You Need To Get More Than One Litter Box
If you have more than one cat in the home, you should have at least the same number of litter boxes as you do cats, plus one. This way, none of your cats should have an issue with needing to use an already occupied litter box.
However, even if you only have one cat, you should have more than one litter box. This helps give your cat options and if for whatever reason, there is an issue with one litter box, they have another litter box to use instead. Plus, having more than one litter box makes the litter box stink a little easier to manage, especially if there is only one cat using them.
Has Your Cat Injured Its Paw
If you notice your cat limping, take a look at your cats paws and keep your eyes peeled for signs of injury. If there is a foreign object stuck in its foot, you can try pulling it out, and an ingrown claw can be clipped. You should also see your vet who can provide painkillers and antibiotics if the wound is infected.
The Box Isnt Big Enough
A cat litter box should be at least one and a half times the length of your cat and three times as wide as the cat. This allows your cat the room to climb in, spin around, dig a hole, and finish their business.
If the litter box is any smaller than this, they could be trying to go in the box but find that their bottom is perched out over the edge. They may believe that they are completing their business inside the walls of the litter pan, only to be failed by their own size.
The obvious solution is to get a bigger and more appropriately sized litter box, but you should also check where the litter box is situated and ensure that nothing is blocking your cat from being able to get in fully. If the box is in a corner of the room, or partially under a unit, this restricts your cats movements in the same way as having a tiny litter tray.
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What Can I Try First
Although correcting house soiling can take a great deal of time and effort and may require a fairly extensive behavioral assessment, there are cases when a few simple suggestions might do the trick. You can start with determining whether you made a change to the litter or litter area around the time the problem started; if so, switch back to the preferred litter or site. Alternately try a different type of litter such as one that is clumping. Many cats dislike kitty litter that contains strong deodorizers or perfumes. Cleaning the soiled spots with odor eliminators may help prevent re-soiling. Ensure that you provide one more litter box than the total number of cats in the home, in at least two different locations . Consider putting one of the boxes near to the area where the soiling occurs. Clean the boxes daily and change the litter in the boxes weekly. If after a couple of weeks the problem has not resolved, then a more intense evaluation of the factors that might be causing the problem will be required and other treatments may be needed.
“The first step you should take is to review the basics of litter box training.”
How Many Litter Boxes Do You Need For 3 Cats
The litter box rule is one per cat and one for the household. If you have three cats, then your special felines need four litter boxes. The locations will make the difference between usage and avoidance. Place them in areas with good views where it would be challenging for other household animals to trap them.
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Your Cat Has A Metabolic Disease
Metabolic diseases such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism can also cause an increase in urine production, meaning your cat has to go more frequently. This feeling of suddenly needing to urgently pee again explains why they pee outside their litter box instead. Besides, as they are urinating more their litter box will also become dirty faster than you can keep it clean!
Why Does My Cat Pee Standing Up In The Litter Box
If the upper height of the box is very high, your cat will avoid holding up to it and will probably pee normally. But, as I said before this is a band-aid solution. The main reason why your cat pees standing up is probably because of some health issue. It is best to visit the vet, even before purchasing a litter box for cats that pee standing up.
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Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside Of The Litter Box Is This An Emergency
If your cat is peeing outside of the litter box, he may be trying to tell you something. Some cat owners understandably feel angry when their litter-box-trained cat is urinating outside the box. This can be very frustrating and can affect your relationship with your feline family member. While there are many behavioral reasons for why your cat may be urinating inappropriately, there are also several medical reasons. Some of these medical reasons warrant an immediate trip to the animal emergency room! Before you assume your cat is peeing out of spite, keep in mind what your cat may be trying to tell you.
Medical Reasons
Cats may urinate outside of their litter box if they are experiencing:
- Trouble urinating/urinary obstruction
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
When should you go to the animal emergency room for this?
A cat being unable to urinate can be a life-threatening emergency. If your cat cannot pee, contact your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital immediately. This is a very common problem seen in veterinary emergency rooms and the sooner your cat is treated, the better their chance of survival. This condition is more common in male cats.
Signs your cat should see a veterinarian immediately:
You Can Wait If
Behavioral Reasons
Once medical conditions are ruled out with blood tests and imaging, cat owners can explore behavioral reasons for a cats toiletry troubles. Your family veterinarian will help you determine possible stressors and provide helpful tips.
