Spraying and Problem Litter Box Behavior

1 Sometimes my cat refuses to use her litter box, and sometimes she behaves perfectly. What's wrong?

2 How do I stop my cat from urinating outside of her litter box?

3 I submitted a question about Tiger's spraying problem and I'd like to know if you have gotten around to it yet? My question concerns spraying. Thanks for your cooperation.

4 Our cat is a year old. He has been neutered. All of a sudden he has started wetting on the carpet. He knows he is not supposed to do it, but keeps it up. What can we do to stop this behavior?

6 My cat urinates on clothes, bathroom rugs, and towels. We have three other cats, is he trying to mark his territory? He is neutered. How can I make him stop doing this?

10 My cat has been urinating on the carpet. She is fed everyday and her litter box is clean. We have just moved, and my cat has been urinating in the corner of rooms. I would like to know why.

12 What are some ways to stop my cat from urinating on the carpet? He has a clean bill of health and nothing has been changed in his diet or surroundings? I don't know what to do.

15 Every once in a while I will find my kittens' droppings around the house. What can I do?

20 I've caught my 2 male Siamese cats urinating in the living room. I can see that there's urine in the litter box, but why are they urinating outside of it too??

21 Why does my cat keep urinating on my clothes?

23 My cat will not defecate in the box. Instead, she defecates beside it. The box is cleaned and I've tried different brands/types of litter.

26 How do I stop my cats from going to the bath room on every thing they see, like piles of clothes, family members' beds, and places like that?

27 My cat will occasionally urinate right outside her litter box. I bought her some urinary tract food and hope that helps if she has an infection, is there anything else I can do?

31 My cat poops all over my floors. I have another cat and she is a saint compared to the other cat. Is there anything I can try to help this situation?

36 My cat has started going to the bathroom outside his litterbox. He has never done this before. He is a 3 1/2 year old male house cat. What could be the reason for this?

41 My 3 yr old cat urinated on the floor and it crystallized and was tacky. Is she sick?

42 My cat is urinating on everything; she has two cat boxes that are cleaned constantly to use yet she still urinates on everything..what can we do to stop her?

43 My cat has always used his litter box, and now all of the sudden he "poops" on the floor.

45 Why would a cat stop using the litter box? One of the other cats bullies her.

49 How can I get my cats to continue using the litter box? The box is kept clean and changed everyday but they will still go anywhere they can.

