How to Make Your Cat Stop Using the Bathroom Outside of the Litter Box
You might be experiencing more than just frustration if it appears that your cat is urinating outside of its litter box. You might be tempted to rehome your pet or take stern measures like yelling at the cat or rubbing its nose in the filth. However, fight those urges and instead think about any potential medical illnesses or behavioral problems because, most of the time, one of those is the cause of the issue.
Urinary tract disease and other health problems, a litter box that isn't cleaned frequently enough, or stress brought on by a change in the household, such as the addition of a new pet or family member, are common causes for cats to stop using their litter boxes.
Although cats are occasionally accused of being spiteful, it's doubtful that your feline family member is acting this way because it doesn't want to use the litter box. Unfortunately, urinating outside of the litter box is a regular feline misbehavior that frequently results in the owner giving up the cat. However, you should be aware that there is still hope for your cat before you take that route.
Not only can you learn the best ways to handle your cat's urinary issues, but you might also be able to avoid some of them altogether. Discover below the causes of your cat's inappropriate litter box behavior and how to put a stop to it.
What Causes Cats to Urinate Outside the Litter Box?
It's crucial to comprehend the cause of your cat's inappropriate urination before you can start to fix a litter box issue. One of two common causes for cats to eliminate outside of the litter box is either a health issue or a behavioral issue.
Medical Issues
The first thing to do if your cat is peeing inappropriately is to take it to the vet. The veterinarian will examine your cat physically and examine a urine sample. Your veterinarian will suggest a course of action based on the findings. Numerous urological conditions are typical in cats, including:
- ureteral stones: Crystals may accompany bladder stones or be a prelude to stone formation in some cats, who may experience irritation and even blockage as a result. X-rays are required to identify the size and number of stones if your veterinarian suspects your pet has bladder stones. A particular diet may be able to dissolve smaller bladder stones, but surgery may be required to remove larger stones (cystotomy). A UTI is typical in cats that have bladder stones. If so, antibiotic therapy is required.
- Individualized cystitis: The word "cystitis" refers to bladder inflammation. Idiopathic denotes an uncertain etiology. Hematuria is common in cats who have cystitis (blood in the urine). 2 It is crucial to test a urine sample because the blood can only be seen under a microscope. The most likely diagnosis is idiopathic cystitis if your veterinarian finds blood in your cat's pee but no crystals, germs, or stones. Treatment for idiopathic cystitis typically involves a change in diet and environmental enrichment. Additionally, drugs for pain and anti-anxiety may be used.
- metabolic illness: Increased urination is one of the signs of chronic renal disease. 3 Other metabolic conditions like liver illness, diabetes, and thyroid problems can increase your cat's urination. Your vet might want to run some blood tests to check for these issues if your cat has been drinking more or if you've noticed that you need to clean the litter box more frequently.
- UTI, or urinary tract infection: Young cats rarely get urinary tract infections, but they can be a common source of urinary problems in older cats, either on their own or in combination with other illnesses that affect the urinary system. 2 Urinary tract inflammation may be brought on by bacteria in the urine. A urinary tract infection is treated with antibiotics. After the drugs are done, your veterinarian will likely advise additional testing to be sure the illness is gone.
The term feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, is commonly used when one or more urine problems are persistent. Your veterinarian could suggest a specific urinary diet and/or supplements to assist the urinary system if your cat has FLUTD.
Particularly in male cats, urinary issues might cause a significant urinary blockage. Do not put off going to the vet if your cat has urinary problems. Your cat may have a partial obstruction or blockage if little or no pee is coming out despite your cat's posturing to urinate. In this situation, take your cat to the clinic right away because the condition could swiftly turn fatal.
When a cat has a nonurinary health issue, there are times when inappropriate urinating happens. Because of pain or discomfort elsewhere in the body, your cat may be urinating outside the box.
If nothing abnormal is discovered during the initial exam or urinalysis, it is a good idea to have your veterinarian request extensive lab testing to check for a health problem. As a result, your veterinarian can start treating you right away. Lab work might uncover major health issues including diabetes or kidney disease.
Behavior-Based Motives
Identifying the elements influencing your cat's behavior is critical if a medical reason for its inappropriate urinating cannot be established.
Unclean litter box
Cats are picky when it comes to their latrines. Your cat can simply find the litter box to be excessively unclean. Alternatively, it can be spotless yet awkward to use. For instance, your cat can find the box uncomfortable to use because it is too small. It could also be at a place that your cat dislikes. Your cat might be bothered by this if it's covered. The litter may smell strong or feel unpleasant on your cat's paws. Too few litter boxes might also be a problem because cats appreciate having options.
Stress
Perhaps your cat is trying to inform you that things are stressful at home. 5 It could be trying to communicate with the other animal in the house that it doesn't like them by marking its territory. If the other animal is out and about, your cat could feel it is too risky to use the restroom. In addition, if a new person moves into the house, your cat might "act out."
Cats are extremely sensitive to even the slightest changes in their surroundings. Make sure your cat has a peaceful retreat where it can escape, regardless of the stressor. This sanctuary shouldn't be accessible to new animals or persons.
Old Urine Odor
Even after you clean up the mess where your cat urinated, the odor may linger. Your sense of smell is substantially worse than a cat's. There is a very significant likelihood that your cat is returning to the area because of the smell if past pee odors are still present in your home.
How to Stop Misbehaving Around the Litter Box
The fact that cats don't like using the litter box is probably the most frequent cause of inappropriate cat urination. It's time to review your litter boxes if your cat is urinating all over the place and you've ruled out any medical problems.
- Make sure your cat's litter boxes are as pristine and appealing as possible to start. Try to keep the litter boxes exposed and select the largest sizes available. If your cat is large or fluffy, it might feel confined inside a covered box.
- Put the litter boxes in a house location that is both quiet and convenient. Make sure they are not in the vicinity of your cat's eating or drinking area. Consider using a decorative screen to divide the cat litter box location from other places for the benefit of your cat's privacy as well as your own aesthetics.
- Make sure a box is present on every floor of your house.
- The litter box for senior cats needs to be simple for them to enter. Think about purchasing a shallow cat box or adding a ramp to the box's entrance.
- Choose a cat litter that your cat will like using. Ideally, use a scoopable, odorless litter that cats will enjoy, like Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract.
- Many veterinarians advise having two litter boxes total—one for each cat. Even a home with just one cat must have two litter boxes because of this. Some cats prefer to use one package for pee and the other for feces, which is one explanation for this. The other justification is to avoid feline territorial disputes over litter boxes.
- Make sure your cat feels comfortable in your home. To create the ideal habitat for your cat, increase the amount of vertical space and add cat enrichment. Do not forget to play with your cat and give it toys. If alterations to the surroundings are ineffective, your veterinarian might suggest a supplement or prescription drug help your cat feel less stressed and anxious.
- To completely get rid of the smell, you must use a special cleaner, like an enzymatic cleaner, to thoroughly clean any inappropriate areas where a cat has urinated. Otherwise, your cat might keep urinating there.
