My cat is urinating in the house and litter box?

Question

I have a 1 and a half year old cat. A while ago we caught her peeing in a spot upstairs, so we had the carpet cleaned. A little bit later we started smelling the pee agian, so we figured she could still smell her scent and was still going in the same spot upstairs. Well then all of a sudden we could smell pee downstairs as well. So we bought a black light to detect where the pee was, and let me tell you it was a shock. The cat has peed in almost every other inch of the downstairs. The thing is I see her go in her litter box all the time, and I never have caught her in the act. She seems normal as far as eating and activity. Do you have any idea why she is peeing all over the house and what I can do to get her to stop?? I am desperate. Also any cleaning ideas to get the smell out. Any answers will be much appricated.

Answer 1

Hi there....first consider all the possibilities:
- 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
- unspayed/un-neutered if cat is over the age of 5-7 months. Cats will become aggressive as they sexually mature and territorially mark with either urine 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.

More on feline lower urinary tract disorders (FLUTD): http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html

More on house soiling problems by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health: 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. She might have a urinary tract infection or something else.she needs to be looked at ASAP! You also might want to get her spayed if she isn't already. This might help the problem If she doesn't have any of that, the the problem is emotional. Have you changed her litter, got a new cat or addition to the family, moved? Ever rearranging the furniture makes them upset some times!

First Clean, clean, clean. I used a product called petastic.
http://www.petastic.com. There are some tips and a coupon on the website.

Next buy a product called Feliway http://www.feliway.com It puts out pheromones and will help your kitty with the situation. I used this when we moved and I use it when we take our cats on vacation. Both of these products work great, but he needs a vet ASAP!! I cannot stress that enough. I have been through a similar situation and it isn't fun.

Also, make sure to keep the litter box CLEAN. A lot of people don't know that you should keep about three inches of litter in the box at all times. Also, if you have more then one cat you should have more then one box. I have a great litter that I use. It is good for animals and the environment http://www.swheatscoop.com Good Luck!

Answer 3

The "Kids & Pets" carpet cleaner works wonders. I also suggest using it to clean the carpet.

I have 2 cats and they started urinating outside thier box, but just in the area around the box. I eventually figured out that they only like clean litter boxes, so I bought one of those LitterMaid cat boxes and the problems stopped.

I'd also suggest taking your cat to the vet to see if there are any internal problems that are causing her bladder problems.

Answer 4

Your cat probably has a urinary tract infection. Must take your cat to the vet for a urinalysis so they can check for crystals or something else. Going outside the litter box is a huge sign of UTI. This will let you know if the behaviour is medical and treatable or behavioural.

Answer 5

Your kitty is too young to have urinary problems (although its not unheard of). I am thinking that something is upsetting your cat. Is there another animal outside that she can see from the windows? Some cats feel the need to mark their territory when they spot other animals in the vicinity. Perhaps if you get one of those calming scents for cats like "Feliway" or bottled flower essences specifically brewed for skittish or stressed cats... I would definitely give these a try just to help the cat restore her emotional balance. Next, limit her views of the outside - especially when other people are walking their dogs. Next, when she is sleepy or needs to rest, put her in a room where she is sure to have quiet and peace. I put my 2 males in my bedroom when they need to sleep especially when my grandsons are around or when I have visitors. This minimizes stressful situations for the cats.

Answer 6

Getting them fixed will sometimes stop that!

Also she may be picky about her box, try cleaning it more often and see if that helps.

If you have introduced any new pet into the house she could be marking her territory.

Answer 7

Take her to the vet asap, she could have a bladder infection...Secondly change her litter box completely...get a brand new one, she may be complaining indirectly that she doesn't like the box....

Answer 8

There is a WONDERFUL cleaner called "Kids And Pets". I get mine at WalMart. It is inexpensive and comes in a big bottle...It works out stains, odors, and discourages repeat urination.