One of the most challenging parts of owning a cat is controlling peeing outside the litter box. As much as we struggle with this vice, it is primarily behavioral in kittens rather than medical. However, this does not mean that your kitten is not at risk of contracting an infection leading to this behavior.
Factors contributing to new kitten peeing outside the litter box
Cats are pretty sensitive and aware of their surroundings. This makes them vulnerable to emotional and even environmental factors. These factors will lead to a reaction from the cat, which is usually harmful. One of the most common reactions to changes in various aspects of life is peeing outside the litter box. Below are some of the factors that contribute to this behavior:
Change of environment
Like humans, cats also have difficulties adjusting to changes in their surroundings. Your kitten may start peeing outside the litter box if you have recently moved the litter box. Furthermore, new kittens are prone to peeing outside the litter box mainly because they are not yet conversant with their environment.
For this reason, paying attention to a new kitten peeing outside the litter box is essential. Whether you recently moved or adopted a new kitten, this is a problem you should expect. Other cats will engage in this behavior because they have been separated from their families. For instance, if your friend gave you one of his cat’s kittens, you will have to train and sometimes introduce the litter box to her. We shall look at ways you can reinforce training for your kitten.
Dirty Litter Box
This is universal for all cats. Cats are clean beings and thus are repelled against dirty litter boxes. Your cat will go to the litter box and turn back if it is dirty. Not only should you be concerned with emptying your kitten’s litter box but also getting rid of the smell. Otherwise, your kitten will avoid the litter box for as long as possible. This will, of course, lead to peeing outside the box.
This being said, it is, therefore, essential to make sure that the litter box is clean and free of foul odor. To clean the litter box, not only should you pick up your cat’s waste. You should also scoop the soiled part and add more litter to the chest. This will encourage your kitten to use the box instead of inappropriate elimination. It would help if you cleaned the used litter box daily to keep it clean.
Stress and anxiety
This is probably the most common factor promoting peeing out of the litter box. As affectionate cats
affectionate, they get stressed quickly, especially for new kittens. She has changed residence. She has altered place if you recently brought a new kitten to your house. As much as you are comfortable in your own home, it is essential to remember that your cat is not.
If you have an enormous cat at home, you will need to pay more attention to the kitten before introducing the new kitten. She will feel accepted and adapt to the new home quickly. The anxiety and stress will not last long.
New kitten peeing outside the litter box
Introducing a new family member or guest can also cause anxiety in kittens. This is because they are not used to the new company and probably do not know what to feel. For this reason, you may realize that your kitten is peeing outside the litter box.
A new kitten will also experience anxiety and stress due to a change in routine. At this point, it is essential to remember that your cat just moved in and has no idea of how things are done. You can probably ask her previous guardian about her routine. You can adjust the pattern to fit her needs for the first few days.
Separation from her family is a significant cause of stress in cats. For instance, you may adopt a new kitten who used to live with her family. This will come about with a lot of anxiety due to the separation. For this reason, your new kitten may pee outside the litter box.
To understand how to minimize stress and anxiety, you will need to understand your cat’s emotions and how to reduce stress and anxiety; you will need to know how to reduce stress and anxiety; you will need to understand your cat’s feelings. The best thing about cats is that they are ready and unashamed of their emotions. They are affectionate, calming, and comforting. However, sometimes stress can take a toll on their lives, leading to aggression and boredom.
Let us look at some of the emotions you can receive from your kitten:
Cats and emotions
Usually, cats are welcoming and quite loving. However, due to the stress and anxiety imposed on them, you may find that your cat is unhappy. Generally, your cat will display emotions through vocalization, facial expressions, and body language.
When your cat is calm, she may lie on his belly, tucking her feet under her body. Her ears will be up and slightly bent forward, and she may purr occasionally. This means that your cat is calm and happy. On the other hand, a cat with her ears turning back may suggest stress. You may also notice that her eyes are wide open with dilated pupils. Due to anxiety, your cat’s hair may be raided on the back of her tail. Some kittens will also show signs of aggression due to stress and anxiety.
The age and gender of your cat is also significant determinant of your cat’s emotions. The truth is, older cats will be less enthusiastic about literally everything. On the other hand, young kittens are primarily vibrant and happy. Male cats are also more comfortable and playful compared to female cats.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your cat is stress-free. You can set aside quality time to spend with your new kitten to make her relax in the new environment. We are going to look at some of the ways you can use to reduce stress in kittens.
The ways to eliminate stress in cats
As mentioned above, cats are some of the most sensitive pets. This makes them affectionate, but at the same time, it exposes your kitten to stress and anxiety. New kittens are more prone to anxiety than other cats. Below are some of the ways you can reduce stress in your new kitten;
Understand the cause of stress
Like any other behavioral issue in cats, monitoring your cat and figuring out why she is stressed is essential. It may be challenging to determine the exact cause of stress in new kittens. This is because of their vulnerability.
Your kitten may be stressed generally because she is in a new home with a new family. For this reason, there is only too little that you can do, but it will go away with time.
However, you should set aside some play and exercise time for both of you. You will relate to your cat’s behaviors, and she will love you. Once wholly settled in, you will not have any more stress-related problems.
The bigger cat
For some reason, some people cannot get enough cats and thus keep several instead. A new kitten is going to feel challenged when you bring her home. You may realize that he refuses to use the litter box, especially if the enormous cat tends to threaten her.
If you have an enormous cat, you may want to separate her from your new kitten until she is used to the idea of sharing with you. Not only do cats get stressed but also jealous.
