The Cat Isnt Feeling Right Emotionally
Your cat might be nervous or upset about something. Something that could cause your cat to be upset is when you move to a new home or if the cat has to live with new people. The cat can be nervous if there are other animals that he has to live with and this includes other cats.
Some other problems might be not feeling welcome at their living space. If another cat is using the litter box, your cat might want to stay away and not anger the other cat. If you have multiple cats living in the same place, make sure each cat has their own litter box so this wont turn into a issue.
Cat Urine Gets Worse With Time
Cat urine thats outside the litter box is usually unnoticed until it becomes a problem.
After a while, the bacterium in the urine decomposes and gives off an ammonia-like odor thats characteristic of stale, old urine.
In the second stage of the decomposition process, the urine emits mercaptans, which are compounds that give skunk spray its characteristic bad smell.
Urinating Outside The Litter Box: What To Do When Its Behavioral
Nothing is more frustrating for owners than inappropriate urination, and its the leading cause of feline surrenders. Once youve diagnostically ruled out medical reasons for inappropriate urination with your veterinarian, the next step is to isolate what environmental elements are causing your cats unwanted behavior. With owner dedication, behavioral inappropriate elimination can be rehabilitated helping you and your cat to have a better quality of life.
What are the behavioral causes of inappropriate urination?Behavioral disorders that result in urinating outside the litterbox generally fall into one of two categories: dislike of or aversion to the litterbox and new sources of stress.
Why would your cat start disliking the litterbox?A number of different things might make your cat reluctant to use its litterbox. Inaccessibility is one obvious reason why a kitty might start going elsewhere. Other causes could include the following:
- The litterbox has not been cleaned frequently enough for the cats taste.
- There are not enough litterboxes for all the cats in the household.
- The kittys litterbox is too small, making it more difficult to use.
- The box has a hood or a liner that bothers the cat in some way.
- The owners are trying a new brand of litter, and the feline simply does not like it.
- The cat prefers other surfaces, such as carpets, potting soil or bedding, over the litterbox.
Make sure you never:
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Multiple Pets In The Home
Peeing outside the litter box happens more frequently in a household with multiple cats, particularly if one is a bully who prevents another cat from getting to the box, Lund says. To address this, always have multiple litter boxes in your home and place them in multiple rooms, Lund advises.
If you have a timid cat in your home, be sure to devote a space and a litter box to her that other cats cannot access easily. Lund says you may also want to avoid covered litter boxes if you have multiple cats. Covered boxes may make some cats uneasy because they cant see if another cat is coming in, she says.
Maintain Yearly Veterinary Appointments
Yearly checkups are important for catching issues early on, says Pagan. I always recommend yearly blood work for my feline patients and even will perform this twice a year for my older patients. Frequent vet checks are imperative to catch issues early. I will always run a full urinalysis as well if an owner states that a cat is peeing outside of the box. Your veterinarian may also order X-rays to rule out any underlying diseases. And, of course, when in doubt, schedule a veterinary appointment ASAP.
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Your Cat Is Territorial
Inappropriate elimination also occurs because your cat may be acting territorial in response to a new pet, houseguests, and children. To cope with these stressors, they start peeing outside of the box because their own smell makes them feel secure.
Normally, a cat uses their scent glands on its tail base, face, and paws to mark places around your house as its territory. You may notice that your cat loves to rub herself all over your furniture and then sniff it. The pheromones she gives off reassure her that these things are hers and she is safe.
When youre looking into the answer to Why is my cat peeing everywhere? youll discover that you can increase the pheromone levels in your home and combat inappropriate urination by spraying or diffusing Feliway in your house.
Feliway is a synthetic pheromone that will hopefully reduce the chances of your cat going around the house. Another way you can combat territorial behavior is by giving your cat a cat tree or another type of vertical surface so she can take a higher position and feel more empowered. If you have a multi-cat household, you can put different cat trees, litter boxes, toys, and feeding areas around the house so they get some time to themselves.
Removing Cat Urine Smells From The Subflooring
Urine can often soak through the carpet and into the subflooring, leaving a stain and a stench that cant be lifted with carpet cleaner and elbow grease.
If you have pet odor that will not go away despite your best carpet-cleaning efforts, neutralize the scent by using an oil-based, stain-blocking primer on the subfloor beneath the carpeting. Replace the padding as well as that area of carpet.
Here a few easy steps you can take to remove the cat pee smell from a cushion.
1. Soak the Area in Water
Soak the affected area of the cushion with water. Blot up as much of the cat urine as possible with a towel.
