Marciuliano’s book that features cat poets around the world is a humorous look at cat behavior, but if your cat is urinating everywhere but in his litter box, it’s no laughing matter.
When cats urinate outside the litter box, there could be several explanations. Your cat might pee on the carpet, on the wall behind the litter box, on the floor in front of the box, or even in the bathtub. If your cat is whizzing everywhere but in the litter box, you’ll need to put on your Columbo hat and do some investigative work to determine why your cat is peeing in these places, where he’s going, and when he’s choosing to do so, which will help you figure out how to stop your cat from inappropriate urination.
Cat behaviorist and Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell” TV show host, Jackson Galaxy, says a cat who all of a sudden begins to eliminate outside his litter box is marking territory because of insecurities, he’s dealing with a physical issue, or there is a litter box problem. Galaxy suggests ruling out a physical ailment with an immediate vet visit.
“Make sure your cat’s not acting out from a physical thing,” Galaxy says.
Health issues like urinary tract inflammation can cause a cat to urinate in unusual places if she associates the litter box with painful urination. Bathtubs are common places cats go if urinating is painful for them.
If a physical ailment is not the culprit, you’ll need to consider other possibilities like marking or even the litter box itself. Galaxy suggests keeping a journal of your cat’s habits, marking the spots your cat goes with blue painter's tape so you can spot patterns, and using a black light to find areas that you might have missed. Clean up will be important to prevent the cat from returning to that same spot over and over again.
If your cat is spraying or marking territory, consider having your male cat neutered. If your neutered cat is spraying in your multi-cat household, try setting up separate living areas for the animals so they feel they have their own personal territory in the house. If that’s not practical, be sure to give them plenty of hiding places and perches that enable them to easily retreat to avoid each other.
Here are some tips to stop your cat from peeing in the bathtub or any other inappropriate places:
Congratulations on acquiring a new cat! To help you get started, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to new cat ownership.
Adopting a cat can be one of the best choices you ever make. Not only do you gain an entertaining companion who will (probably) be glad to see you at the end of a long day, but you'll be saving a life, too.
How long can you leave your cat alone? See how to help your cat stay independent and safe while you’re not around.