Why cats pee outside the litter box and how to stop it
If your typically fastidious cat is ditching the litter box and peeing just about everywhere else in the house, it can easily become a problem for pet parents. Between the constant cleaning and the strong smell, a cat that is not using the litter box properly can be a source of frustration. But why do cats pee outside of the box and what can you do about it?
Here are some common causes of litter box problems:
• Medical issues (Urinary tract infection/ feline interstitial cystitis/ bladder stones or blockage)
• Litter box is too small
• An unclean litter box
• A hard to reach litter box
• The type of litter
• Sharing of litter box with other cats
• Multiple pets in the home
• New family/pets in the household
• Stress and anxiety
Unfortunately for cat owners, there is no quick-fix solution to litter box problems, and each instance has to be addressed based on your cat and your home.
Getting Your Feline Friend to Use the Litter Box:
• In a natural state, cats look for dry, loose sand or soil in which to urinate and defecate. If you provide a litter that mimics this, you will have a good chance of having your cat use the box without problem. Some cats do not like scented litter, so you may want to start with an unscented brand first until your cat is used to the box.
• Keep the box clean. Remove soiled litter every day, and the sooner the better. The litter in the box should be changed completely once a week and the litter pan washed.
• If you have more than one cat, provide a litter box for each one of them. Most cats aren't fond of sharing the box with another.
• Choose a clean, quiet and accessible spot that the cat likes to use for elimination, preferably away from where the cat eats and drinks. Most cats like a bit of privacy, too, so placing the box in a more out-of-the-way spot can encourage use. Consistency is important with cats, so be sure to keep the litter box in the same location.
• Transiting to a new litter has to be slow and gradual. Gradually add some of the new litter to your litter box everyday, replacing the old litter you scooped out. Do this over a period of 1-2 months. Chances are your kitty will start to get used to it if you introduce it slowly and steadily.
• Should your cat be resisting using the box, you can try confining the cat in a small room with the box available. In most cases, the cat will get the idea and start using the box.
• Kittens, especially, can be easily trained by using an attractant in the box until they become accustomed to using it.
• If your cat is old or arthritic, use a litter box with low sides so she can climb in easily.
• Clean up accidents by simply sprinkling baking soda on the wet area, let it absorb all of the moisture and allow the area to dry. Now, sprinkle more baking soda on top of the area again to absorb the lingering odor. Allow the baking soda to sit for another 15 minutes or more then vacuum it all away.
Getting kitty to eliminate in the box is about patience, not punishment.
Here are a few no-nos in retraining your cat:
• Do not rub her nose in urine or feces.
• Do not scold her and carry or drag her to the litter box.
• Do not confine her to a small room with the litter box, without first trying other methods for resolving her elimination problem.
• Do not place the litter box near the place where pets eat or drink.
• Do not give her treats to entice her to use the litter box. Cats don’t want to be disturbed while they are eliminating. However, you can place toys and treats near the box to help her overcome her aversion to the box.
If you are doing everything right, make sure to consult with your veterinarian to rule out medical problems. If your cat’s health checks out, you may also want to call on a cat behaviorist to help you work through the litter box problems with your cat. With a little bit of time and energy, you’ll restore harmony to your home and stop your cat from peeing outside of the box :)
Personal sharing:
A perfect and docile cat can suddenly drop small plashes of urine all over the house. It might be because his urinary channels are blocked, and he is actually begging for help.
More often than not, cat doesn’t use the litter box because there is something wrong with the litter: many cats hate when other cats use it, or when it starts to smell bad or is wet. Even the plastic container can receive so much of a bad smell, that replacing litter does not help.
Their toilet should be at some corner of the house, where kids won’t run around, or people move it all the time and etc.
It could also be a stress that is completely unrelated to the litter box: the cat being left alone for too long or being constantly annoyed with no place of their own to rest and sleep in peace, and etc…
You should try to listen to what they are telling you, because they really do try to speak to you. Getting rid of a pet is the easiest thing to do - for people that should not get them in the first place. A cat is surely different from your child, or a spouse, but an equally important member of the family. We need to work on communicating with them, because not only they don’t speak our language, but also we don’t speak theirs :)