Cat urinating outside litter box

 

Cat urinating in litter box

  Why is your cat(s) urinating outside the litter box? There are several different things that can make your cat(s) urinate outside the litter box.

1) Medical related issues such as:

   a. Urinary Tract Infection: Sometimes presents blood in the urine. If possible, clean the litter box out (dump all litter & rinse) and replace litter with non- buttered popcorn kernels, or you can ask the veterinarians office for “Nosorb” litter. Either one will work. The reason for this is that you do not want the litter to absorb the urine, but cats like to have something to cover their urine up with. This enables you to take a syringe (no needle attached) and suck up the urine to bring into the veterinarian’s for analysis. If you are unable to bring the urine right into the veterinarian’s office, put the urine in the refrigerator. Make sure you write right down the time you collected it and inform the veterinarian’s office that the urine was refrigerator. If you are unable to collect your cats urine the veterinarian can perform a cystocentesis (Needle into the bladder) or express their bladder manually.

  b. Blocked male cat: (this is very serious!) If you notice your male cat going into the litter box, but not producing any urine or very small amounts, take them to the veterinarians immediately. These symptoms are usually accompanied with painful meowing and sand looking material around their penis.

  c. Diabetes: ( High sugar, urine can present stickiness)

  d. Thyroid issues: (Usually defecating outside the litter box, but sometimes urine too.)

  e. Arthritis: (Painful to get into the litter box.)

2) Behavior issues such as:

  a. Anxiety

  b. Territorial

3) Household issues such as:

  a. Dirty litter box

  b. Not enough litter boxes. Golden rule is one litter box per cat plus one. (If you have 3 cats, you should have 4 litter boxes and clean at the litter boxes at least once daily).

Three Litter Boxes

  c. Cat does not like location. (Always place litter boxes in a quiet area and have a night light in the room, so the cat feels safe at night).

  d. Cat does not like litter. (Try using two different types of litter and see if your cat uses one litter box over the other).

  e. Cat does not like litter box. (Some cats do not like “hoods.” Try taking the hood off the litter box.)

  f. Litter box is too small. (If your cat is larger, they might need a bigger litter box or you can try a “tote.”)

Tote (take lid off)

  g. Cat is having an issue with another cat in the household, and is afraid to use the litter box. (Have at least one litter box located in a separate location than the other litter boxes.)

  h. Some cats will urinate outside the litter box just because. (Do not leave any dirty clothes on the ground, or shoes, towels, etc.)

Please return in two weeks to learn detailed solutions for cats urinating outside the litter box. Let’s keep learning about keeping our pet(s) happy and healthy.