How do I get my cat to stop peeing in my closet. We recently moved and she is upset.?

Answer 1

Hi Korie...since 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 there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up. Some cats are possessive with their litter boxes and block access to others which can cause accidents
- consider placing a litter box in the closet to test to see if this stops the accidents within the closet then gradually over a few weeks move it out in front of the closet and then beside...see if she continues to use the box each time.

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.

...please consider visiting the website for further details

Additionally, Many people believe mothballs work, however they are considered toxic and should NOT be used. Here's more information on this:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=89
MOTHBALLS are toxic to cats which contains the ingredient Naphthalene. Mothballs are approximately twice as toxic as paradichlorobenzene, and cats are especially sensitive to naphthalene. Signs of ingestion of naphthalene mothballs include emesis, weakness, lethargy, brown-colored mucous membranes and collapses. Paradichlorobenzene mothballs may cause GI upset, ataxia, disorientation, and depression. Elevations in liver serum biochemical values may occur within 72 hours of indigestion.

Answer 2

Two suggestions;
Close the closet door
or
Move the food there, cats will not pee where they eat

Don't clean with an ammonia based product, that will attract rather than repel.

There may have been a previous cat tenant in the house, and yours is marking its territory.

Answer 3

I think the vet can do something about prescribing them some medication to calm her down, and if you don't want her to go in the closet you can try laying tin foil down on the floor in there and cats don't like to walk on tin foil because of it hurting/being uncomfortable on their paws. you only have to keep it in there for a week or two, then the cat will associate Closet with uncomfortable. That doesn't mean she won't pee somewhere else.

Oh and also, she may be doing that to mark her territory, so maybe try and rub her toys and stuff like catnip around the house if you just moved in. that Might* help. Hopefully

Answer 4

The most effective thing I've done to stop bad behavior like that is to get a large cannister of black pepper and cover the area of the carpet with it...this is especially helpful if she smells where another cat has gone and is just doing the same herself.

It won't hurt your cat and you can vacuum it up after a week or so. I did it when my three cats started going in the corner of the room where they smelled another cat. They didn't get too close to it because they can smell it from a distance and never even sneezed because they didn't get near enough to get the actual pepper on them.

Try the pepper, it's cheap, safe, effective and real easy to do. Trust me, she'll never go in there again.

Answer 5

Got a couple of choices here. Keep the door closed or put a litter box in there. She is probably just confused about where the "right place" is in the new house, or some other cat may have peed there at some time in the past.

Answer 6

Get some mothball flakes and spread them on the floor. Cats don't like this stuff.

Clean up really well everytime you find it's wet and use something that will eliminate the odor that uses enzymes to do so, otherwise kitty will go back over and over to do his thing.

Don't use ammonia to clean, it attracts them.

You can put something down on the floor that the cat doesn't like to walk on...mine hates astroturf so I use that where I don't want her to go.

Most of all, don't get angry, don't hit the cat or throw something at him, he is just traumatized and you don't want to make it worse. It can take a month or more for a cat to adjust to a new home.

Good luck

Answer 7

Spray windex with ammonia. Sounds crazy but the ammonia in it will not make your closet smell....but the cat will smell it and not pee in that area.

Answer 8

Keep your closet door closed.

Answer 9

Close your closet door.

Answer 10

put a litter box in there until she calms down