You may consider providing different litter boxes and assigning them to your cats. This way, they will not have to share a litter box, and your new kitten will feel more comfortable in the new household.
Overstimulation
Every cat owner understands how proud and untouchable cats can be. On the other hand, these creatures are also quite prone to boredom. This means that you have to find the line between stimulation and boredom. This is because your cat will get irritated if she feels overstimulated.
New cat owners must understand that loud music or TV will stress the kitten. However, you will need to be very keen to examine your cat to tell when she is under stress. This means that you should pay attention to her body language as it is your cat’s purest form of communication.
It is therefore essential to avoid noisy neighborhoods as well as loud music in the house.
Block the window view
Some cats will get stressed from seeing a person or another pet outside the window. This is especially common in new kittens yet to get used to the new environment. For instance, your new kitten may show signs of anxiety and stress whenever he sees another strange cat outside.
Therefore, it is essential to close the curtains, especially if she appears to be bothered by the happenings outside. This way, you will have removed the stress stimuli.
Develop a routine
Cats, like other pets, need to get used to a routine. This makes them adjust to their daily activities at a particular time and in a specific order. Failure to follow this routine may lead to a stressed kitten. In addition, cats always feel comfortable when they are on familiar grounds.
Therefore, you should devise a routine based on feeding time, playtime, and even the time you leave your house. This way, your cat will also develop a certain sense of direction in her life. This will also help her settle in faster without much struggle.
A new kitten is peeing outside the litter box. Medical Causes
We cannot emphasize enough how the urinary tract is common among cats. Peeing outside the litter box is one of the cats’ earliest signs of medical issues. Below, we will discuss some of the illnesses indicated by the cat urinating outside the litter box.
The top medical condition leading to kitten peeing outside the litter box include:
Urinary tract infection
Even though it is rare in young cats, your kitten may contract a urinary tract infection. However, you will have to be seen to determine whether your new kitten is peeing outside the litter box because she has a UTI.
Some signs and symptoms to look out for when examining a UTI include frequent urination. Due to the infection, you may notice your kitten peeing more frequently than usual. In addition, you may also witness your cat licking her genitals as a result of irritation of her urethra.
Kittens with UTIs also drink more water and experience difficulty passing urine. Taking your cat to the vet is essential if you suspect the discussed symptoms and signs of an infection. Your vet will be able to deliver a conclusive diagnosis as well as commence treatment.
It is, therefore, essential to ensure that your cat’s litter box is clean at all times to prevent infection.
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis
This is common, unlike other urinary tract infections; sadly, the cause is now well known. However, stress and an unclean environment may lead to the disease. At this point, it is essential to understand that this is not a usual superficial bladder infection.
Feline idiopathic cystitis causes inflammation of your kitten’s bladder. Symptoms of this disease include frequent urination, drinking more water than usual, and exercise intolerance. Some contributing factors to this illness may include lack of exercise and confinement. Not drinking enough water is also a factor that could lead to idiopathic cystitis in cats.
Therefore, cat owners need to provide enough physical activities. Not only will this reduce boredom in cats but also stress that may lead to this infection. Your vet will examine your cat and advice you about the methods of treatment.
Bladder stones
This is a more severe illness that will need immediate medical intervention. Bladder stones in kittens are characterized by the settling of crystals from minerals in your cat’s bladder. Sometimes, these stones will remain small while they can get bigger. Once this happens, these crystals rub against the kitten’s bladder walls. This leads to the inflammation of the bladder, which is painful and life-threatening.
In severe scenarios, the crystals may block your kitten’s urethra, making it difficult and painful to pass urine. This should be the first thing you should look for if you suspect she has bladder stones.
Other symptoms that may accompany painful urination include the following;
- Bloody urine
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Peeing outside the litter box
- Spraying
- Blockage of the urethra
As mentioned, bladder stones may require immediate medical attention.
Now that we have discussed some of the reasons that lead to a new kitten peeing outside the litter box, we can look at ways you can deal with it.
How to stop a new kitten from peeing outside the litter box
It is super annoying to have a house smelling of cat pee. Inappropriate urination is one of the significant reasons why cat parents surrender them to shelters. However, there are some tips you may use to curb this behavior. These include:
Ease stress
Just like you would feel out of place in a new household, it is the same with pets. Your new kitten may be peeing outside the litter box because of the stress and anxiety of changing homes. Therefore, it is essential to ease stress for her to adjust faster and easier.
You can do this by creating a daily routine to follow. This will give your new kitten a sense of belonging in the new home. It will also eliminate any surprises that may bring about anxiety for your kitten. You should also include exercise and playtime in this routine.
Train your kitten
Your kitten may also start peeing outside the litter box because she does not know how to use it. This is especially common in newborn kittens, and you will have to do all the training before she can adjust. Training your kitten should not be challenging, especially if reinforced by rewards and praises.
Once you have fully trained your kitten, you should place multiple litter boxes in your house. This way, your cat will never forget to use it as it slowly becomes a habit.
Thoroughly clean the litter box.
Your kitten will not use the litter box if it is smelly or dirty. It is, therefore, essential to empty the litter box as often as possible, preferably daily. This will encourage your kitten to use the litter box and refrain from peeing elsewhere.
Our Final Thought
To conclude, you must understand your cat’s health. However, refrain from too many vet visits as it will also stress your kitten. Instead, you can spend time making your cat feel more at ease in her new home.
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