i have 2 cats , 1 litter box - one of my cats has a habbitof sometimes going pee on the floor?

Question

or anyone where else, thats not hes litter box- its cleaned reguarly - anyone have an idea as to why sometimes cats do this ?

he is allready fixed

its rare, when he does this, and weved had our cats for like a year now, so i didnt know if this was strange or hes just acting out or what , thanks!

Answer 1

Hi there...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
- senior cats 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 such as something as simple as a lower urinary tract disorder: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html 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

Hi, Im a vet tech and I was wondering has your one cat always done this or is it a new problem? If its a new problem your cat could have a urinary tract infection and would need to see a vet. If you cat has always done this you might want to try having 2 litter boxes...sometimes cats don't like sharing their potty with another even if you clean it everday. If your cat is peeing in the same place try putting his food bowl on that spot he will not pee near his food and will aid in breaking the habit along with the second litter box.

Answer 3

I think that there might be a couple things you can do to prevent this from happening.
a) I would try getting another kitty litter so each cat can have their own, or at least feel like they do. If you do that continue to clean both regularly.
b)If the kitty litter box you are currently using is quite old (more than a couple years) you may need to buy another box .Old litter boxes sometimes pick up smells that the cats notices, that may not be obvious to us humans.
c) It could be time to switch kitty litter brands, some cats are quite particular as to what brand/textures/scents they like.
d) Your cat may be exhibiting signs of a Urinary Tract Infection. If this behavior continues Kitty may need a check up. If this is the problem and you catch it early it is less painful for the cat and treatable. If this is the case you may need to switch cat foods, but your vet would be able to guide you to some high quality brands.
Just a couple ideas
Good luck

Answer 4

If you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes - at least that's what I've read.

I personally have 2 cats, and 1 litter box, but the older male hates using the litter box, and always has. He'd rather go outside - which is OK with me. The female, insists on using the litter box every chance she can, and refuses to go outside.

Answer 5

You could try changing the brand of cat litter. Sometimes they just decide they don't like it anymore & let you know that its not "up to par" by peeing anywhere else but! Or, try putting the litter box in a differnt place & show him to his new location. If that doesn't work, you may want to get him checked for a possible bladder infection or crystals. Be aware of the amount he is peeing elsewhere. If its small puddles, I would take him to the vet right away. Good Luck

Answer 6

Your suposed to have a kitty litter box for each cat, and an extra one. I have 2 cats but I only have 2 boxes...

sometimes, when a cat is mad at you, he or she will do there thing in strange places. My one cat (female, fixed) is doing it right now because we just had a baby and I'm not able to show her as much affection as I used to. She also just had a urinary tract infection which will also cause them to go other places as they think that peeing in the box is what is causing them pain.

If it doens't stop soon, take him to the vet as it could be something medical.

Answer 7

The litter box isn't clean enough.

Cats are the most nuerotic animals that I've come across, and if they're box isn't clean enough, then they'll go everywhere else. That's how our cats do. Except they only pee on our close, instead of the floor. Try cleaning the litter box more often, or getting one of those auto scooping boxes. Or get another box, one for him, and one for her, type things.

Answer 8

You need to get another litter box. Some cats are very fussy& don't like to share their litter box. It is a rule of thumb to always have one more litter boxes, than you have cats. I have 2 cats,& 4 litter boxes ( 2upstairs ,and2 downstairs) They use all of them at some point, depending where they are in the house.Also it is good that you keep them clean. If it continues, have your cat checked for urinary tract problems, as this could be a sign of that. Good luck...

Answer 9

The litterbox rule is: #of cats + 1. So you should try a couple of more boxes for your cats and also get brand new ones. Plastic litterboxes only have a life span of about two years. The plastic picks up odors from bacteria. Even though they are washed well and filled with new litter the odor remains. You can't smell it and your cats can.

Answer 10

My parent's cat does this too! They cannot leave any boxes around. A few times when he went in boxes he had a UTI & then I just think he associated the boxes w/ peeing! Try bringing him to the box he peed in& say NO! Then immediatly take him to his litter box. When he goed in the litter box say"Good boy" & give him a treat. Good luck.

Answer 11

I have 2 cats myself and according to what my vet tells me, you're supposed to have 1 litterbox for EACH cat. You say you keep it clean; but just how often do you scoop it out? I scoop mine out twice a day, then once a week I empty it completly out and put fresh litter in. Another reason why cats go outside the box is because they have urinary tract infections. Better take your kitty to the vet and have him checked out.