How To Stop Your Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box

Affiliate Disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

It becomes frustrating when your cat won’t accept to pee in the litter boxcar won’t get to pee in the litter box, it becomes frustrating. This is because he will soil your house, especially furniture and carpet. Cats pee outside the litter box may be due to medical or behavioral issues. You will, however, need to monitor your cat thoroughly to determine the cause of the behavior. In this article, we will look at how to stop your cat from peeing outside the litter box and stop your cat from peeing outside the litter box, as well as why cats do so.

 

Why do cats pee outside the litter box?

 

Your cat may develop the habit of peeing outside the litter box for various reasons. Some of these reasons may be a result of underlying medical issues. Some of these medical concerns include:

 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

 

Like humans, cats may also contract urinary tract infections. The only difference with UTIs in cats can be deadly, especially in males. As much as this infection can affect any cat, female and older cats are at a higher risk. On the other hand, young cats rarely contract a urinary tract infection, which might indicate an underlying disease when they do.

UTIs in male cats are serious and require immediate medical attention because they may lead to urethra blockage. At this point, it is essential to understand your cat’s anatomy. A male cat has a narrower urethra than a female cat. Should your cat’s PH get higher than usual or even lower, it can form crystals in the urethra. This will block his urethra, which can be life-threatening.

 

Some of the symptoms of a UTI infection include the following:

  • The need to pee more often than usual
  • Abnormal drinking patterns
  • Urinating outside the litter box
  • Your cat might experience a loss of appetite
  • Depending on the extent of the infection, your cat may also have blood in the urine.

 

Treatment and Prevention of UTI in cats

 

Since we now understand that UTIs can be life-threatening, we must prevent and treat underlying infections. This will require you to visit the vet once you observe the above symptoms in your cat. The vet can conduct several tests to determine the presence of bacteria in your cat’s urine.

Once diagnosed with the infection, your vet will recommend antibiotic therapy. This will eliminate the disease as well as other measures.

You should also ensure that the litter box is always at all times. In the case where your cat has a blockage, he is going to require specialized treatment and sometimes surgery. It is also important to note that increased stress or anxiety can likely cause UTIs in cats. Thus, it is essential to pet, play, and exercise your cat to get rid of stress.

If your cat is peeing outside the litter box, you may consider placing multiple litter boxes so he can remember to use them at his convenience. Cats that develop a Urinary Tract Infection are likely to have a reoccurrence of the same in the future. You must monitor your cat for symptoms to catch the infection early.

 

Crystalluria

 

Crystalluria is the formation of crystals in the urine. This condition may be accompanied by a urinary tract infection and sometimes not. Usually, crystals are formed in your cat’s urine following a change in PH. High or too low PH could lead to the formation of crystals in the urine, usually microscopic. Although the exact cause of this problem is unknown, UTIs constitute a significant concern. Your cat’s diet may also lead to crystalluria.

Some of the signs and symptoms of crystalluria may include;

  • irregular urine patterns
  • your cat may find it hard to pass urine
  • Frequent urination
  • urinating outside the litter box
  • Your cat may also drink more water than usual
  • Enlarged belly
  • Excessive vocalization

 

Prevention and treatment

 

As mentioned above, the exact cause of crystalluria is unknown, hence the need to seek medical attention. If your cat’s urethra is blocked, your vet will provide medication to dissolve the crystals. It is advisable to provide your cat with clean drinking water to prevent the condition.

In addition, you may consider incorporating your cat’s diet with wet food more often. It would help if you also encourage your cat to pee more often. This is achieved by placing multiple litter boxes strategically in your house. This way, your cat will urinate whenever convenient.
Once again, medication will vary based on the extent of the illness. Most cats will not need surgery when the infection is caught and treated early.

 

Bladder stones

 

Bladder stones are a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It causes your cat irritation and blockage in the advanced stage. Usually, this condition is preceded by crystals formation in your cat’s urine.

The vet will be able to recommend the correct form of treatment based on the X-ray results. An X-ray will enable the vet to determine the size and number of stones. The vet recommends medication to dissolve tiny crystals, while large crystals require surgery.

The vet may also prescribe antibiotics to follow up with possible infections.

 

Idiopathic Cystitis

 

This is the technical term for bladder inflammation. Usually, your cat will pass bloody urine if it has this condition. The cause of this urinary tract illness is unknown, amid theories associating it with low water and fluid intake.

Some symptoms of idiopathic cystitis in cats include frequent urination and the need to drink more water than usual. Your cat will also pee outside the litter box and show restlessness. Cats with idiopathic cystitis will also tend to vocalize more when urinating. This is due to the irritation of the urethra. In some circumstances, your cat may also appear to lick his genitals.

Your vet will conduct a urine test to determine if your cat has the condition. After that, they will be able to advise on the correct form of treatment.

Now that we have looked at some of the medical reasons why your dog might be peeing outside the litter box, let us discuss the behavioral vices associated with the behavior;

  • Stress and anxiety

Cats are probably the most sensitive pets we have to keep. They get stressed pretty quickly and as well as anxious. For this reason, your cat will develop undesirable behaviors to deal with stress. One of these behaviors is peeing outside the litter box.

Several situations will cause stress in your cat; as said, they are pretty sensitive. Some of the factors that may contribute to stress in cats may include;

 

Moving to a new place

 

We all need to move from one residence to another for various reasons. You could be changing jobs or simply moving to a new city to start over. However, we bring our cats with us when we do so since we cannot leave them behind.

As much as you may have difficulty adapting to your new neighborhood, it is likely that your cat is struggling the most.
Unlike humans, cats do not just accept and move on! Your cat will stress about the new place and miss his old home. And since he is unfamiliar with the surroundings, he will only spend days at home.