52 Is there a homemade remedy to get rid of the urine smell in carpet so my cat will stop going there?

1 Sometimes my cat refuses to use her litter box, and sometimes she behaves perfectly. What's wrong? There may be several reasons for your cat's behavior. But the first step in trying to solve a house-soiling problem is to take her to your veterinarian for a complete examination to rule out any chance of illness. Other reasons for this behavior could be multiple. Changes in litterbox litter, change of litterbox location, and failure to keep the litterbox clean can all contribute to this type of behavior. Bringing a second cat or even a dog into the household may prompt a cat to find a more secure place to eliminate. Even a stray cat wandering around outside the house can cause stress and subsequent accidents.
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2 How do I stop my cat from urinating outside of her litter box? There may be several reasons for your cat's behavior. But the first step in trying to solve a house-soiling problem is to take her to your veterinarian for a complete examination to rule out any chance of illness. Other reasons for this behavior could be multiple. Changes in litter box litter, change of litter box location, and failure to keep the litter box clean can all contribute to this type of behavior. A few things to keep in mind: if you move the litter box from room to room, your cat may eliminate where the box used to be; also cats will refuse to use the litter box if it smells bad so be sure and keep it clean. Bringing a second cat or even a dog into the household may prompt a cat to find a more secure place to eliminate. And lastly, if you have two or more cats it is probably a good idea to provide separate litter boxes in separate rooms.
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3 I submitted a question about Tiger's spraying problem and I'd like to know if you have gotten around to it yet? My question concerns spraying. Thanks for your cooperation. Even though I don't answer each and every question, I try to answer questions which encompass the concerns of many pet owners. Spraying or inappropriate elimination for example, is not an uncommon problem. Back in June I answered a very similar question and here's what my answer was: There may be several reasons for your cat's behavior. But the first step in trying to solve a house-soiling problem is to take her to your veterinarian for a complete examination to rule out any chance of illness. Other reasons for this behavior could be multiple. Changes in litter box litter, change of litter box location, and failure to keep the litter box clean can all contribute to this type of behavior. A few things to keep in mind: if you move the litter box from room to room, your cat may eliminate where the box used to be; also cats will refuse to use the litter box if it smells bad so be sure and keep it clean. Bringing a second cat or even a dog into the household may prompt a cat to find a more secure place to eliminate. And lastly, if you have two or more cats it is probably a good idea to provide separate litter boxes in separate rooms.
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4 Our cat is a year old. He has been neutered. All of a sudden he has started wetting on the carpet. He knows he is not supposed to do it, but keeps it up. What can we do to stop this behavior? When a cat begins to eliminate outside the litter box, several factors may be at work. First, your cat might have a urinary tract infection and should have a urine sample examined by your veterinarian. Second, some cats may avoid the litter box because it is too dirty, they are bothered while in there, the box is too small, there has been a change in litter material or some other characteristic of the litter box itself is bothersome. Finally, they may find another location that is more pleasant because it is quieter, cleaner, safer etc. Perhaps if you evaluate these issues and correct what might be wrong, your cat will go back to using the litter box.
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5 My cat is almost 14 years old, the size of a small tiger and quite healthy. My problem is that he likes to urinate on the bathroom floor,loves to bunch up a throw rug and urinate on that, and will even urinate on the little rubber pad I have on the outside of the litter box. Pepper has always been very fussy about the litter box, it must be kept clean - "or else ". As he is getting older, he is getting worse. I have tried rubbing his nose in it, smacking him after catching him in the act (which is not very ofter, he waits for me to go to bed). I have cleaned with everything you can think of, even the solution from the pet store and vet's office. Please help if you can. Punishing your cat after he has eliminated will not change his behavior, but might make him afraid of you, so I urge you to no longer do so. Some cats are very meticulous about their litter box and will not use it if it has been soiled. You could consider adding another litter box and see if that helps. If he is a large cat and you are providing him with a covered box or a small box he may not want to get into them. He may like a larger litter box without a cover. If he seems to be urinating excessively, he may be experiencing a health problem that is contributing to his elimination outside of the litter box. If that is the case, a veterinary visit might shed some light on what is causing his non litter box use.
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6 My cat urinates on clothes, bathroom rugs, and towels. We have three other cats, is he trying to mark his territory? He is neutered. How can I make him stop doing this? A cat may urinate outside of the litter box if they have a urinary tract infection, so a veterinary visit is the first thing I would suggest. A common reason that a cat will not use their litter box is the litter box itself. It could be that the box is too dirty, in a location that the cat doesn't like, or there are not enough of them. With three cats in the home you should have at least 3 boxes in two locations. The boxes should be scooped daily and emptied once a week. Another reason cats may not use the litter box is social factors between cats. If your cats fight, one cat may be too scared to go to the litter box. If the problem continues, ask your veterinarian for more suggestions on what to do.
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7 I am wondering what I can do to stop my 2 yr old Maine Coon from going to the bathroom on the rug? I live in an apartment and tried everything I can think of - spraying the area (only 1 area in apt) with a NO spray, adding another litter box (I have 3 cats), trying different litter, getting a check up, moving her food to that area, everything! I have seen her use the litter box, but she insists on the carpet as well. I can't put down a bathroom rug or she will use that as well. Please help! My rug is already ruined and I am worried she might move on to another area. One of the main reasons that cats stop using the litter box is some dissatisfaction with the toileting area provided for them. It may be that it is not clean enough, changed often enough or in a location they do not like. It also could be that they do not like the litter material provided for them or the type of box provided. In a multiple cat household, disputes between housemates may restrict a cat's access to the litter boxes if they are all in one area. Finally, bladder or kidney infections can also be implicated in non litter box use. Please discuss these possibilities with your veterinarian and perhaps you can discover how to remedy the problem with your cat.
