Many people see cat behavior as a mystery, but some behavior changes can be a sign of a health problem, stress or your cat telling you something is wrong or they need your help. A cat’s litter box habits, and especially changes, can be a red flag that something is wrong and needs to be addressed.
After multiple requests, we are going to focus on the cat behavior of urinating out of the litter box. This is an extremely complicated, yet common problem, so let’s dive into it.
What does it mean when a cat is urinating out of the litter box?
General:
When a cat is urinating out of the litter, they are peeing anywhere other than in their litter box or pan. Sometimes they can also poop out of the box if there is something wrong.
Detailed:
When a cat is urinating out of the litter box, they are either associating the litter box with a negative experience, such as being uncomfortable when urinating or something about the litter box is unacceptable to their needs. This could be urinating right next to the litter box, or urinating in a completely different room. A cat may also defecate (poop) out of the litterbox for this same reason.
Why would a cat urinate out of the litter box?
There are several reasons a cat could be urinating out of the litter box. Sometimes there is more than 1 reason. Possible reasons include a medical problem, a problem with the litter box, stress or anxiety, territory marking or litter box access and bullying.
1. Medical Problem
a. General: If a cat has an infection in their bladder, it is painful to pee. But, the cat thinks the litter box is what’s causing the pain, so they pee somewhere else. The cat may have a stone in their bladder that is making peeing painful or very tiny crystals that make it uncomfortable. A cat should always go to the vet if they urinate out of the box to make sure they are healthy.
b. Detailed: Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, cystitis (inflammation in the bladder, Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and crystals in the urine (formed in urine with improper pH) will all make it uncomfortable for a cat to urinate. They then blame the litter box for the discomfort, so they urinate in different locations, trying to find a place where it does not hurt to urinate. A cat with one of these problems may urinate in front of you to tell you, “Something is wrong when I do this. Help me fix it.”
c. Detailed: Cats that have kidney disease or diabetes produce larger amounts of urine, so they fill up their litter box quicker and then need a “clean” place to urinate. These cats may also urinate out of the box to say “This is different, there must be something wrong.”
d. Solution: Have the cat examined by a veterinarian and they will test the urine to look for a medical problem. They will then prescribe treatment and make a plan to correct it and to prevent future problems. This may mean antibiotics, pain medications and/or food to change the pH of the urine to prevent crystals from forming. Kidney disease and diabetes require long term treatments of medication, special diet, and regular blood work.
e. A health problem must always be checked for if a cat urinates out of the box. Stool (poop) out of the box can be a sign of the above problems, or a problem with the GI tract (stomach and intestines). A veterinarian will also help you with that.
Special Note: If a cat tries to urinate (pee) and does not produce any urine, this is an emergency and must be seen by a veterinarian immediately to safe their life.
2. Litter Box Requirements
a. General: If a cat does not like the litter box they are given, they will not use it.
i. Litter boxes need to be big enough for a cat to fit in easily and turn all the way around in. Some cats like litter boxes with covers, and others don’t. Some cats only like certain types of litter.
ii. Litter boxes need to be clean and scooped often. There also needs to be enough litter boxes for how many cats you have. There should be enough for each cat to have their own box.
b. Detailed: Most litter boxes in the store are too small for most cats, so make sure the one you have is big enough. Once you have a litter that your cat likes, do not change it. If you have to change it, offer both the old and new until they are using the new litter reliably. Do not use scented litter. The scents are extremely strong to cat’s sensitive noses. Boxes need to be scooped and the litter changed regularly to control odor and keep the cat comfortable using it. Just like people, cats do not like to use dirty bathrooms.
c. Detailed: The home needs to have enough litter boxes. The rule of thumb is 1 litter box per cat, plus one. The boxes need to be in different parts of the home. This allows each cat to have access to a box if the others are unavailable or not acceptable to him/her. Having enough litter boxes will prevent many of the non-health related causes of cats not using the litter box.
d. Solution: You may need to make a box big enough for your cat by using a storage container. Cut a door into the side for the cat to enter. These containers allow for more size and shape options to fit your cat’s and home needs. Don’t change litter once you have one your cat uses. If you change litter, let the cat chose to use the new litter as described above.