 

New family members

 

Cat owners know how much cats love attention and will do anything to get it. Introducing a new family member to your home will not be accessible when you have a cat. As mentioned above, cats have trouble adjusting to new environments or conditions.

Not only is it going to be just new people but also new pets. Your cat is going to react afterward. This is a result of the anxiety and stress imposed on him. Therefore, ensuring that your dog is not stressed or over-anxious is essential. You can introduce your cat to several people and teach him to be around new people.

However, the newcomer should let your cat be around them only when the cat wants. This means that they should not pet him when he is resisting. Eventually, he will adapt to the newcomer.

 

Noisy neighborhood

 

This is closely related to the first and second points in that cats find it hard to adapt to changes. Throwing a party now and then will stress your cat as he sees it as disturbing. This includes random and frequent doorbell ringing, fireworks, or loud music.

 

Cats in new homes

 

Cat owners who recently got a new cat or kitten should expect stress and pee outside the litter box in these cats. However, this should not be a problem since he will adapt. It would help if you made it as easy as possible to fit into your household.
You can do this by initiating play and exercise for your cat. This way, he will feel heard and thus sort his emotional needs.

 

  •  Location of the litter box

This is important to consider if you observe your cat peeing outside the litter box. You should always ensure that you have multiple litter boxes around the house. This way, your cat will have access to one of them when he urgently needs to.

Otherwise, placing only one litter box in a specific place or changing the position of the litter box will inconvenience the cat. It is important to remember that even as cats are part of our family, they are also animals with wild instincts. This means that your cat will pee whenever he has the urge to. He can’t start looking for the litter box whenever he needs to pass urine.

Therefore, placing litter boxes strategically in your house is essential. This will depend on where your cat loves to spend more time.

  • Unclean Litter Box

If your cat’s litter boxes are always dirty, there is a chance that your cat will refuse to use them. This will make your cat pee outside the litter box and on your carpet. For this reason, it is therefore essential to empty the litter box as often as possible. This will encourage your cat to use it more often.

  • Limited litter boxes

Making it as convenient as possible for your cat to pee is essential. You can do this by providing multiple choices of litter boxes to use. However, you do not just place litter boxes around the house; instead, you should set the litter boxes strategically. This might be based on your cat’s behavior. For instance, you may put several litter boxes around the rooms where your cat likes to relax.

 

  • The type of litter used in the box

The first lesson every cat owner must learn is the appropriate type of litter. Specifically, this will depend on your cat’s preference, as it can vary. However, there are universal preferences for most cats which is:

Fine particles – most cats prefer litter composed of soft and fine particles. For instance, sand is suitable for your cat’s litter because it will be able to cover his waste. In other words, it is natural for cats to want to protect their waste after releasing themselves.

Odor-free litter is also preferable to scented litter. This is because your cat’s sense of smell is quite strong compared to yours.

As much as we want our cats to be comfortable, we also prefer several factors when choosing the correct type of litter. Luckily, the stores today have multiple cat litter choices based on your preference.

You should always make sure that your cat is comfortable with the type of litter you choose for him.

 

 Ways to stop your cat from peeing outside the litter box

 

This should be the first thing to do if you notice your cat peeing outside the litter box. This will help you rule out any medical conditions causing this behavior. In the event your cat has an infection, the vet will be able to advise on the best approach to treat it.

Your vet will also be able to provide preventative measures for your cat. This will prevent future occurrences of the infection. If your cat is clean and healthy, you should focus on the behavioral patterns of your cat.

Any illnesses that involve your cat’s urinary tract should be addressed immediately. This will prevent any severe infections that could be life-threatening to your cat.

 

Keep the litter box clean.

 

Cleaning the litter boxes as often as possible is a great way to stop your cat from peeing outside the litter box. Cats are pretty sensitive and will refuse to use the litter box if it is dirty. Not that your cat can be able to pick smells that you are not capable of picking. For this reason, you should always make sure that you check the boxes often.

Alternatively, you can also be able to purchase litter that is capable of absorbing pee. Not only will this encourage your cat to use the litter box, but also it will keep your house free of cat pee. You should make sure you clean the litter box before leaving your home.

 

Multiple litter boxes

 

You will need to keep reminding your cat to pee. You can do this by placing several litter boxes in the house for his convenience. It is unlikely that your cat will pee outside the litter box when he can see it nearby.

For instance, if your cat likes to spend time in the living room, you can place the litter boxes strategically in places he can easily access. This means that whenever your cat needs to pee, he will always find it easy to use the container.

 

Praise your cat

 

This is especially important for new cats that are still learning. If you praise your cat after successfully using the litter box, he will do it more often. As mentioned multiple times, your cat is sensitive to smells, affection, affection, and emotions.

When you reward or praise your cat upon using the litter box, you will encourage him to do it more often. He will feel the affection you express whenever he does it.

 

In conclusion

 

Your cat may be peeing outside the litter box for several reasons. It is essential to check with your vet before starting any remedies. This way, you can tell the cause of the behavior and cure it. If your vet diagnoses your cat with an infection, he can treat and prevent future recurrence.

However, we must protect your cat from the potential harm that may come with peeing outside the litter box. This means maintaining cleanliness and getting your cat’s correct type of litter. Placing several litter boxes is also helpful in curbing this behavior and ensuring that the carpets and furniture are clean

[su_box title=”Affiliate Disclosure”]This website is supported by its readers. Please assume that all links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links we will make a commission from Amazon. Thank you.[/su_box]

About the author

Latest posts