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8 Last year I adopted a beautiful Siamese mix. The previous owners told me that she was fixed and, when I called her old vet, it was confirmed. But I am really wondering. Every three months or so she goes into this heat thing, she makes those really gutteral meows and "prances". Sometimes she takes to rolling around on the carpet for long periods of time. But the most unusual aspect of this behavior is her spraying. Yes, it is a she. She backs up to the doors, the sofa, random objects...and sprays. Earlier this year we had a real problem with her defecating on our carpets but she seems to have been weaned off that. The vets say she's fine but I am confused. Do females spray? Why is she doing all this if she is fixed? It actually is not all that unusual for a spayed female cat to spray. In studies done looking at changes in behavior after spaying and neutering, about 10% of neutered male cats would still spray and 5% of spayed female cats might spray. The behavior you are describing sounds like it might be related to something in the environment that is upsetting your cat. Try to keep a journal and you may discover a cause. If that does not work, consult with your veterinarian for advice on her spraying behavior.
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9 I have a 16 yr old cat, who is in good health despite age. He is current on all shots. He has been urinating all around the house for quite a while, now. Can he live outside in an insulated pet house? We are in Ohio and it can get pretty hot/cold here. He has been half in, half out all his life and he is pretty smart. There are many reasons a 16 year old cat might begin urinating outside of the litter box. He could either have a metabolic problem or even an endocrine dysfunction. Before you make a drastic decision such as making him an outside cat, you really should have him examined by your veterinarian and some blood work done. As for making him an outside cat, that could be a very difficult adjustment and might compromise his health. Please work with your veterinarian to see if another solution can be found.
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10 My cat has been urinating on the carpet. She is fed everyday and her litter box is clean. We have just moved, and my cat has been urinating in the corner of rooms. I would like to know why. There are many reasons a cat may no longer use their litter box. A common cause is a medical problem that causes the cat to urinate more frequently than before so it is always helpful to rule out a medical problem with a veterinary visit and a urinalysis. A cat may avoid their litter box because some characteristic about it is not to their liking. It could be that it is in a location they do not like, the litter material is unpleasant, it is not changed often enough, the box is old and has odors or another cat within the home is keeping them from the box. If you have just moved, review all these things about the litter box and you may discover what you need to change to help her use the litter box again.
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11 We recently brought a new cat home and she is doing well. We have two other cats and they are starting to get along. We set her up with her own food and litter box but that was a month ago and now we want her to start using the "common" litterbox that the other two are using. It's a big "covered" big box that my husband built for them, almost like a private bathroom. We tried taking her litterbox away but instead of using the common box she eliminates on the couch! Any suggestions? It may not be reasonable to expect 3 cats to use one litter box. Your new cat may feel insecure or intimidated by the other cats and is unwilling to go into the covered box where she cannot see who is coming. You may need to have two litter boxes for at least a bit longer and see if she will use the covered one. If not, it may be better to have two boxes than have her get in the habit of using furniture to eliminate.
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12 What are some ways to stop my cat from urinating on the carpet? He has a clean bill of health and nothing has been changed in his diet or surroundings? I don't know what to do. When a cat is not using his litter box, it is often a sign of illness or a problem with the litter box itself. If you have had a urine sample checked and it is clear, you may need to examine the litter box and the home environment. Make sure the litter box is very clean and changed often. It also should be in an area that is comfortable for the cat and free of distractions and disturbances. It also might help to be sure the box is not too small for the cat to get into. In some cases a cat may stop using the litter box if the litter material has been changed to some other brand. Finally, be sure there are not problems within the household that might be causing your cat to be anxious and not willing to go to his litter box.
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13 My cat is 9 years old and he keeps spraying. He's been to the vet for a bladder infection that is cleared up now. We have 4 cats, 4 litter boxes that get scooped every other day and changed once a week. How can I stop him from spraying? There are often several possible reasons a cat may continue to spray. If it has been a while since he had a urine sample checked, you may wish to do so again as the infection could have returned. Cats will also spray if there is something in the household that is making them anxious such as other cats outside or there are problems with the litter box. Some cats will improve if they are kept in one room with their own litter box for a few hours each day. In other cases a pheromone spray can be helpful. Please contact your veterinarian who can help determine which of these solutions might work for you.
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14 I have two cats: one male and one female. They get along very well, but they are always urinating and pooping all over my house. It used to happen not so often, but then it recently has become worse. They have ruined many rugs and we can't take it any more. Is there anything we can do? If not, we may just have to get rid of them, but they're really sweet 2 year old cats. Is there anything we can do? Often when cats will no longer use their litter box, there is something about the toileting area provided for them that they do not like. This could be something to do with the litter box such as type of material provided, the size of the box, the number of boxes offered or the location. In other cases, litter box cleanliness might be an issue. Some cats are very fastidious and want a box that is cleaned daily and changed at least every 5-7 days. In other situations a disturbance near the litter box area might keep them away. Perhaps by addressing these issues you can get your two cats to go back to using their litter boxes on a regular basis.
