How to Stop Your Cat From Urinating and Defecating Inappropriately

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (100 Ratings)

Teach your cat to use its litterbox instead of your carpet and furniture

Though spraying can be a symptom of a medical condition, it can also be due to stress associated with a new person in the home, new carpet, remodeling or the presence of a neighbor cat. Here's how to redirect your cat to the litter box.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Fresh Step brand kitty litter
Cat Foods
Litter Boxes
Carpet Cleaners, such as OXY Woolite or Stanley Steemer
Furniture Cleaners
Sandpaper
Scat Mats
Two-sided Tape
Lemon Scents
Cat Litters

Getting Your Cat to Stop Spraying

Step 1

Have your veterinarian screen your cat for any medical conditions.
Step 2

Place litter boxes in the areas where your cat sprays.
Step 3

Put down plastic, two-sided tape, food, sandpaper or a lemon scent in areas where cat sprays. These will discourage spraying.
Step 4

To divert your cat from spraying in sinks and bathtubs, fill them with a little water.
Step 5

Confine your cat to a clean area with a litter box, food and water.
Step 6

Block visual access to outside areas if your cat is stressed by something in the outdoor environment (for example, a new cat in the area).
Step 7

Use an abundance of positive reinforcement messages.

Getting Your Cat to Use the Litter Box

Step 1

Place a number of litter boxes in different areas of the house to increase the chances that your cat will use one.
Step 2

Use various types of litter boxes and litter materials to entice your cat (see related eHow on cleaning litter boxes).
Step 3

When your cat finally adjusts to using the litter box, keep it in the same place for four weeks.
Step 4

Move the box 1-foot or less per day to the area you want it to stay permanently.
Step 5

Praise your cat when it uses the litter box.
Step 6

If the cat continues to spray, consult an animal behaviorist and your veterinarian. Some cats need temporary antianxiety medication.

Comments

troublecat2 said

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on 1/22/2010 the problem I have is the 8 cats I including the littlebox accindent. I think the cats or one of them have peeing on the floor and my mom had caught one of them, named simba doing it in the hallway just in front of her. The other problem is that she had taken the carbet out and replace it the wood flooring,the livingroom, the two hallways, my room, and my sister's room has wood floring, and it cost alot to put in new floors. And by the way thing seems the cats have by peeing on the floor not in the littlebox. if this keep going on my mom might just get rid of every cat! And she said "I did't want them." but most were strays,and were found from different places. we also have a problem with a pittbull getting in the littlebox, can that be used too? I want to keep all the cats

breonnam1014 said

on 1/19/2010 My cat Sandy is 15 and used to pee in our living room in the same 2 spots. Since i re-did my bedroom (where she mostly stays with me) she has peed ALL around my furniture in various corners, even in front of me! She is ruining my brand new carpet & my parents are beyond fed up. HOW do i get her to stop this new bad habit?

link82 said

on 12/14/2009 Cats certainly can indulge in weird behaviour. If it's spraying though, you should probably get them neutered/spayed.

geekygirl15 said

on 11/16/2009 I have 2 cats they both pee practilly everywhere! HELP! We just threw out are really old furniture cause they smelled so bad. I have tried everything to make them stop: sprays, additional litter boxex, candles, expensive litters, tinfoil, motion decting sprays. Nothing seems to work. One of my cats did have a urninary disease but we gave her the medication and she was supposedly cured. But now both cats are peeing everywhere again. Can she get it again? How do they get it in the first place? 1 cat keeps going in and out of the litterbox like bajillion times and ive watched her and she doesnt go at all there. My parents want to murder them and roast their corpses if I don;t figure out a way to make them stop. PLEASE HELP AND SAVE MY CATS!