Why do male cats urinate in the house and how can one stop it?

Question

1 year old....male cat...neutered

Answer 1

Hi Kim...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 there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up
- cats older than 10/11 years old can develop age-related disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.

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

Answer 2

Even though the cat is neutered he still can spray just fine. It sounds as though he probably started just before he was neutered, and kept up the habit. That's why it's best to neuter them early.

Cats (male and female) can start spraying at any age. I had a 9 year old female that started spraying because I brought another female in. She had never done this before and was spayed when she was 5 months.

Is this an indoor/outdoor cat? If so, loud noise or spraying with water might be enough to restructure the habit so that he does it just outside. Honestly, once a cat starts spraying, it's really hard to get him to stop. It's like telling a dog not to lift his leg to pee.

Answer 3

We had a severe marking problem with our 2 adult female cats in our home. They were abandoned very young and we fixed them a couple weeks too late. This marking behavior, once started, is extremely hard to break. I have heard from behavior experts that after the 1yr mark, you can't break the habit unless it is purely health related. We introduced a younger cat to our cat family and all hell broke loose.

The most important thing is going down the check list to eliminate any of the possible causes until you narrow it down to the most probable cause. The urination could be a health issue, expecially in neutered males, and it is important to diagnose this early. I am supplying you with a fantastic website that provides a strong check list for you to work on and hopefully solve what can be a terrible problem. I am not endorsing the products they sell that "deter"- they have never worked for me and I have spent a considerable amount of money testing them....

If you are feeding him dry food, you need to read the ingredients panel and ensure there is no by-products in the food along with other inferior ingredients. This can cause urinary tract problems along with many other illnesses.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Well usually male cats stop urinating in the house after neutering but your cat is different. You should every time he needs to use the bathroom take him to his litterbox and not let him leave until he uses the litterbox.

Answer 5

I have a solution to this: if it makes **** in the house, hold the head againt the heap of **** and stick de nose into it. For the urine, may be the same could work. Once I did that for the first time, the cat never did it again.

Answer 6

I have one cat and have never had this problem but my dad has 4 cats and has had the problem. Our vet told us to clean it up with a papertowel or whatever and put it in the cat box. After you do this, lock the cat in the room with the cat box for a day and than let him out. It shows him where he is suppose to go to the bathroom.

Answer 7

Invest in a black light, this will show you where the cat has actually marked. Soapy water works but I like Natures Miracle. I am a shelter volunteer and stray foster home... (30 cats at my max) But get it while it is wet and fresh cause if it sinks into the flooring you will be replacing it

Answer 8

They mark their territory but being he is neutered he is probably going over spots that have been done before. He may do it if a new cat enters the house? Mine will do it if his box is really dirty!

Answer 9

That's bizarre he is spraying if he is neutered. That should have stopped him.

He may be spraying if you have other cats and he is being territorial.

I would suggest a trip back to the vet.

Answer 10

They scent mark their territory. It is a common trait for male cats, especially if he feels his turf has been threatened somehow. Even the addition or removal of furniture can cause this, and there is little you can do to stop it. You maywant to talk to your vet. We had to medicate our cat with an anti-anxiety drug to help him with his excessive marking.

Answer 11

He's being territorial. Has anything changed lately? His food, litterbox location, new cats in the house or neighborhood? Either way, contact your vet for assistance on solving the problem.