Female Cat Suddenly Peeing Outside The Litter Box (Inside Cat)?

Question

I have two female cats and my roomate has one female cat. When I moved in, none of the cats were peeing anywhere besides the litter box. Since I have moved in, I could smell cat pee on the stairs. Then one of the cats peed on the chair. (When a cat peed on the chair, one of the cats was in heat - but we don't know if that is coincidence) I cannot recall if one of the cats was in heat when there was pee on the stairs. The day before yesterday, I saw my roomates cat, who was in heat, peed on my shoe. I have read that females cats can spray their scent while in heat to attract male cats. Although I have no idea who peed the other 2 times, I am inclined to think that it has something to do with the two smaller ones going into heat. (the older one is fixed) What can we do to stop this? Does it possibly have anything to do with my cats being there? I am moving out at the end of the month - and my younger cat is being fixed around the same time. Will the roomates cat still pee?

The cats do share litter boxes, but now by our choice. Her cat will wait until I open the door to my room and run into use my cats box and I am pretty sure my cats use hers as well, although I have never seen them do it. Her cat also HAS to be the first one in the box when I change it. It's actually quite cute :) The cats get along fine and play together often. They share food and toys. They are all pretty good cats. My oldest one hisses every once in awhile but her cat is very laid back and just has so much kitten left in her, although I believe she is almost one.

Answer 1

First it's recomended that you have 2 litter boxes per cat so you should have atleast 3 boxes. Secondly, Cats are known for having problems with their bladders and kidneys. A classic sign of a cat with these types of problems can be going outside of the litter box. They try to find a place to go where it doesn't hurt them to go but it's not the place that they pee that makes it painful it's because they have a health problem. So you may want to have your cats examined by a vet to make sure that they don't have any crystals, casts, bacteria,etc. in their urine. Thirdly, female cats can urinate on things to bring it to the attention of a male cat that there is a female in heat. I recomend that you have the cats spayed asap. Hope some of this info helps. Good Luck

Answer 2

First of all, are you making all the cats use the same litter box? If so, don't. Get separate boxes. That could be one reason they're peeing everywhere. Cats don't like to use another cats litter box. Second, it could very well be because your cats are now around a new cat and vice verso. When cats are scared or mad at you, they do tend to pee everywhere other than the cat box. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the cat being in heat. When you do move out, the problem will be fixed. Also, if the litter box is dirty then cats will go elsewhere. Make sure you have a clean cat box and get separate ones for your cats. Hopefully that will help some.

Answer 3

Some times the scent-marking is not only what is causing your problems. Sometimes it is purely just that the cat is having trouble peeing inside the litterbox or cannot "hold it."

Mostly when cats mature enough they will learn to control their bladders. It is an instinct that cats prefer to make dirt in a secluded area, such as the aforementioned litterbox.

To stop, you may want to confine your cat in a crate. Felines prefer not to soil themselves, and it is not cruel to shut that door for a while. If without any other outcome, she will learn that it is unacceptable and uncomfortable to pee anywhere else but the litterbox. By all means, however don't use this as a punishment. Make it rather comfortable, possibly furninshing the crate with a simple toy or two and a circular bed. Your roomate's cat will not urinate any more if she/he tries the suggested technique.

Good luck, whatever you may try.

Answer 4

this has nothing to do with training; and i doubt it has anything to do with being in heat either. how many litter boxes do you have? typically, there should be 1 for each cat plus an extra, but i feel thats a bit much; my mom does fine with 1 box for 2 cats, and we have 2 boxes for 3 cats. first, be sure the boxes are not near their food; would you want to pee where you eat? :D second, try to keep the boxes as clean as possible; scoop them 2x a day or more if needed. also, top idea, take her to the vet. UTI and bladder infections are actually the most common reason for a kitty to begin peeing outside of the litter box when before they always went. my friend just went through this when bringing a new cat home, and she as well thought it to be territorial, and it was a UTI. so please rule out medical reasons before blaming it on behavior problems.

Answer 5

Stress, hormones, territorial behavior, illness, dissatisfaction with the litterbox...it could be any number of problems, or a combination of those.

My first recommendation would be to get these cats spayed ASAP - being in heat can bring out territorial behavior not only in the cat who's in heat, but in the other cats as well.

All of the cats should also be taken the cats to the vet to make sure they're not sick - urinary infection &/or urinary crystals are the most common cause for cats to start going outside of their boxes. Tell the vet what's going on, and ask for urinalysis testing on the cats. If one (or more) of the cats is ill, it's in pain and can't help going out of the box occasionally - behavioral remedies will be useless until it's treated for the urinary health problems. Cats are good at hiding illness and pain (it's a survival tactic), so often the only clue you'll get that your cat may have urinary health problems is out-of-the-box urination.

If they check out OK at the vet, it's possible that something about the litterbox itself, the litter, the box location, etc. is bothering the cats. Make sure you have enough boxes - there should be at least one box per cat plus one extra, so you should have at least 4 boxes available for these cats to use.
See these links for litterbox problem suggestions:
http://www.catinfo.org/litterbox.htm
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html
Those links don’t mention it, but I highly recommend Cat Attract litter for helping with litter box problems. It can be found at most pet supply stores. Another thing to consider is the possibility that if your litter box has been in use for some time, the plastic may have absorbed odors – try replacing it with a new box to see if that helps.

Stress can cause inappropriate urination - cats can be stressed sometimes by things that we don't even notice, until we know what to look for. This article explains stress in cats & how to address it:
http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/stress.htm

A Feliway Comfort Zone diffuser can help a great deal with stress & territorial litterbox issues: http://www.petcomfortzone.com/czcats.htm

This link has extensive "out-of-the-box" resources: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

You’ll also need to make sure that all previously soiled spots are cleaned with an enzyme cleaner, so the cat won’t be lured there again. This link has excellent urine spot locating and cleanup info: http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/48/Combat-Cat-Urine.html
It's a 2-page article (the link to the second page at the bottom may be a little difficult to spot).

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

It's probably less to do with being in heat and more to do with there being an upheaval in the household routine, with new cats and new people. If the roommate's cat was used to being the only cat in the household, it may be showing its displeasure or trying to establish its territory.

Make sure that the litter boxes are kept spotless, and I'd also recommend putting down another litter box so that there are more options for the cats.

Answer 7

ok first of all yes they mark and spray especialy shoes because they can smell other animals on the shoes however if your cat is older you might want to go to the vet and get her tested to see if there are crystals in her urine sometimes that happens to older cats and they pee where ever because it is painfull they are telling you something is wrong but if it is sprayin just get the cat fixed then the problem will stop. either way the vet is where you need to go.the spca will neuter your cat for a very cheep price so think about it or keep the shoes put up like I do i keep them in a milk crate by the door or in the closit so that they cannot pee on them throw rugs and newspaper is another favorite for them to pee on keep the floor as empty as possible if you decide not to fix her.

Answer 8

I had a cat who did this, he had a urinary tract infection. He needed special food to control this. You might also want to try seperate litter boxes, the cats might not like to share. However, I did have multiple cats with one litter box, so my advice to you is get the cat checked out by the vet, it could be an infection.

Answer 9

I know it seems silly, but try 3 litter boxes.
Sometimes cats can be finicky about their bathroom
facility, just like their food.

Also, have you switched litter brand lately?
One of my females cats started peeing outside the box
when I switched litter on her. As soon as what she
was used to went back in the box so did she.

Answer 10

It could indeed be a territory thing. Or it could be that the one cat needs to be spayed, now.

Another thing you want to check is to make sure none of the girls has a urinary tract infection: Often the first sign that that is present is the cat not using the box.

Good luck!