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15 Every once in a while I will find my kittens' droppings around the house. What can I do? If your kitten is leaving small amounts of stool around the house, it is possible that when he uses the litter box some of his stool clings to his hair. This often happens in longhaired cats or if the stool is a bit loose so you may want to be sure he does not have diarrhea. He also may not be using the litter box as he should. Be sure that you are keeping it very clean and that it is easily accessible to your kitten. It also should be in a location that is quiet and where he will not be disturbed.
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16 Hello, I have a cat that is 12 years old. This past month or so she has not been using her litter box for defaction. She urinates there though. She will go into the furnace room where there is still cement there. She will dig there and do her job. I have been watching her litter box and keeping it clean. I did switch littler, but they are much the same. Do you have any suggestions? For some cats it can take only a minor change to make then decide not to use their litter box. Perhaps even though you think the litter material is the same, she finds the change objectionable. Another possible explanation for defecation outside the litter box in an older cat is a health problem. Older cats are prone to a number of health problems including constipation and hyperthyroidism. If this problem continues when you change the litter material back to the old type, a veterinary visit is in order.
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17 I have two male cats. They are both the same age, around 14 to 18 months old. I have not had them fixed yet, but one or both are beginning to spray around the house. If we get them fixed will this eliminate the problem or will they continue to spray? If they do continue to spray, will neutering them eliminate some of the odor? It is not uncommon for intact male cats to mark their territory by spraying with urine. This is often a response to other cats in the area, female cats in heat or anxiety. Neutering does decrease urine spraying in 90% of male cats. However, some cats will still continue to spray their environment after neutering either because of outside cats, anxiety or learning. Neutering will alter the odor of the urine deposited when they spray; usually it is not as strong. The sooner you get your cats neutered, the likelihood of the urine spraying decreasing or stopping increases. Neutering your cats will also help prevent unwanted litters of kittens from being born.
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18 My cat insists on eliminating in a certain corner of the living room. How do we stop this and why did she start doing this? She is almost 4 years old and has no health issues. She has a litter box down in the basement and she does use it. Usually when a cat no longer will use their litter box, there are two main considerations. The first would be a health issue that might affect her elimination habits such as a urinary tract infection or diarrhea. The second most common reason is the litter box itself. Many cats are very meticulous and will not use boxes that are soiled, cleaned infrequently or in locations they do not like. Check your litter box and be sure the size, cleanliness, amount of litter material and rate of changing the litter are all to her liking. Also be sure there are no disturbances in the area that may make it undesirable for her to be there. If nothing changes, you may want to consult your veterinarian for additional advice.
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19 My cat is 3 yrs old & has been neutered since he was about 8 months old. Within the last year, he has begun to "spray" in the house. He is healthy. We have no other pets. He has received all of his shots. Why is he doing this and what can I do to alleviate the problem? I am at my wits end and don't want to get rid of him. Thanks There are a number of reasons that a cat may begin to mark his environment with urine, or "spray". Marking is actually a normal feline behavior and is often exhibited when a cat is reacting to things within their environment. Some cats will spray if they see other cats outside of their home. In other situations a cat may spray if they are upset over changes within their home. These include changes in family composition, changes in work hours or moving. Finally, a cat might spray urine in the home if they have a bladder infection. Therefore, the best place to start is with a veterinary visit to rule out a medical problem and discuss other options with your veterinarian.
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20 I've caught my 2 male Siamese cats urinating in the living room. I can see that there's urine in the litter box, but why are they urinating outside of it too?? There are often several things to consider when a cat does not use their litter box. First, it is important to be sure that a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection is not the reason for the non-litter box use. Next, one common reason cats do not use their litter box is something about the box itself. Perhaps it is not cleaned often enough or there is not enough litter in the box. Some cats wish to have a great deal of privacy, so perhaps the location of the litter box is a problem. Finally, perhaps the box itself is too small and they would prefer a bigger box. A consultation with your veterinarian may help determine possible solutions.
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21 Why does my cat keep urinating on my clothes? When cats eliminate outside of the litter box several factors should be considered. First, a cat may urinate outside of the litter box due to health problems such as a bladder or kidney infection. Therefore the first order of business is a veterinary visit. Second, often cats will not use their litter box due to issues with the box itself. This could be cleanliness, type of litter, location of the box, problems with other cats in the home, or a dislike of the material. If it is determined that your cat is healthy, perhaps attention to these matters will help solve the problem.
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22 I have 2 Persian cats, male & female (2 years old), both neutered & declawed. They urinate and defecate on the furniture. Why? I also have 4 more cats, all neutered, 2 stay outside(2 males), 2 (female& male) in house. Can you help me? When a cat does not use the litter box there can either be problems with the litter box itself, or in a multiple cat household there can be social problems that cause the non litter box use. It is also possible that they have health problems that are causing them not to use the litter box, so a veterinary visit might be helpful. When there are multiple cats in the home it is essential to have at least one litter box per cat and they should be in varied locations, not all side by side. It also helps to distribute food and water bowls through out the house. Many cats are very particular about their litter box and want them to be very clean and may even want one box for urination and one for defecation. Therefore it is important that the boxes be cleaned daily.