2. Soak the Area With an Enzyme Cleaner
Then soak the cushion by very slowly, pouring the enzyme cleaner on and around the affected area.
3. Let It Sit Before Blotting With Towels
Let it sit for 15 minutes, then squish out as much of the excess enzyme cleaner as possible before blotting with towels.
4. Let the Cushion Dry
If possible, leave the cushion outside as long as possible while it dries. Since cushions take days to dry, lay aluminum foil down before putting the cushion back, then put a second layer of foil over the top of the cushion to discourage your cat from peeing on the cushion again.
Mattresses require almost the same process as cushions.
1. Soak the Area in Water
Soak the affected area of the mattress with water. Blot up as much of the cat urine as possible with a towel.
2. Soak the Area With Enzyme Cleaner
3. Let It Sit Before Blotting With Towels
5. Rewash
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What Would Cause A Cat To Pee Everywhere
Cats are typically fastidious creatures who hate being dirty, so a trip to the vet is in order if your fur baby is suddenly peeing outside her litter box. While your cat may be turning her nose up at her litter box for numerous reasons, underlying health conditions are the most concerning. Your kitty could be suffering from one of the following:
- A urinary tract infection
- Cancer
- Urinary obstruction
But health problems arent the only reasons a cat may urinate outside the litter box. The problem could be as simple as a dirty litter box. You should scoop your cats litter box daily and empty it completely once a week to prevent your cat from seeking other places to urinate and defecate. Its also possible that your fur baby dislikes where youve placed her litter box. Dont store litter boxes near your cats feeding area, or she may pee on your favorite chair instead of her box.
If your cats elimination issues began after you switched to a new brand of litter, youll probably want to go back to your old brand. Cats have extremely sensitive noses, so your fur baby may hate the smell of her new litter. Its also possible she hates the new litters texture. Either way, the best litter for your finicky feline is the litter shes willing to use.
Reasons Why Your Cat Pees Everywhere But The Litter Box
In order to be able to curb the habit of cat peeing inappropriately, you must first understand the reason why she is doing so. Now, we cannot rule out natural behavior when we are talking about inappropriate elimination in felines. This is because this is their primary communication behavior.
However, this does not mean that we cannot correct the behavior. Here is why your cat might be peeing everywhere in the house
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Getting To The Bottom Of Litter Box Problems
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. You really have to treat these things holistically and make sure you are covering all the bases, Lund says.
If you are keeping your litter box clean and have it set up in an easy-to-access place with your cats favorite litter, make sure to consult with your veterinarian to rule out medical problems. If your cats 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, youll restore harmony to your home and stop your cat from peeing outside of the box.
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Stressed Out Or Anxious Cats May Pee Everywhere
A cat who is anxious, nervous, or stressed may pee outside the box. This isnt revenge-peeing or holding a grudge though many humans blame passive-aggressive kitties.
A distressed cat can forget routines or legitimately have difficulty with bladder control. They also may not feel comfortable using the box due to whatever is stressing them out. Some factors to consider:
- Did you get a new pet, lose a pet, or foster some kittens? Did you have a baby or adopt a child? Your cat may feel uncomfortable and as if their territory has been invaded. New pets and children also make loud and unexpected noises, which no cat is a fan of. Repeated loud noises and erratic behavior can create underlying kitty stress that leads to peeing outside the box.
- Did you have a change in routine? A new work schedule or visitors to the home, an illness or injury? What about home renovations or a new appliance installation? Cats get nervous about changes to their home structure and may respond by inappropriate urination until they feel safe again.
Your veterinarian can help if you have a stressed-out kitty, with advice and behavioral modifications or perhaps with medication. If you can identify the likely cause and its something that wont continue , you can re-establish routine and see if the behavior clears up on its own once things are back to normal.
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Why Do Cats Poop On Rugs
Out of all the places in a home, it seems that rugs are popular targets for inappropriate elimination. There’s something about the fabric that attracts cats. Perhaps it’s the fact that rugs are easy to knead and paw at like litter, or maybe it’s the scent. The absorbancy is likely a factor as well. You may never know for sure why your cat seems to prefer the rug, but many cat owners report this same issue.
Cats are often mysterious, so getting to the bottom of the problem will take careful observation. You’ll need to eliminate the potential causes one at a time.
No matter where your cat is pooping, if it’s outside the litter box, there are a few possible explanations for it.