Evaluate The Litter Box Location
Where are the litter boxes located? If you have multiple stories in your home, you’ll want at least one on each floor.
Think about it: if you were on the second floor of your house, would you want to run all the way downstairs to use the bathroom? Neither does your cat.
And when litter boxes are too tucked away, say inside cabinets or in the corner of a basement laundry room, cats may not bother to go find them. Making it convenient for your cat to use the litter box will often alleviate problems.
Finally, if your cat keeps peeing in the same spot, try placing a litter box over that area, and then slowly moving it to a more appropriate location.
The placement and setup of your litter box can make a real difference.
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Make Sure Your Cats Litter Boxes Are The Right Size
Trays should be at least 1.5xthe length of your catsbody .Litter depth preference of most cats is about 1.5 inches.
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Litter locations should be discreet and away from busy thoroughfares, the tray should be cleaned daily and the litter should reflect the cats natural desire to use a sand-like substance . Soiled litter must be removed daily while litter trays should be washed and disinfected once weekly or fortnightly. Do NOT move the litter trays as it may confuse your cat and they may try to eliminate in the previous spot.
Reasons Why Cats Pee Outside The Litter Box
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;The smell of cat urine is awful for anyone to experience. If your cat has a perfectly good litter box he ignores, and he instead urinates on the carpet, furniture, or bedding, it adds insult to injury. Between the constant cleaning and the strong smell that will permeate your entire home, a cat that is not using the litter box properly can be a source of frustration. But why do cats pee outside of their litter boxes and what can you do about it? Here are some common causes of litter box problems for many cats:
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Is There A Litter Box For Cats That Stand Up
It is everything that it takes to clean the box. When your cat stands up while urinating, no liquid will be leaked outside the box. The plastic lid fits perfectly into the base. There isnt any hole between those parts, which makes this the second best litter box for cats that pee standing up.
Reasons Your Cat Is Peeing Outside Of The Litter Box & How To Stop It
Most cats are fastidiously clean animals. They dislike mess unless its a mess of their own making, and even then, it is usually a dry mess that cant be transferred to their fur or coat. They especially dislike having to use the toilet in a location that isnt to their liking.
Some cats can be incredibly picky when it comes to their choice and layout of the litter box, and no two cats are necessarily the same. If you have enjoyed a long history of successful littering and, all of a sudden, your cat is peeing just outside the litter box, the cause could be anything from having to share with a litter box bully to disliking your recent change in cat litter pellets.
Below are six possible causes for your cats sudden inappropriate litter use, and what you can do to hopefully remedy the situation.
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The Bottom Line On What To Do About A Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box
While a cat peeing outside the litter box could signal a single problem, it could also indicate a combination of issues. Being patient, observant and diligent is paramount in stopping a cat from peeing outside the litter box! Of course, for new cats, prevention is best, so introduce litter box training the right way from the start.
The Problem: Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere
One of the most common complaints that cat owners have is that their pet is urinating outside of the litter box. While many owners may think that pee is pee, spraying/marking and urinating outside of the litter tray are not the same thing and they have different causes. Identifying which problem your cat has is vital to addressing the underlying cause and eliminating the problem.
Consider:
- Is your cat backing up to a vertical surface, such as a wall or the side of your couch? Is your pets tail lifting and twitching before the urine is sprayed out onto that surface? If yes, your pet is spraying.
- Is your cat crouching and urinating in a normal position? Is your pet urinating on a horizontal surface? If yes, your pet is urinating inappropriately.
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Your Cat Is/was Feral
Feral cats can certainly be habituated and rehabilitated and make wonderful companions, but you will notice that they aren’t quite like cats that are bred or come from generations of domestication.
Feral cats tend to have more energy, “wild” instincts, might be more active but still shy, and also revert to weird instincts like hoarding food , and burying their poop and pee . Generally, they will grow out of this once they realize that your house is safe and it’s also their permanent territory, but some might need some helpful deterrents to get them to stop. It often comes down to allowing them to feel secure and feel like the house is truly their safe space.
Medical issues can cause a cat to poop in the house.
How Will I Know If The Problem Is Improving
“If frequency of elimination in the litter box is not increasing, changes to the treatment plan or an alternate diagnosis may need to be considered.”