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23 My cat will not defecate in the box. Instead, she defecates beside it. The box is cleaned and I've tried different brands/types of litter. When a cat will not use the litter box, it is essential to first rule out any medical reasons. A cat that is defecating outside of the box may have gastrointestinal problems such as constipation or diarrhea. Another reason a cat may not use the litter box is something about the box itself. She may not like the location, rate of cleaning, type of litter or even the size of the box. If she has gotten bigger, she may feel the box is too small. In other cases, some cats are very particular and will not use a box that has been soiled. Therefore she may want one box for urination and one for defecation.
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24 My cat will not stop urinating/marking everything. We have tried medication and making her a place away from the other kitties. She is getting worse and the veterinarian can't find anything wrong with her urinary tract. Please help. She's ruining everything. I love her so much, but she's totally out of control. When a cat will not use their litter box several factors could be involved. First, some cats like a litter box that is private and very clean. Others are very particular about the type of litter material provided for them. In a household with other cats, there can be social conflicts between cats that can create anxiety and fear as well as blocking access to litter boxes. It is essential that there be at least one litter box for each cat and that they be in multiple locations in the home. In addition, if there is hissing, fighting or chasing, separating the cats is useful. Since this has been going on for a long time you may need to change many things and watch to see if the non litter box usage begins to decline.
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25 Hi, I have had my cat for 3 years. Now all of a sudden he is urinating everywhere. He is neutered. There have been no changes with anything that I know of. Could you give me some ideas what happened? We keep the litter clean. Thanks. When a cat suddenly stops using their litter box, a medical problem may be the cause. If a cat has a bladder infection or a kidney infection they may begin to drink more water and urinate more frequently. It also can be uncomfortable. These two things may make the cat chose another location for elimination. Please take your cat to the veterinarian to determine if a medical problem is the reason that he will not use his litter box.
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26 How do I stop my cats from going to the bath room on every thing they see, like piles of clothes, family members' beds, and places like that? The first thing to do is to make sure they do not have a medical problem such as a bladder infection by taking them to the veterinarian. Once that is ruled out you can move onto other things. When a cat will no longer use the litter box it often means there is something about the litter box they do not like. This could be that it is not clean enough, or they do not like the type of litter provided or the location of the box. Try keeping the litter box cleaner, changing it more often, perhaps trying a different litter material or litter box location.
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27 My cat will occasionally urinate right outside her litter box. I bought her some urinary tract food and hope that helps if she has an infection, is there anything else I can do? Often when a cat urinates right next to the litter box, they are saying that there is something about the box they do not like. Perhaps it is too dirty, the box itself is old and has an odor or they do not like the type of litter or type of box. Keeping a clean, fresh litter box is very important to most cats. Urinary tract health diets, such as Purina ONE Urinary Tract Formula can help maintain urinary health, but if your cat has a bacterial infection in her urine she needs to be examined by your veterinarian and obtain appropriate treatment.
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28 I took in a neutered male cat, Luke, about 1 and 1/2 years old, last August. I already had 2 inside cats. I thought that after a couple of weeks or a month Luke would get over marking(spraying)everything but he hasn't. I've had every test imaginable done-- he's fine physically. One veterinarian suggested a couple of human drugs that we could try, another veterinarian didn't think that would help. He said when you have 3 or more cats in a household you're going to have spraying. Luke is such a sweety, I can't stand the idea of putting him on strong drugs. I clean spots he sprays with alcohol to remove the odors, but he goes back and sprays again in a couple of days. Any advice or helpful tips? Cats will often spray to delineate their territory. With multiple cats within your home, Luke may be trying to stake out some territory for himself. Make sure that you have an adequate number of litter boxes in several locations and that they are kept extremely clean. It also may help to give him a room of his own where he can spend time away from the other cats. This room should have a litter box, food and water and a bed. The spots where he sprays with urine should be cleaned with a cleaner specifically designed to deal with urine odor. Finally, speak to your veterinarian about using pheromone sprays that have been developed to help with urine spraying behaviors in cats.
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29 I have two female cats, one is five years and the other 6 months. The kitten is starting to defecate outside the litter box (twice this past week and only three other times the past two months). Usually, it seems to happen just after interaction or confrontation with the older cat. Any advice or ideas on this would be greatly appreciated. When there is more than one cat in the home it is important to have adequate resources available to them. This means that food bowls, resting places and litter boxes should be spaced out in the home so that all cats have access to them without crossing each other's territory. It also is vitally important that litter boxes be kept extremely clean and that there is at least one litter box per cat. If you meet these criteria, it may help your problem at home.
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30 My 14 year old cat has started to defecate outside of his litter box, even if it is a newly changed box. His box is in a very quiet and secluded place, so I know that privacy is not his problem. What could it be? A cat may defecate outside of the litter box if it is not clean enough or perhaps even an old box. When an older cat defecates outside of the litter box it often may signal health problems. Common problems with older cats include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and arthritis any of which might change his litter box habits. Since these and other problems are often treatable conditions, speak with your veterinarian about the problem and perhaps she can offer some solutions.
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31 My cat poops all over my floors. I have another cat and she is a saint compared to the other cat. Is there anything I can try to help this situation? There are many reasons a cat may no longer use their litter box for defecation. If the litter box is not kept extremely clean, some cats will choose to use another location or material. In other situations, a cat may not use a box that has been soiled by another cat. If a cat is constipated and defecation is painful, they may avoid the litter box. Try providing additional litter boxes in other locations and cleaning them frequently. If that does not solve the problem or if you see that the cat is constipated, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended.
