Your cat exhibiting inappropriate urination is stressful — for them and you. Could they be sick? Is it behavioural? Are they doing it on purpose? Luckily, figuring out why your cat is inappropriately urinating is doable, and by using the steps below, hopefully the experience will be less stressful for you and your cat.
What To Do First + Figuring Out if the Inappropriate Urination IS Medical?
The first thing you need to figure out is if it is behavioral or medical. Cats are very good at hiding their symptoms when they are feeling unwell, so it’s important to ensure that they receive appropriate veterinary attention to rule out any underlying medical causes for the behaviour.
Follow these steps:
- Clean soiled areas thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner.
- Do not punish your cat, the stress can worsen the issue.
- Identify which cat is responsible
- If you have more than one cat, you need to figure out which one is responsible for the soiling.
- You may need to separate your cats temporarily to determine which feline friend needs your help.
Is it spraying or house soiling?
- Spraying = standing, tail quivering, backing up.
- House soiling = squatting to urinate/defecate.
- Watch directly or set up a camera.
- Visit the Veterinarian
- Get a full physical exam and diagnostic tests.
Rule out:
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney/bladder issues
- Arthritis or pain
- Gastrointestinal problems
Steps to Find Out the Behavioural Causes
Once you rule out a medical reason, then you are going to need figure out what’s happening with your cat to make it inappropriately urinate. No matter what, your cat is not inappropriately urinating because they are getting back at you. Cats don’t have the critical thinking to do that.
Below are the steps to take to find out why this behaviour is happening:
Surface Preferences
- Is your cat eliminating on soft surfaces (carpet, bedding)?
- Try softer, finer litter or add a carpet scrap to the litter box.
- Prefers shiny/smooth surfaces (tile, bathtub)?
- Try placing tile in the box with just a small amount of litter.
Location Preferences
- Does your cat avoid the usual box location?
- Place the box where the cat is going.
- Once they use it, gradually move it to a better location (a few inches per day).
- If they stop using it, move it back and restart slowly.
Litter Box Aversion or Bullying
- Is your cat being ambushed by another pet?
- Use uncovered boxes for visibility.
- Place the box in a spot with multiple escape routes.
- Set up multiple boxes in different rooms.
Signs of Discomfort in the Litter Box
Cat:
- Cries, yowls or whines while in the litter box
- Refuses to bury waste
- Perches on the edge of the litter box
- Goes next to the litter box
Possible solutions:
- Clean the box more often – scooping at least once per day is recommended
- Switch to unscented litter – litter with additives or scents can be irritating to cats
- Make litter changes gradually – cats are very sensitive to change
Litter Box Setup Issues
- Box too small? Too tall?
- Large cats = need big boxes with enough room to turn around comfortably
- Kittens/senior cats = need low sides, they may struggle to climb into the box
- Try different styles of litter boxes (covered vs uncovered).
- Try different litter types to find one your cat likes (corn, clay, paper, wood)
Box Quantity Rule
- Use the “1 per cat + 1 extra” rule.
- 2 cats = 3 boxes
- Place them in separate locations in your home, cats like privacy and safety
Key Takeaways
While trying to solve this issue can be stressful, remember your feline friend is just as stressed and needs patience, love and support from you. You both are in this together.