Why does my cat PEE in bathtub and sink drains?

Question

Riley, our precocious and opinionated orange tabby, was always fascinated by watching water trickle down the bathtub drain. He used to beg for us to turn on the water - so he could watch it. Soon after he began squatting over the bathtub drain and peeing in it! He will also pee in the sink drain (same bathroom). This takes place in the bathroom where his litter box is located. Yes, we scoop the boxes and keep them clean. However, Riley also pees in the drain of a powder room where he eats his meals (he inhales his food and then tries to eat his brother's food, so he must be confined!).

Help???

Answer 1

The only reason I could figure out when my cat did that was that his litter box was not cleaned to his specifications..haha. I am not sure why they do that actually. As soon as I clean out Bageara's litter box, he stops going in the tub. He has never done it in the sink though. He too loves for the water to be turned on to drip so he can play in it. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Cat Peeing In Sink

Answer 3

I recently adopted a cat from the shelter. She has been great. went right in the litter box as soon as I got her home. she has adjusted so well, it was like we were meant to find each other. BUT, yes there is a 'but. I am having this problem too with the peeing in the bathtub. I scoop her litter box on a daily basis, and sometimes twice...and completely change the whole box once a week. It is a clean box. and she uses it. In fact she used it yesterday, and again this morning right in front of me, as it is in the bathroom, and i was getting ready for my day. As i opened the shower curtain, i found cat pee yet again. She did it some time over the night. But the fact that she used her box yesterday and again this morning, it can't be because she doesn't think its clean. She is fascinated w/the tub for some reason. and she likes water too. i don't get it. I am glad she doesn't pee on the floor or on a rug(that i know of yet anyways). but if there is a solution to this problem, i would love to know!

Answer 4

I also have a cat that does this, he has learnt that the water goes down the drain and does not leave that horrid cat pee smell afterwards. My cat pees in the hand basin and poops in the bathtub, I don't have a problem with this as I don't have to worry about stepping in any of his mess because it is not on the floor, or on clothes or anywhere else that he may want to use as a bathroom.

Your cat would also have picked up this habit from watching you and your partner going to the loo, so I really wouldn't worry about it.

Good Luck

Answer 5

The first thing to evaluate when a cat is avoiding the litter box is his health. Make sure he doesn't have any infections (pain while pooping or urinating will cause the cat to go somewhere other than the litter box because it associates the litter box with the pain). If infections are (or have been) ruled out, this is merely psychological. The poster who said she put cleaning agents in those areas....I think that's a good idea. Just make sure your cat doesn't step in the cleaners, because then he'll clean it off by licking it and become very ill.

You can try discipline in this situation, as well. Keep a close eye on him, and when you see him about to go in the sink or bathtub, squirt him with water from a bottle or squirt gun. A blast from an airhorn works, as well (just make sure he doesn't see you using it, or he'll associate the "bad" noise with you....and I wouldn't recommend it if you live in an apartment, lol).

Good luck!

Answer 6

my cat started to pee in the bathtub because somebody closed the door to the litter box closet. When we closed the shower doors she just pees on the corner near the tub. Now, she has learned to pee in the upstairs bath tub, but she sits directly on top of the drain and pees into the drain. There is hardly any smell and I don t plan to do anything about this, except clean my tub drain area well before I use the bath tub. I think the shower water moves any residue down. If you can t beat em, join em.

Is this bad for our health in any way?
She still has a litter box but it sometimes gets too dirty.

Answer 7

Oh my goodness, our precocious and opinionated orange tabby also pees in sinks and bathtubs. I've actually turned the water on him while he's peeing in the sink and he still doesn't stop. We keep his litter clean and we still have the problem. We took him to the vet thinking he might have a bladder infection but he did not. By chance is your cat from the Pullman, Washington area? Maybe they are brothers :) How funny, I never knew anyone else who had this problem. I was just happy he wasn't peeing on the floor, etc. Our kitty used to be outside and I think he just isn't used to picking one place to go to the bathroom. Good Luck and if you find something that works for you, please let us know :)

Answer 8

my cat poops and pees in my bathtub also. I found if you close the door they just poop on the rug. my cat is so weird that if something is in the tub like a tub toy she will poop on the bathroom rug instead. I would rather her poop in the tub then somewhere else because it washes down the drain easier then getting the smell out of your rugs. She start doing this when I got pregnant with my son. Maybe something is different with you or your living area. Good luck and just keep loving you cat.

Answer 9

Sometimes this is due to a UTI. One sign of UTI's is when cats seek out smoothe an cool surfaces. He also may just enjoy hearing his pee trickle down the drain.....smart cat if he learned how to get the noise going without help from you guys. I have a cat obsessed with the shower drain....Cats are peculiar and this may just be his THING.

Answer 10

My cat Tabby does this as well. Cats like enclosed places where they feel safe and they like to use those places as litterboxes. But we got her away from it by putting comet and windex all over the bath tub and sink she eventually stopped but i think riley just likes to see liquid go down the drain because he doesn't know how it works. If what i said won't work, ask people aat pet stores and your vet but we got that idea from out vet.