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32 I have two cats. The younger one has been using the bathroom sink to urinate. I always make sure that the cats box stays clean, so I can't figure out why she's doing this. Is this something I should be concerned about? When a cat no longer eliminates in the appropriate location it is always cause for concern. Your cat could have a bladder or kidney infection which may be stimulating her to urinate outside of the litter box. A veterinary visit and urine sample may help clarify things. If she is healthy, examining the number of litter boxes, their locations and type of litter material provided might give you clues to what may be bothering her. Some cats are very private and need isolated locations for their boxes. Others are very fastidious and will not use a litter box that has already been soiled. Investigation into a few of these details may yield answers.
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33 Occasionally I will find a dried stool deposited in various rooms throughout the house. I scoop my cat's litter every other day so it is pretty clean. These are not fresh stools, but small pieces I may have missed in my scooping. Any ideas? There could be several reasons that your cat is depositing fecal matter outside of the litter box. Some cats are extremely fastidious and like a very clean litter pan. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to scoop the litter box daily and totally change the litter material every week. Another reason that some cats may leave small hard pieces of stool around is constipation. If you have an older cat who does not defecate daily he may be experiencing constipation. If this is the case, a veterinary visit would help determine the appropriate treatment for him.
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34 My cat will sometimes urinate on plastic bags (ie: grocery type), raincoats, simulated leather shoes etc. The key seems to be plastic. Otherwise he is well behaved and litter trained. He does this if we are home or away from home. Any ideas as to why and how to help him stop? When a cat chooses an alternate material to urinate on, a good first step is to examine the litter box. Often cats will pick another material or location if the litter box is not kept very clean or is in a location they do not like. The litter box should be scooped out daily and changed weekly. If it is a covered box, perhaps offering one without a cover might be to his liking. Most cats prefer a litter box that is placed in a quiet area where they can eliminate undisturbed. If you meet his needs with his litter box he may stop eliminating in the wrong places.
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35 I have 2 cats. One is about 16 years old. The second is about 6 years old. The younger one came to live with me when my daughter moved about 2 years ago. For several years all went well even though they fought some. Within the past year or so she has on occasionally defecated and urinated on the carpet and always in the same spot. I keep her litter clean and even moved the box where she was messing. It worked some but she seems to still chose to use the carpet on occasion. I travel some and it occurs sometimes when I have been gone but not exclusively. How can I prevent this and any idea why she does this? When a cat does not use the litter box on a regular basis it often has something to do with the litter box itself. Some cats are very fastidious and want the litter box to be extremely clean. This often means scooping out the waste material twice daily and totally emptying and cleaning the box weekly. When there is more than one cat in the home it is essential to have more than one litter box and preferably in two places. This will allow each cat to chose a box and probably not be bothered by the other cat. Finally, it could be the older cat eliminating outside of the box and an older cat may have medical problems or arthritis that contribute to non litter box usage.
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36 My cat has started going to the bathroom outside his litterbox. He has never done this before. He is a 3 1/2 year old male house cat. What could be the reason for this? There are many reasons a cat may stop using his litter box. First it is essential to be certain nothing medical is responsible, this can be done by a veterinary visit. If nothing medical is the problem, then the most common reason is something about the litter box itself. Some cats are very fastidious and need an extremely clean box; increasing the rate of cleaning or providing additional boxes may help. In other cases something near the litter box has bothered the cat and he will not return to the area. Finally, changing the litter material may have precipitated the problem and returning to the previous material can help.
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37 I have a 7 year old female cat who refuses to use the litter box. We also have 3 other cats. She goes near it but not in it. My vet suggested removing the top, which I did, and changing to a good clumping litter, which I also did. We treated her with 10 days of antibiotics as a precaution, but never seriously thought this was an issue. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you. When there are multiple cats in the home it is important to pay attention to litter cleanliness, litter box placement and availability. Make sure that there are several litter boxes in multiple locations through out the house. Some cats are very particular and want one box for urination and one for stool, so many boxes may be needed. Finally, some cats like privacy and may need to be confined for part of the day with a litter box and food and water.
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38 I have a 6 year old cat named Pepper. He is a neutered male cat. He never sprayed or marked his territory. But lately (3 weeks) he has been sneaking out of the house and I caught him spraying on the bushes and cars. I thought when I neutered Pepper this would not happen. Is there something wrong with my cat? Marking territory with urine is a normal cat behavior. While spraying in cats is often used to help mark territory and get a mate, even neutered male cats can spray urine. They will often spray if agitated by cats outside of their home. Your cat may see other cats outside that stimulate him to want to mark his territory. Removing those outdoor cats may help to deter his spraying behavior.
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39 My new kitten uses the litter box for bowel movements yet immediately leaves to urinate on the bathroom floor. I keep the box out of the way and very clean, but I am stumped on how to change this behavior. Some cats are very particular about their toileting area and will not use a box that has already been soiled. For those cats two boxes may be necessary, one for defecation and one for urination. They each should be cleaned daily. In other cases the cat wants a different material under her feet for each type of elimination. For that cat two boxes with different litter materials may be the answer.
