I have an indoor cat who is litterbox trained. Lately she pees on the couch,, anyone know why?

Question

She will wet on anything if it is left lying on the floor,,kids coats, clothing, pillows. I keep her litter box clean. Is she just being bratty??

Answer 1

Hi Bonnie...if this is something that recently developed, first consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule some if there are more than one cats in the home cats feel intimidated by sharing litter boxes so it may be helpful to offer one for each plus an extra box
- unaltered male/female cats over the age of 5-7 months become sexually mature and territorially mark with either urinating or defecating.

If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.

Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: 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.

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Answer 2

First, take her to the vet to make sure she isn't trying to tell you she needs help. Often, a cat with an urinary infection to the bladder or some other hurtful thing that is causing them pain will start urinating elsewhere then the box in an effort to tell you something is wrong. If the vet gives her a clean bill of health, it could be that something is off (according to the cat's standards anyway) with the litterbox or the litter itself, or some other change has happened in the household to distress the cat. It'll be hard to figure out what might have set the cat off since she can't tell you and it often is something you don't even notice of aren't aware of. But get her to the vet first. If the vet can't find anything wrong, ask him/her what else might have triggered this aberrant behavior in your usually well-trained kitty--vets have heard it all and probably can give you more things to consider.

Answer 3

As the others stated, vet first, and then think about what changes have occurred in your household lately. Sometimes even the smallest changes in routine can cause a cat to get upset and start urinating where it shouldn't. The big problem with that (been through this myself) is that once the cat smells it, they tend to continue using that spot.

Hopefully this can be corrected with some helpful advice from your vet too.

Answer 4

Your cat may have a bladder infection. That you can have checked by a Vet. You may have upset her or there may be another cat scent around...Do you visit friends with cats? Female cats do urinate/spray just like males when they sense something in their territory. Spaying her may solve the peeing.
I would take her to the vet to make sure it is not something serious.

Answer 5

My cat did the same thing, in fact she just peed on the presents under the christmas tree. we used deodorizers that helped keep the cat away, however they didn't work too well and we ended up putting the cat to sleep since she wouldn't stop. We figured it was since she was old and had a bladder problem and couldnt really help it, either that or she was marking her territory.

Answer 6

You should have her checked by your vet. One of the first signs of a urinary tract infection or kidney infection is peeing in strange places, and cats are very prone to these. Good luck.

Answer 7

she might have a bladder infection, possibly new brand of litter?, or might just be bad.... but usually there is an underlying problem that might take a bit to figure out. yeah, the vet needs to see her to eliminate medical problems.

Answer 8

Make sure the litter box is clean. My cat won't use it if I let it get to dirty.

Answer 9

Felines are known for having UTI's. I think a check up is in order.

Answer 10

how old is she ? is she spayed ? She is not being bratty, there must be an underlying problem.