It is no longer a secret for anyone. The cat is a very clean animal.
A pee out of the litter box is not serious in itself even if it is annoying. It can be an accident. There is not necessarily reason to worry if it remains occasional and the first thing to do is to check the condition of the litter box.
However, if accidents do happen again, here are some tips to help you deal with your cat urinating everywhere and rule out any health problems.
1. A Possible Health Problem
It is important to make sure that this behaviour is not the consequence of a health problem. Kidney stones, cystitis, kidney failure and diarrhea are all diseases that cause the animal to urinate very frequently so that he no longer urinates in the litter box.
Cats can also develop stones in the bladder that will cause irritation or even block the bladder. Your veterinarian will be able to detect these stones using X-rays. If the stones are small, a simple diet may be enough to get rid of them. If they are larger, surgery will be necessary to remove them. The operation is called a cystotomy.
Cystitis and kidney stones in particular cause sharp pain when urinating. The cat does not manage to urinate completely when it is in its litter box. He ends up sending the rest to wherever he is.
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. Cats with cystitis often have blood in their urine. A urine sample must be tested to determine if it contains blood, which is often only visible under a microscope. If there is blood in the urine but no other elements (stones, crystals or bacteria), the cystitis is said to be idiopathic, i.e. its origin is unknown. It can be treated with an appropriate diet or even medication for anxiety or pain.
Felines with cystitis also start urinating everywhere as if they wanted to tell their owners that they had a problem.
If your cat is older, he may have contracted an Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It is caused by a bacteria present in the urine that results in an inflammation of the urinary tract. It can be treated with antibiotics.
2. An Inappropriate Litter
Maybe your cat doesn’t appreciate his litter box for many reasons.
First of all, the litter box may not be clean enough. It is important to clean it every day. Avoid using a lid to cover it, because bad odours are stored inside.
Another possibility is that the odour of the litter box makes it uncomfortable. Fragrances are actually added by the manufacturers to conceal the unpleasant odours. Many cats are not too fond of these smells, which is why they refuse to relieve themselves in their litter box.
The texture can also be unpleasant for them. If this is the case, you will have to change the litter box. And above all, think of placing it in a suitable place. Don’t put the box near where they eat and play.
3. A Misplaced Litter Box
If you have placed your cat’s litter box in a remote room that is too far away from where your cat usually goes, it may be difficult for him to find it.
Also be careful not to place the litter box near noisy machines such as a washing machine.
Instead, place the litter box in a quiet room that is easy for your cat to find, so that he will quickly get used to going there.
4. Urinating: A Gesture of Territorial Marking
Urinary marking in the feline species is manifested by the ejection of urine vertically 20 cm from the ground. In general, this type of behaviour occurs in cats that are not yet spayed or neutered.
If the feline continues to do so despite your warnings, have it spayed or neutered by a veterinarian.
Is your pet already sterilized? In this case, it could potentially be a victim of stress that could cause it to pee anywhere. To avoid this kind of behaviour on his part, you can use soothing pheromones until the problem stops.
If your cat continues his bad urinating behavior, consult your veterinarian. He will examine your pet and check its health. The veterinarian will proceed with examinations to rule out any urinary problems (health problems) that could be due to a cat that pees everywhere…
You will also be able to discuss your cat’s diet with him. It is important to feed your cat with quality food and to keep him well hydrated. This helps prevent and treat feline urological syndrome. This does not only concern older cats.
A clean litter box helps with preventing your cat from urinating everywhere – Source: Ocdp, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
5. Your Cat is Stressed
A nervous or stressed cat may relieve or pee outside of its litter box. It is by no means “for revenge” that they do this but for reasons of too much stress.
A stressed cat may forget its good habits or have difficulty controlling its bladder.
If it does not feel comfortable, the cat may no longer use the litter box.
Have you adopted a new pet, or on the contrary lost a pet or housed kittens? Have you had a baby or adopted a child? Your cat may feel that its territory has been invaded.
Pets and children often make loud and unexpected noises, which cats hate.
The repetition of these annoying noises as well as the unpredictable behavior of children can create stress for the cat, which will react by peeing where it shouldn’t.
Do you have new working hours, do you often welcome strangers at home? Are you doing home renovations or have you recently changed your major appliances? Cats can become nervous when faced with such changes and may respond with inappropriate urination until they feel safe again.
Your vet can help if you have a stressed kitten, with counseling and behavior changes, or perhaps with medication. If you can pinpoint the probable cause and it’s something that isn’t going to continue (like a home improvement or guests), you can get back to the routine and see if the behavior goes away on its own once things are returned to normal.
6. Your Cat Is Anxious
If you notice your cat peeing on your bed, pillow or clothing, it may be a sign of separation anxiety. Talk to your veterinarian about what to do or prescribe an appropriate medication.
You can also try to play with your cat more often or introduce her to a companion (if you feel able to adopt another cat of course).
If someone is taking care of your cat, make sure that this person always follows the same routine (cats hate it when you change their habits) and that he makes sure that the kitty litter box is always clean.
Indeed, a change of habit or environment can cause stress in the cat, which will evacuate it by urinating outside his litter box.
Once their stressful moment is over, cats get back into the habit of using their litter box to do their business. However, if the problem persists, do not hesitate to speak to your veterinarian.
You can also plug in a natural pheromone diffuser in the room where your cat spends the most time (usually the room where he sleeps). Feliway, to name just this product, has been shown to reduce urine marking in 90% of cats and effects are seen within the first week of use.
The cat uses pheromones to find its way around its environment. It rubs against objects and furniture and spreads signals of well-being. Feliway reproduces these soothing properties. Its effectiveness is scientifically demonstrated. Feliway is available as a spray or an electric diffuser. Talk to your vet.
7. There Are Other Cats at Home
If you have several cats, it is possible that one of them may “appropriate” the litter box and prevent the other from accessing it.
Therefore, always make sure you have as many litter boxes as there are cats at home. It is even advisable, at first, to have one more litter box than the number of cats to avoid this kind of problem.
8. Your Cat Is Simply Not Clean
Kittens are taught hygiene by their mother. It is her who shows them when and where to relieve themselves. Cats that have not been able to benefit from this maternal education may not be clean.
It is important that you get her used to using her litter box by making sure it is always clean. For example, spray bleach on the bottom of the litter box.
Felines appreciate the smell of this product. This will encourage them to relieve themselves there.
What About your Cat? Have You Experienced Urinating Problems?
What is your experience with your cat? Did he also have that annoying problem urinating where he shouldn’t? What did you do to dissuade him? Tell us about your experience!
Sad Cat Photo by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay
