While finding cat urine in your house is obviously disappointing, there’s nothing wrong with your cat “relieving itself” outside the litter box — it’s simply a behavior that meets its own needs at the time.
There are many reasons why a cat may urinate outside the litter box, including health issues, anxiety, or bullying from other pets in the household that need to be addressed. With a little research (and maybe a visit to the vet), you should be able to find out what you need to do to stop your cat from urinating inappropriately.
Here are the top 10 ways to stop your cat from urinating outside the litter box.
Consult your veterinarian
If your cat starts urinating outside the litter box, the most important thing to do is make an appointment with your vet.
Urinary tract infections, hyperthyroidism, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), bladder crystals or stones, arthritis, diabetes and kidney disease are just a few of the common health issues that can cause your cat to urinate outside the litter box.
Your veterinarian will ask you questions about the problem and how it started, and will perform a physical exam, urinalysis, and possibly other diagnostic tests to determine if the issue is medical rather than behavioral.
If your cat’s medical exam comes out clean, your vet can help you address any environmental or behavioral issues that may be related to your cat’s health.
Thoroughly clean the dirt
Whether or not your vet determines whether the problem is medical or behavioral, make sure to thoroughly clean any areas where your cat has urinated outside the litter box — not only for your own sake, but to ensure the odor is eliminated so your cat doesn’t return to those same areas.
Using only a black light and your sense of smell, you can pinpoint all the problem areas.
For fresh urine, first wipe off as much as possible with a paper or cloth towel, then (for older stains) choose the best cleaning method depending on the stained area.
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Bedding, clothing, towels, etc.: These can be washed in the washing machine on the cold cycle and hung outside to dry.
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Floors and other hard surfaces: Thoroughly clean with a general household cleaning solution or a cleaning solution that will remove pet stains and odors.
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Rugs, carpets, mattresses, and upholstery: These are best cleaned with an enzymatic or bacterial cleaner such as: Nature’s Miracle Just for Cats Oxy Cat Stain & DeodorizerHowever, to get the best results, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Addressing territorial issues
Cats may mark their territory by spraying. When they spray, they usually stand in front of a vertical surface and squirt a relatively small amount of urine onto it, so if you notice urine splattered on a wall, your cat may not actually be peeing, but rather spraying.
Unneutered male cats are the most notorious sprayers. Cats should ideally be neutered before puberty, around 5 to 6 months of age. Consult your veterinarian about when to spay or neuter your kitten.
If your neutered cat is spraying, make him feel more secure in his own territory. In households with multiple cats, it’s a good idea to give each cat a separate living area.
If this isn’t feasible, try providing tall cat trees or perches with hiding places and covered escape routes where cats can easily avoid each other.
Sometimes, stray or neighborhood cats outside the home can cause territorial disputes. If your cat is an indoor cat, even just looking at them through a window can cause problems.
Over-the-counter anxiety relief products Vetoquinol Zylken Sedative Supplement or Feliway Classic It may also work for cats that are spraying.
If all else fails, your vet can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, such as fluoxetine.
Reduce cat conflicts
Conflict between multiple cats or the introduction of a new cat can cause inappropriate urination.
If your cats have argued in or near the litter box, they may choose to avoid the litter box rather than risk another fight by using it. Try separating the cats for a while to ease tensions, then gradually bringing them back together.
One cat may guard the litter box, so space out multiple litter boxes throughout the house so one cat can’t block access to all the boxes at the same time.
You might also consider using a litter box without a cover so your cat can always be aware of its surroundings, which will make it feel safer and less anxious.
Add a litter box
If you determine that your cat is urinating inappropriately rather than spraying, you should take a closer look at the litter box.
First, how many cats do you have? Often one litter box is not enough. A general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra.
Cats can be very particular about using a litter box that already has urine or waste in it, especially if that urine or waste isn’t theirs. The more litter boxes you have, the better your cat’s chances of finding one that suits her needs.
Evaluate the location of the toilets
Where are the litter boxes located? If your house has multiple floors, there should be at least one on each floor.
Think about it: if you were on the second floor of your house, would you want to run downstairs to go to the bathroom? The same goes for your cat.
Also, if your litter box is too hidden, like in a cupboard or in the corner of a basement laundry room, your cat may not bother to look for it. Making it easier for your cat to use the litter box will often alleviate the problem.
Keep the litter box away from unpredictable locations, such as near washers and dryers, near loud pipes, or any other places that may scare your cat.
If your cat continues to urinate in the same spot, try placing a litter box there and then slowly moving them to a spot where the litter box is okay.
The placement and setup of your toilet can make a big difference.
Finding the right type of toilet
An enclosed litter box may fit in nicely with your decor standards and help control stains and odors, but your cat might not like it. Enclosed litter boxes are small, dark, smelly, difficult to turn around in, and just not a good place for a cat to relieve itself.
You should also make sure that the sides of the litter box are low enough for your cat to easily step over, especially as he gets older.
The ideal litter box is large and open, with low sides or at least one low spot that your cat can easily access.
Clean the toilet more often
If the litter box is dirty, your cat will inevitably urinate somewhere else, and as cats are naturally very clean creatures, they prefer a clean litter box.
You should scoop the litter box at least once a day, and do a thorough cleaning every 1-2 weeks by discarding all the litter, flushing the litter box, and refilling it. If scooping is difficult, consider a self-cleaning litter box system.
Let your cat choose the type of litter box
While a more strongly scented litter might seem like a better choice to you, your cat tends not to think so: Cats have more sensitive noses than humans, so what may be a pleasant scent to humans may be overpowering to your cat.
Also, cats like to stick with what’s familiar, so if you suddenly switch to a new type of cat litter, your cat may urinate outside the litter box.
Research has shown that the most popular cat litter among cats is odorless clay clumping litter that contains activated charcoal, e.g. Fresh Step® Lightweight Simple Unscented Cat Litter and Tidy Cats® Free & Clean Unscented Cat Litter.
New types Cat litterJust to be on the safe side, keep at least one box of the old type of cat litter in your home – if your cat doesn’t like the new litter, don’t use it.
Reduce stress in cats
Cats are creatures of habit, and any deviation from their normal routine can cause stress, and stress can affect the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
Many things that we humans don’t consider stressful can cause anxiety for cats. For example, when we decide to go on vacation, we look forward to it. Your cat may see your luggage as a change in its environment and be smart enough to associate luggage with you leaving the house.
This can be very stressful for your cat and lead to inappropriate urination on, in or around the luggage. Similar stress responses can also be triggered by new visitors, parties in the house, packing or moving, new furniture or changes to the layout of the home.
Loud noises like dryers, pipes or holiday fireworks can scare cats away from the litter box, especially if they occur when your cat is using the litter box or is near the litter box.
The best way to reduce stress is to have several clean litter boxes easily accessible in a quiet, safe area of your home. If you have to pack for a trip, move your luggage where your cat can’t see it or pack in a closed off room.
To keep the environment as stress-free as possible, use cat calming aids such as specially formulated cat calming treats or cat pheromone diffusers.
Taking your cat for a check-up and speaking to your vet can also help identify the cause of stress, and in some cases, medication may be available to help reduce your cat’s anxiety.