Good record keeping is essential to gauge treatment success. In many cases there will initially be an increase in litter box use and a concurrent decrease of elimination in other locations, which will eventually be followed by a total and complete return to litter box usage. Therefore, keeping track of where elimination takes place on a daily basis should help track improvement or the lack of change. If frequency of elimination in the litter box is not increasing, changes to the treatment plan or an alternate diagnosis may need to be considered.
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When Kitty Eliminates Outside The Litter Box
If your veterinarian has ruled out a health problem, you can make a few changes to see if you can steer your cat back to the litter box:
- Scoop and change your cats litter at least once a day.
- Thoroughly rinse out the box with baking soda or unscented soap once a week.
- Use less litter. Cats like a shallow bed of litter — no more than two inches deep.
- Use a larger litter box.
- Use clumping, unscented litter of a medium to fine texture or the litter they;used as a kitten. You could try putting a few clean boxes side by side, each with a different type of litter, to see which one your cat prefers.
- Dont use box liners or lids.
- Try a self-cleaning box, which is generally cleaner than a traditional litter box.
- Move the litter box to a quiet, low-light location where your cat is able to see anyone approaching and can escape quickly. The litter box should be out of sight of their food and water dishes.
- Add a few litter boxes in different locations, all of which have multiple escape routes. Make sure that children or other animals dont have access to the boxes.
- If your cat is old or arthritic, use a litter box with low sides so they can climb in easily.
- Provide a litter box for each of your cats, plus one extra. If you live in a multi-storey residence, place a box on each level.
Think Outside The Box: 7 Reasons Your Cat Could Be Peeing Outside The Litter Box
If youve ever cuddled up with your favorite blanket, only to catch a whiff of cat urine and find a wet spot, you know the frustration when your cat pees outside the litter box. And, youre definitely not alone. In fact, inappropriate elimination is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters. The All Pets Medical Center team wants to preserve your loving bond with your feline friend by helping you find the underlying cause of your cats inappropriate elimination. When we perform a physical exam and diagnostic testing on a cat who is peeing outside their litter box, we most commonly encounter oneor moreof the following seven causes.
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Reasons For A Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box
Its not uncommon for cats to go through a phase in their life when they no longer use the litter box and instead prefer other spots around your home to do their business. This can be annoying. Especially if the bed or couch is involved, which happens all too often. Cat urine leaves stains and smells, and who needs that in their bedroom?
But you might be wondering, why has your cat suddenly changed their behavior? And why are they no longer using the litter box as they did before? The 4 most common causes are:
One thing is clear: your kitty doesnt do it to annoy you, or because they think its funny!
What To Do About Pooping And Peeing Outside The Litter Box
Start with a veterinary visit. A check up will help rule out major medical issues or get your cat the help he needs to feel better. If your cat is otherwise healthy, discuss the issue with your vet. Note when it started, how often it happens, whether it is poop or pee, and what other things might be going on in the catâs life. If territorial marking is occurring and the cat isnât spayed or neutered, your vet may recommend going ahead with a spay/neuter to remove some of the catâs motivation. If anxiety or stress is part of the problem, medications in combination with enriching and supporting your cat in his environment may be good solutions. Regardless of the problem, patience, kindness, and a little outside expertise are often necessary to get your kitty back on track and keep everyone happy.
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Does Your Cat Have A Metabolic Condition
Cats with diabetes will also need to urinate more, but this will also be accompanied by increased thirst. Any cats with hyperthyroidism will also have these symptoms, along with increased appetite and weight loss simultaneously. Again, your vet can provide a treatment which should, in turn, see better litter box behavior.
Your Cats Litter Box Is Too Dirty
Another common litter box issue comes down to cleanliness. Cats are notoriously clean creatures and spend a large portion of their day self-grooming. It follows that when it comes to using their litter box, they have a huge preference for a clean tray and will always try to find an unsoiled spot to urinate on.
If your litter box is full of clumps of soiled urine, your cat will struggle to find a clean area. Alternatively, they could refuse to use the litter box altogether!
Keeping a clean litter tray is even more important if you own more than one kitty with more cats, there will be more pee and so youll have to spend more time cleaning up. Besides, whereas cats dont like urinating on top of their own pee, urinating where another cat has peed is even worse!
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