-it-in” long enough to get to the litter box. This may explain “accidents” on the bed, on the couch or in the middle of the room.
There maybe other medical reasons why your pet is going outside of the litter box but in my experience, it should be address immediately before it gets worse and treatment gets more complicated and expensive. Most of the time when a cat had a urinary infection, the Vet prescribed antibiotics and/or a special food to feed the cat until the infection clears up. The cost usually was minimal. But keep this in mind…the more your pet suffers (the illness) the more your wallet will also. So first sign of litter box non-conformance – GET THEM TO THE VET and rule out a medical problem!
Step3
WHY No. 3 – Stressed Out Cat or Overly Excited Cat!
Anything can stress out a cat. This is the hardest of the WHY your cat is urinating outside of the litter box to fix. Change is going to happen and the key is to think on how you can help your kitty accept it.
You have to look around and take note of what has changed in your pet’s environment. This could be a big change like a move to a new house or as simple as the moving of the litter box or changing the brand of kitty litter. Cats hate change! And they will show it.
Step4
Amazing Product: Before I tell you what this product is, I need to explain something to you. Did you know that when a cat rubs affectionately against you or any of your furniture or walls, the cat is actually marking you with an odorless scent that only cats can smell? Especially when it rubs it’s head on you. I call this Kitty Hugs. This scent is telling other cats that “This is a nice safe spot.” or “I really approve of this area.” and “This human gives good food and cleans my kitty litter and is an all-around good cat-slave.” Any other cat who picks up on this “good scent” is most likely going to get the signal too and feel all happy and calm. This scent tells a cat that “all is well and you are safe” and therefore; stress is low and contentment is high. Just take notice next time when your kitty is giving you Kitty Hugs. Happy kitty right?
Now when a cat scratches or sprays urine, it leaves a scent also. Needless to say, the urine is not as odorless as the scratching. These scents are the territorial and aggression triggers that warn and stir up trouble in felines. If a cat sprays or scratches in one spot the scent is also telling other cats they can spray and scratch there also. Ever notice that after a cat scratches a post (or furniture) its energy is heightened and it springs away to attack a toy or sprint around the house? That is the ‘bad scent” working.
Now what if you could take that “good scent” and bottle it and spray it over the “bad scent”? The shredded Lazy-Boy would become a cat-Zen-like area where calm and peace surround and scratching and spraying are prohibited. Well folks…believe it or not…that “good scent” has been bottled and is available!
It is called Feliway and for me, in a small house, with 10 cats…it is liquid gold! If you believe that your cat is spraying / urinating because it is stress or excited, my advice would to first try this product. I usually buy mine on eBay but have gladly paid full price for this product. It smells rather pleasant and doesn’t leave any residue.
Step5
When using Feliway, in the case of cat urine, I clean the area with vinegar and water (no harsh chemicals). Let it dry and air out for a day or two. Then spray Feliway directly on the spot and the surrounding areas. Matter-in-fact, I spray Feliway all over when I feel a change may affect my cats or just to “keep up the good feelings in the air”. This has visibly reduced the stress in my cats immensely.
Step6
New Pet/Cat: Remembering that your new pet (cat or dog) is also going through a change and this works both ways. Don’t just toss him in the middle and hope that no fur will fly. Use a cage / crate, utility room, bathroom, or any other containment place where you can keep the new pet in for a few days with food / water / litter box. If you have Feliway, spray it in the crate / room and the areas outside for your pets. Open the door a crack and let new pet and established pets sniff each other. Do it a couple times a day. Let your pets get use to the newbie slowly and introduce the new scent
Step7
New Humans/Kids: Place your pet(s) in a quiet room and have the new person go in with interactive toys (feather stick, rod and string, etc.) and treats—you can be present also. This is important…have the person sit on the ground (standing intimidates the cat) so the person is at the cat’s level. Start “fishing” with the toys and treats and wait for the pets to COME TO THE NEW PERSON!
Children have to be quiet and patient. No grabbing to pick up or sudden movements. More timid cats take longer but don’t give up. If the cat doesn’t come to you, slowly get up (taking treats and toys) and leave and come back later. Calm and patient bonding with the new guy/gal is very important and in the long run, will be worth it. And again, if you have Feliway, lightly spray the new person’s clothes with it and also the room.
Step8
Litter Box Moves / Change of Litter: If there is someway you can put your cats in the room where the litter box is and shut them in (with food and water) so they are forced to acknowledge the new location of the box, this would be good. Also go into the room and play and socialize with your pets in this area. It will give them warm-fuzzy-feelings about the area and associate it with good vibes. And yes, Feliway if you have it.
Some picky cats sometimes will not use the litter box because you change the brand of litter. Really! Using the method above should help the cat learn to accept this change. If not, you may need to switch back to the old brand of kitty litter.
Step9
New house: This is a preventive measure to DO BEFORE there is a problem with a cat not using the litter box. Just dumping a cat into a new environment can cause considerable stress and confusion.
Treat your pet as if you were bringing a new pet into a household (see above). If possible do it after everything large and noisy is unpacked and put into its place. When you take a break from all the unpacking, take your pet and go into a different room, shut the door, sit on the ground and play and give treats or just be there while the cat explores the room. Change rooms and repeat. It is a smart idea to start with the room where the kitty litter is. Feliway comes into play here too.
Step10
Stray cat outside: Oh such an exciting thing to any cat to see a stray “stranger” outside…deep instincts may surface even if your cat is fixed and spraying may result. Prevent, if possible, from your pet in seeing the stray (usually basement windows are where the stray and your pet are face-to-face and at eye level). Also contact your local pet rescue group (go to Petfinder.com to look up local pet groups in your area) to see if they can help with the stray (if friendly). Some rescue groups have a Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program that help strays that are feral.
Step11
Other reason for your cat urinating outside of the litter box:
Rugs with Rubber Backing: I have observed, time and time again that cats have this strange desire to go on rugs with a rubber backing. Usually bathroom rugs and inside door rugs. I can’t explain it. It is something this is cured easily. No rugs with rubber backing.
Ground Heating Vents: I have had many people say that their cats would sit on the heating vents and urinate. I can only attribute this to these heat-seeking cats do this and the heat relaxes their bladders so much that they involuntarily release the contents. I tell these people to purchase those plastic dome-like covers with openings to put over the vent so the cat cannot sit directly on it. This seems to work.
Plastic Grocery Bags: Another one of those things that cats just like to go on for no reason. I often find a puddle of pee on a grocery bag that fell to the floor. My belief is that grocery bags have that sound and general texture that cats associate with kitty litter.
If this article has helped you, please give me a good star rating.
How to Understand Why Your Cat is Urinating Outside of the Litter Box
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