How can I get my cat to stop urinating outside of his litter box?

Question

He is a 4year old male, neutered years ago. My litter box is in the basement and he pees all over in the basement. I use a multi cat litter as I have 2 cats. He just started doing this once I had my son 11 months ago. I don't know if he feels neglected or what but I can't stand the smell. Please help.

Answer 1

Hi Jason...it may be possible that he may have a lower urinary tract disorder/infection. Consider having him evaluated and treated respectively.

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

Answer 2

Try buying a new litter box - but not an actual litter box. Go to the hardware store and buy one of those trays that contractors use as grout or cement trays. They're about 30 X 18 inches and about 6 inches deep I think. Fill it with about 2 inches of fresh litter, and keep it clean. I use the paper pellet type of litter and it seems to keep the odor down as well. Clean it religiously - scoop the poops several times a day and throw out the rest when it starts to smell. The paper litter can be dug into the garden and is a great soil conditioner.

Look at the location from your cat's viewpoint, and make sure the box is in a place where he will feel safe and comfortable so consider putting the litter box in another location in the basement. Does the cat have access to other parts of the house, or is he always stuck in the basement? If the basement is where he lives, of course he's going to "mark his territory" because that's all the "property" he has and he's using urine to defend it.

Then fill a spray bottle with oil and cloves and water, or cayenne pepper, orange oil or something, and spray where your guy is marking his territory. Spray it daily at least, or more often if you can.

Cats will sometimes start marking their territory when they're disappointed in the smell or state or placement of their litter boxes, so a new start on the box and litter might be enough to make a difference. Toys also help, so make sure he has plenty of mousies to keep him occupied .

I hope this helps

Answer 3

That can be a real challenge. Without knowing you or your cat, here is what I would suggest:
1. Make sure you clean the spots where he has gone with a professional pet deodorizer. Cats have an instinct to go where they have gone before (That's why they will use the litter box.) and his sense of smell is Much better than yours, so the spots need to be cleaner than you would expect or he will still smell it.

2. Clean the litter box every day, or more often if you have more than one cat. (If you have more than one cat, and one is dominating the other, that can cause this problem too. In that case you might try adding another box in another part of your home so your cat can choose where to go.)

3. If your cat is not neutered, take him to the vet and have it done. That doesn't always solve this problem, but it helps often, and it's a responsible thing to do as a pet owner anyway.

Answer 4

First, Take him to the vet. He might have a urinary tract infection or something else. He needs to be looked at ASAP! If he doesn't have any of that, the the problem is emotional. First Clean, clean, clean. I used a product called petastic. www.petastic.com. There are some tips and a coupon on the website. Next buy a product called Feliway (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 5

I had this problem too. First I would try this stuff called Cat attract litter. It comes in a red bag like package, found at Petsmart. My cat loved this stuff at first and would go and pee very small amounts in it, like he thought it was cool, haha. This worked for me for about a year or so then my cat started acting up again. So I took him to the Vet.

The vet told me to go buy the cheapest litter I could find (non-clumping) and put only 2-3 cups of litter in the corner of the litter box. As soon as the cat uses the little totally clean out the box and put in a small amount back in the box. Over the next week slowing increase the amount of litter like a 1/2 cup a day. I would say about the second week try using the regular litter again. I was really hesitant to try this because my cat has always been really picky about litter, and to my surprise this worked!

They like to go where they know you'll clean it up, such as your floor. A lot of people have problems with cats going in the shower! Little kitty knows if he goes in the shower mom or dad will come clean up his mess.

Answer 6

You poor soul, you have my sympathy. I too had a cat urinating in every place but his litter. When I asked my vet, he gave me an expensive spray (60$ for like 3 oz) which did nothing to resolve the problem. He then gave me the solution that did work, and that was to make him an outdoor cat. If you find your cat is urinating near windows and doors, this will most likely be your only solution as it means your cat is marking it's territory. My cat had been fixed when this problem started so I don't think spaying or neutering will help unless it is a problem directly resulting from your cat reaching maturity - so I have to agree with one of the others who asked for more info. At the very least you have to start by trying to figure out if your cat is marking its territory or is in heat - each problem requires a different solution as above. I would strongly suggest taking your cat to the vet to ensure there is no medical reason first - then try some of these solutions. Other deterrents for cats are mothballs (not recommended as highly toxic), vinegar, pepper (hot pepper like cayenne or such). The internet is a valuable resource for other natural remedies - happy surfing and best of luck!

Answer 7

I need to know more. Is it a male or female cat, and what type of litterbox and litter do you use? If he is male neutering him should help. Also, how old is your cat? Does he urinate right next to the box, or all over the house?

Answer 8

My cat had the same problem, the vet said it could have been a number of things from behavior to him having an infection. Turns out he had a rotted tooth that needed to be removed and it was spreading bad bacteria. After that was removed and he got some antibiotics he was fine. Vet did suggest cleaning his box more regularly too ( like everyday or every other day).

Answer 9

first each male cat should have their own litter box. second spray bleach water where he has went. that will kill the smell also it will stop him from going all over

Answer 10

My cat used to go right outside of the box.

When he did that, the vet suggested to get him on a urinary tract formula of cat food. He was starting to get crystals in his tract, because I was feeding him the cheap stuff. Now, I feed him Iams and he always goes in the box.

If that doesn't work, try changing brands of litter and keeping it extra clean. Maybe invest in one of those littermates to ensure that it's clean all of the time.

IF your cat is going in random places you can:
1. Clean the area with Nature's Miracle
http://www.petsmart.com/global/search/search_results.jsp
2. If the cat isn't neutered, get him neutered
3. Invest in a cat pheromones dispenser
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?cm_ven=goo&cm_cat=adwords&cm_pla=unknown&cm_ite=sku&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025596&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780659&bmUID=1168636922237

Good luck.