Why I Love My Natural Cat Litter
Perhaps the most obvious solution if your cat isnt using the litter box is to change your litter. If youve been following me for a while, then you know that Im paws over tail in love with Worlds Best Cat Litter! I think its safe to say that Olivia loves it too because she faithfully uses her litter box. Their formulas are made with whole-kernel corn and only the best and safest ingredients. The odor control is amazing and it clumps and scoops like a breeze, making clean up quick and easy. I personally use their Multi-Cat Lavender Scented formula and it works great for us.
The original, unscented formula is a huge hit with cat moms and dads everywhere. It has outstanding odor control and a tight clumping ability. So your kitty will appreciate having a clean place to do her business.
Worlds Best Cat Litter also makes formulas specifically for cats who are having problems using the litter box. So if your feline bestie has decided to stop using her box or is all of a sudden peeing everywhere, except in her box, then it might be time to make the switch to one of these Worlds Best Cat Litters:
So, if your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, dont despair. Once your veterinarian rules out medical or behavior issues as the cause, chances are, your cat is trying to tell you that shes ready to dump her old litter. Give Worlds Best Cat Litter a try and put an end to your litter box woes.
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Change In Your Lifestyle
In some scenarios, cat peeing everywhere is all about your cat trying to communicate with you about her needs. And since cats are quite sensitive, the slightest change in the household can possibly lead to peeing inappropriately.
For instance, if you move the litter boxes from the usual place, your cat will react to that. She wants things to always remain the same. Once again, we go back to the natural behavior of these creatures. In the wild, cats would grow up in one home, all their lives. However, due to domestication, we now live with our kitties.
This means that they move to wherever we go. And knowing human nature, we are in constant need to do something better and to explore the world. In the process of achieving all this, we sometimes have to move from one residence to another. When you have a cat, as much as it might be necessary to move, it is not going to be exactly good for your cat.
Whenever you change your residency, you will most often have issues with your cat avoiding the litter box. It might be that she cannot really find the latter, or she does not like the changes that you have made. Most often, it is both situations.
It does not matter what kind of change that you have recently made. Your cat might be reacting to it by spraying. It can be her diet, residency, or even getting new furniture. Whenever your cat is uncomfortable, peeing everywhere is usually her way of communicating her frustrations.
Why Is My Cat Peeing On The Bed
Discovering you’re lying on sheets soaked in cat pee may be the only time you’ve been awake in bed and wished you were having a nightmare. But, alas, cat urination on your mattress is one of those dilemmas that some pet parents deal with.
As you might expect, a cat micturating on your bed is sometimes due to a medical problem.
“If a cat is urinating out of the litter box, problems like bladder stones and a bladder infection, both of which cause severe inflammation and an urge to urinate, should be ruled out,” says Adam Eatroff, DVM, DACVIM, staff internist and nephrologist and the director of the hemodialysis unit at ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals, based in Los Angeles.
But while it might be a biological problem, says Dr. Eatroff, cats usually pee on a bed due to an issue that is rooted in anxiety and stress, which can affect several hormonal and chemical balances in the body. This is commonly referred to as idiopathic cystitis that is, inflammation of the bladder with an unknown cause.
“Idiopathic cystitis is likely caused by hormonal imbalances and is best prevented by reducing stress in the environment,” said Dr. Eatroff.
First, see your vet to make sure your cat is not suffering from an infection of the bladder or urinary tract. If your cat gets a clean bill of health and is still peeing on the bed, here are five possible reasons why your cat is using your bed as a litter box.
Image:Gedzun/Thinkstock
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Where To Put Your Cats Litter Box
The best places for litter boxes are usually quiet, easy-to-reach corners that offer privacy, de Jong says.
Check out where your cat spends the most time, de Jong says. If your cat never goes up to that weird attic room, dont put the litter box up there.
As a rule, cat owners dont want to see or smell litter boxes, so they may tuck them in places that are out of the way for the pet, says Paula Garber, a cat behavior specialist from Westchester County, New York.
Instead, place the box someplace that the cat can easily get to, preferably a low-traffic area away from food and water bowls, Garber recommends. Cats usually like to hang out with their humans, so one of those favorite spots may be perfect for a litter box.
Think about the aspects you look for in a bathroom, Garber adds. Choose a spot with sufficient light since cats want to be able to see when they go to the bathroom, she says. If possible, use nightlights to brighten an area. If you lived in a home where the only toilet you could use was in a dark corner, you would not want to go there, Garber says.
Your cats personality, age, physical condition, and the layout of the home are factors to keep in mind, she says. For instance, a senior cat with limited mobility cannot be expected to travel far when nature calls, so make sure her litter box is nearby, Garber says.