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40 Our adult male cat likes to urinate next to the wall on the carpet. He also uses the litter box. This was not an issue until we brought a new cat into our house last spring. The urination is infrequent and irregular. All cats (3 males) are neutered. What can we do to fix this situation? Also, what carpet cleaner do you recommend? There are many reasons cats may choose not to use their litter boxes. Often the initial cause has to do with the litter box itself. Possible reasons include a dirty litter box, a box that is too small, one that is inaccessible or currently in use. When there are multiple cats in a home, there should be multiple boxes in several locations. This will allow the cats to have access to a litter box without necessarily encountering another cat. Finally, a urinary tract infection can also cause a cat not to use his litter box. Cleaning the carpet is best done under the supervision of a carpet professional.
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41 My 3 yr old cat urinated on the floor and it crystallized and was tacky. Is she sick? When a cat urinates in an unusual location a medical reason may be the cause. If the urine has crystals and is quite sticky that may indicate a bladder or kidney problem. A veterinary examination will help determine the problem and the appropriate treatment for your cat.
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42 My cat is urinating on everything; she has two cat boxes that are cleaned constantly to use yet she still urinates on everything..what can we do to stop her? A cat may not use her litter box due to an infection in either the urinary bladder or the kidneys or some other medical problem. So, the first step is a veterinary visit to rule out any medical reason for the non-litter box use. If the cat is healthy, she may not like where the litter box is, how often it is cleaned, what type of litter is provided for her or the type of box. If there are other cats in the home, social disagreements between cats may influence one cat's ability to get to the litter box. By examining these issues you may determine why your cat is not using her litter box.
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43 My cat has always used his litter box, and now all of the sudden he "poops" on the floor. When a cat suddenly stops using his litter box several possibilities might exist. First, he might have a medical problem that is causing irritation, either constipation or diarrhea. Also make sure that his litter box is clean and in a private location. If there are other cats in the home be sure there are many litter boxes in multiple locations. Finally, a veterinary visit may help sort things out.
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44 I have 3 male neutered cats ranging in age from 4 years to 6 months. Recently our cats have been defecating in our dining room. The dining room is about 10 feet from the litter box. When I cleaned out the litter box there was only urine. I have scrubbed the spot everytime and cannot get them to stop. When cats stop using the litter box the first step is to be sure there isn't anything about the box that they find objectionable. With 3 cats in the home there should be at least 3 litter boxes in the house in 2-3 different locations. The waste material should be scooped out daily and the boxes should be totally emptied and washed weekly. Often just working on location and litter box cleanliness helps keep cats using their litter boxes.
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45 Why would a cat stop using the litter box? One of the other cats bullies her. When there are several cats in the household, they may stake out territory and keep other cats away from those areas. If the cat needs to go through that area to get to litter boxes or food and water, housesoiling may result. Therefore, it is essential that litter boxes, food and water bowls be situated in several areas through out the house to avoid conflicts. If the cat has easy access to the litter box without the other cat, she may use it. Naturally it should be cleaned daily to make it attractive to her as well.
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46 My female cat of 12 years is doing her business in my dining room on the rug. She has been doing this for the past 6 mos. or so. Her regular veterinarian says she is perfectly healthy. The litter boxes are kept clean. Do you have any answers? When a cat stops using her litter box two things should be considered first. Initially it is important to be certain that a medical problem is not the reason that a cat will not use the litter box. A recent study determined that nearly 90% of elderly cats were suffering from arthritis in one or more joints. In some cases this may be the reason they stop using the litter box. The second reason is litter box issues themselves. A litter box that is not kept clean, a box in a location the cat cannot get to, being kept from the box by other cats, or a box that is not big enough are just a few of the things to consider when a cat stops using her box.
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47 I have a problem with my cat defecating outside her litter box. The vet has checked her to make sure it's not a health related problem, and suggested ideas to get her to go in her box, but it's still a problem. Can you offer any suggestions on what to do for this problem? Usually when a cat will not use the litter box, the first place to start is with the litter box itself. Be sure that the litter box is very clean; scooped out twice daily and totally emptied and cleaned weekly. Next be sure that it is filled with at least 2-3 inches of material. Finally, make sure the location is one that is user friendly for your cat. This should be a place easily accessible but quiet. If there are multiple cats in the home be sure to have enough boxes, one per cat in multiple locations.
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48 My 15 year old male cat defecates in other areas besides the litter box such as the tub, corners, closets, beds, furniture, etc. I have an electric litter box and two normal boxes with lid and one with out. Why does my cat do this and what can I do about it? When an older cat begins to eliminate in locations other than the litter box it is essential to check for medical conditions that might be contributory. Many older cats suffer from arthritis which may make accessing the litter box more difficult. In other cases, they may have intestinal disorders that affect digestion and elimination. Many older cats also suffer from constipation making defecation difficult. Finally, endocrine diseases may make the cat eat more and defecate more often resulting in a dirty litter box which they avoid. To determine what might be causing the non litter box use a veterinary visit is a first step. If there are no health problems then addressing litter box issues would be next.
