My cat is urinating in the house and litter box?
I have a 1 and a half year old cat. A while ago we caught her peeing in a spot upstairs, so we had the carpet cleaned. A little bit later we started smelling the pee agian, so we figured she could still smell her scent and was still going in the same spot upstairs. Well then all of a sudden we could smell pee downstairs as well. So we bought a black light to detect where the pee was, and let me tell you it was a shock. The cat has peed in almost every other inch of the downstairs. The thing is I see her go in her litter box all the time, and I never have caught her in the act. She seems normal as far as eating and activity. Do you have any idea why she is peeing all over the house and what I can do to get her to stop?? I am desperate. Also any cleaning ideas to get the smell out. Any answers will be much appricated.
Hi there....first consider all the possibilities:
- changes with litter brands
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up
- unspayed/un-neutered if cat is over the age of 5-7 months. Cats will become aggressive as they sexually mature and territorially mark with either urine or defecating.
If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.
More on feline lower urinary tract disorders (FLUTD): http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_fel ine_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html
More on house soiling problems by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures /Housesoiling.html
House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.
Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.
Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.
Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.
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