Bad toilet habits and how to cure?

Question

Our cat, an inherited one about 13 years old, has a nasty habit of weeing or otherwise in certain specific places in the house, usually within a meter of the litter box she is either too lazy or stupid to use. How do I convince her the spots she uses are not the ones we want her to use and direct her to the box? We never see her do it, just find the .... prezzies. Suggetions please.

Answer 1

Hi Mick...the person above me most likely is correct. Generally, when a cat eliminates outside of the litter box it is symptomatic of a medical problem such as a bladder infection or perhaps with a senior cat kidney problems and therefore see a veterinarian to evaluate.

Here's an article by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine of Feline Health about inappropriate house soiling:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

....please consider visiting the website for further details

Answer 2

First - take her to the vet. alot of times there is a reason she will pee out of the box and she is doing it in order to tell you there is something wrong. it is always the safest route to go - making sure she is healthy and relieving any other concerns.
If you have a covered litter box - un cover it. leave it open for her to see as the area to pee in. alot of times the covered ones are too scary or have an oder the cat doesnt like. i also would leave a plastic runner - used on carpets with pointy things on the bottom (find it at home depot) BUT lay it in the area with the pointy things up. it will hurt her paws a littel bit and annoy her to not squat in that place. or lay foil in the area she is going - they hate that feeling too. or lay carboard with double sided tape on it, the tape will irriatate her paws and convince her it is not the spot to go. I hope this helps- Your vet may have some ideas as well.

Answer 3

You need to confine your cat to one room with a litter box or several litter boxes. Do not let her out of the room until she uses the litter boxes correctly.

Answer 4

A 13 year old cat who is totally grieving over the previous owner is going to pee all over the house and keep doing it until their little senile cat self dies.

Answer 5

spray your cat with frebreeze untill it gets mad and decides to stop