Why does my cat keep peeing on everything!?

Question

My cat just started going into heat a month ago. Right after, she kept peeing on things, especially if there was something left on the floor like a jacket or clothes or anything. I always keep the litter box very clean and shes always used it before. I just got her spayed the other day and brought her back home. Now she is worse than ever. I don't know why she is doing it and how to get her to go back into the litter box. I don't want to have to get rid of her because she is really the sweetest cat otherwise. What should I do?

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.

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 nbelieved 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

Last year my beautiful Manx cat Theodore went out for the evening and never came back. I love cats and the house didn't feel the same without one, so I picked up Lola from a rescue centre. She was very frightened and would pee all over the house. I found Cat Spraying No More� on the internet and the techniques worked almost immediately. I haven't had a problem with Lola since. Amazing!

Can't stop your cat peeing in the house? Then worry no more...

Answer 3

Rub her paws in the litter box again, like when you first trained her. Show her the natural way to cover up her mess. Does she go outside too? She might of gotten into something, poisonous, like anti-freeze on the driveway, cats lick that because it's sweet-tasting, so the vet's say. If that is the case, take her to the vet's. It can be very serious. Antibiotics can help.

Answer 4

I had the same problem too!!! They either pee on everything or howl at the door. This is what I think she wants outside. :( My cat did that and he wanted to go outside and when we let him outside he would come back and stuff, but the point is he started going in his litterbox. I kept it clean all the time. Otherwise I don't have any other idea besides get rid of her and I'm a don't like getting rid of my cats.

Answer 5

Keep her on one central location where she can feel safe and warm small space is fine monitor her when she is not in this space play with her teach her a new game with a new toy she has to learn to get beyond this behavior if she wont accept the smaller area do something to make it more cozy get an old wind up clock that ticks like a heartbeat if she pees in this area take her to a vet there has to be something wrong with her bladder

Answer 6

get her back to the vets for a urine check. she probably has some infection from the spaying and very treatable with antibiotics. when cats stop using the litter box or go outside of it get them checked at the vets. and keep the litter clean and try and stay with a good scoopable brand they like

Answer 7

Put her outside when she pees on something. Do something to punish her, like squirt her with a squirt bottle or lightly pop her on the backside. If that does not work, you could try putting her outside when she goes to the bathroom where she is not supposed to. If she totally hates it outside, she'll be more than willing to cooperate indoors. Or you could always get one of the smaller doggy diapers and try it on her. I've never tried it, but nothing could hurt. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

it could be an infection from the spaying process.. well it should be.. the first peeing-on-everything part was a reaction to her being in heat. well you situation now probably means there has been an infection.

Answer 9

my moms cat does that too i never knew why i thought it was cuz she is old. but if yours is still young it could be marking her territory or if it is just a little spot it may be what we humans call a period. my vet told me that a cat in heat will "drip" a clear liquid just like a dog will actually drip blood while in heat.

Answer 10

first teach her to go in the litter box then put the litter box in the toilet ant then she will be potty trained!