3. Stress or Anxiety
a. General: Changes to the house, moving, a new family member or pet, and even changes in the family’s routine can cause stress for a cat. Stress itself is enough for a cat to start urinating out of the litter box. This is a cat’s way of saying, “I’m stressed out!”
b. Detailed: Cats exhibit stress differently than people. They can sometimes have other behavior changes, such as scratching furniture, hiding or being aggressive, but often their stress “manifests in the bladder.” A stressed cat who is prone to urinary problems can develop stress induced cystitis. This means the bladder wall or lining becomes inflamed (swollen) and can cause discomfort, mild bleeding in the bladder and the feeling of needing to urinating all the time. So, the cat is attempting to urinate frequently.
c. Detailed: Changes in a cat’s life can cause urinating out of the box without causing cystitis. Cats do not urinate out of the box out of spite. Something that is, in their mind, causing great emotional distress, and urinating out of the box is the only way they know to express it.
d. Solution: Products such as Feliway Optimum Cat Diffuser release synthetic “happy, feel-good” pheromones into the air that calm cats. It can help with fighting between cats and decrease stress to stop excessive scratching of objects and urinating out of the box due to stress.
i. Providing safe spaces for cats to have alone time in homes that have multiple pets will decrease stress. Making sure a cat has all of its needs met will decrease stress.
ii. New pets, especially new cats, should be introduced slowly and at the cat’s pace.
iii. If the cat has stress induced cystitis, a veterinarian will prescribe medication that will decrease the inflammation. If a cat gets cystitis more than once, a veterinarian will recommend feeding a prescription diet that prevents many bladder problems in cats.
4. Territorial Marking
a. General: Just like dogs, cats will urinate on walls and tall objects to claim an area as their own. If a cat smells or sees another cat in their territory (even through a window), they will spray objects in that area to tell other cats, “I am here. This is mine, stay away.”
b. Detailed: Both male and female cats will mark their territory. This is often called “spraying.” To spray, a cat stays standing and urinated on a vertical surface like a wall or furniture, the same way a dog will lift its leg to urinate on a tree. If a cat is not squatting to urinate while out of the litter box, they are most likely marking.
c. Detailed: If a cat sees another cat outside through the window, this may be enough for a cat to start spraying in the house. This will also happen if the cat is not neutered (male) or spayed (female). Once males reach adulthood, they will start marking their territory. Female cats may do so when they are in heat.
d. Solution: Spay or neuter the cat if they are not already. Feliway will help decrease territorial behaviors, including spraying, fighting and scratching. Scratching objects is a natural behavior for marking territory. Introduce new cats/dogs to the home slowly to prevent territorial behaviors and increase chances of successful introduction.
5. Litter Box Accessibility and Bullying
a. General: If it is hard for a cat to get to the litter box or get in the litter box, they will not use it. If the litter box is by something noisy or something that scares them, such as a water heater, fan or another cat bullying them by the box, they will not use the box.
b. Detailed: If a cat has a negative experience in the litter box, they will not go back there again to use it. This is when having enough litter boxes for multiple cats is extremely important. Noisy house hold items, such as water heaters in the basement, next to the box may scare a cat. If another cat bullies the other by the litter box, the cat will not return.
c. Detailed: When cats get older, they develop arthritis and this makes it difficult to jump over the side of a litter box. Nerve conditions will make hind legs weak, so a cat will not be able to climb into a litter box with high sides or a high door. Often times in these situations, the cat will urinate right next to the box because they are trying to be good, but it is painful for them to get into the box. If the box is down a set of steps, then they may not bother trying to get to the box because their joints hurt.
d. Solution: Have litter boxes located on each floor of the home. If the home is one level, have boxes in different parts of the house. Think about the location of the box and what is near it. With older cats or those with pain or weakness, have the boxes near places the cat frequents. The door should be low enough that he/she can step over it easily and pain free. See your veterinarian for joint care products, arthritis medications (there are new, easier options like Solensia!) and tips for keeping your older cat comfortable.
i. If one of the cats is bullying another by the litter box, remember the rule: 1 box per cat plus one. Having the litter boxes in different locations of the house gives the cat that is being bullied options, so if one box is not available they can use another. It helps to have the boxes is open areas so the bully cat does not have placed to hide behind to jump scare the other cat. Speak with your veterinarian about how to stop the bullying.
As you can see, there are many possible reasons a cat will urinate out of the box. There are many more medical reasons a cat could be urinating out of the litter box, but it is impossible to cover all of them here. There are many other specific situations that may not fit the above possible reasons a specific cat would be urinating out of the box. This is probably one of the most complex cat behavior problems, but once you and your veterinary care team figure out the why, then it can be fixed so you and your family pet can both be happy again.
Heather Rudie C.V.T.