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49 How can I get my cats to continue using the litter box? The box is kept clean and changed everyday but they will still go anywhere they can. There are many reasons cats may not use the litter box. If there are multiple cats within the home they may want multiple boxes in several locations. One cat may not be willing to use a litter box once it has been soiled by another cat so many boxes may be needed. In other situations a cat may not like the litter box location so a new location may help. Finally, medical problems such as urinary tract infections, constipation, arthritis and metabolic problems may keep a cat from using the litter box.
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50 My 13 1/2 yr old cat has started defecating outside of the litter box. She actually did it in front of me one day and she seemed very confused about where she was,. Could she be experiencing a form of feline dementia? Recent research has shown that older cats can suffer from dementia which often is manifest by changes in social interactions and perhaps changes in litter box habits. However, it is also possible that she is having some sort of medical problem that is contributing to her defecating outside of the litter box. Studies have shown that 90% of cats over 11 years of age suffer from some arthritis. If she finds it difficult to get into the box or into position to eliminate, this could lead to defecation outside of the litter box. In other situations cats may become very constipated and this could lead to non-litter box use. A veterinary visit might help determine which of these possible problems is leading to her not using her litter box.
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51 I have a 3 yr old neutered male cat who continues to urinate on anything he feels like in the house. He also uses the litter box. I have 3 other adult cats that do not have this problem. Is he just doing what he wants to do? If so, can I change that? Or could he have a physical problem. Any time a cat does not use the litter box as they should a medical problem is possible. Once that has been eliminated as a cause, other issues may need to be addressed. Often social conflicts between cats can contribute to non litter box use. In a multiple cat household it is important to have at least one litter box per cat and place them in different locations. It also is vital that all litter boxes have at least 2-3 inches of litter in them and that the waste material be scooped out daily and the box totally emptied and washed weekly.
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52 Is there a homemade remedy to get rid of the urine smell in carpet so my cat will stop going there? Once the urine gets deep into the carpet it can be difficult to remove. Many products are available at pet stores that work on removing the odor. It also is important to make sure to address the reasons that a cat is not using the litter box. Often this is because it is not clean enough, in a location she does not like or she has to share the box with several other cats.
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53 I have a 10-year-old longhair Calico who has suddenly decided she doesn't have to use the litter box. I've tried rubbing her nose, & placing her in the box to no avail. Other than this new quirk, she's very affectionate & easy to live with (other than always having to have the last word!). What can I do to convince her litter is better? Several issues need to be examined when a cat goes outside of the litter box. First, make sure that a medical problem is not part of the reason she is not using her litter box. Checking a urine sample is one way to determine if illness is causing her not to use the litter box. It also helps to make sure the litter box is user friendly. This means it should be clean, has the right amount of litter and is easily accessible to the cat. It may also help to add additional boxes so she has a choice of litter boxes.
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54 My cat keeps on urinating or marking on the walls. She sprays this liquid, which sometimes contains a little blood. She starts frantically wagging her tail side to side before she shoots onto the wall. It’s pretty disgusting. Please tell me how I can stop this? A cat may spray with urine for a variety of reasons including stress, anxiety or even infection. If the urine you are finding has blood in it, this may signal an infection. The first step is having your cat checked by your veterinarian and perhaps even a urine sample examined as well. If she has an infection she may need medication. Once the infection is treated the spraying may stop.
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55 My cat has been to the vet and has a urinary tract infection. She keeps trying to pee on my bed. Is this behavioral or a direct result of the urinary infection? Also do you think it will stop once she gets well? When a cat has a urinary tract infection it can create irritation and a cat may strain to urinate and avoid the litter box. Treatment can often diminish and/or eliminate the signs. In many cases the cat will return to litter box use. However, in some situations the cat has learned to use another location to eliminate. Providing a clean litter box and a quiet area to eliminate may help prevent her returning to the bed once the infection is gone.
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56 My 9 year old black cat daily defecates and urinates in the corner of my computer room. We put two litter boxes with lids off in the room but he still continues to urinate and defecate daily. This has gone on for many years now and he's ruining the carpet. How can I stop him? When a cat will not use their litter box, often the issue is with the box itself. This could be the size of the box, the type of litter used, how frequently the box is cleaned or replaced, and the number of other cats in the home. Although removing the cover may be useful, the other issues mentioned above also need to be addressed. When a behavior has been occurring for some time it may be difficult to change.
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57 My cat is a very healthy short-haired 3 year old (approx). However, she will, like clockwork, "poop" once a day on the carpet! We've tried several different litter brands, and limiting food quantity. Roxy is a well-loved cat and does not appear to be doing this in spite of us. I am tired of having to spot treat the carpet!! Suggestions? When a cat does not use their litter box, one of the first things to consider is that there is something about the box they do not like. Many cats are very fastidious and may not use a box that is not extremely clean. This may mean scooping out waste material one or two times daily. In other cases the cat wants two litter boxes so that they always have a choice of a clean box.
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58 We have a Maine Coon who simply scratches in the litter box but defecates on the floor next to it. He urinates in the box just fine but refuses to do his No. 2 business inside the litter box. Any suggestions on how I can stop him from doing this and encouraging him to defecate in the box? Some cats are extremely fastidious about their litter box and may not use one that is dirty or too small. In other situations, a cat may want one litter box for urine, and one for stool. Finally, if the stool is soft or extremely hard it may be a sign of a medical condition. If that is the case, please contact your veterinarian for an examination and advice on how to deal with his problems.
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