advice on cats peeing outside the litter box

Matiara

My dog lived to be 19. When he got old (15+), he started having random accidents all over the place despite having been flawlessly housebroken all his life, so I'm not so sure it's a cat thing.

It may be due to bringing the other cat into the household, especially if the younger cat is above her on the totem. I have two cats who are littermates and the dominant one would literally beat up his brother whenever he used the litter pan, so I had to get two. Now, he still beats up his brother for walking through the house, meowing, and breathing, but I can't do anything about that.

Vegan_Chick

I had the same problem and I have 4 cats (5 litter boxes).

1) make sure you have at least 1 more litter box per kitty as they can get picky.

2) switch the cat litter as the dust can bother some kitties which makes them not want to pee in it. I just had this problem and fixed it about a month ago. She was peeing right in front of me all the time and wouldn't stop for about 1 month. We switched the litter and instantly the problem was solved.

good advice, didn't think about changing litter. I'll try a different brand. I've just been using petco's brand and I am going to get another box and figure out somewhere to put it

Wow, that is the SAME cat litter I had to switch out of! That might be your problem considering I just had the same issue with the same brand! Was it in their big bin that you scoop it yourself? It must be some crappy litter (no pun intended)

Starlage

yep! stuff from the big bin!! I think i'll try the more expensive flushable stuff, more convenient anyway so worth the cost if she likes it

hypotrochoid

Could be stress. They have a pheromone thingie- it plugs in like an air freshener- that may help relax the kitty and stop stress related squatting. That and clean the litter box. Oh, and if she has a favourite spot you can spray it with bitter apple to keep her away.

Johnnyswife

Can you uncover the other litter box? Maybe the fumes are getting to her as well? Cats have a much better sense of smell than we do, so even though it smells clean to us, it smells like the "other cat" and they can reject the box. Glad your taking her to the vet though..it sounds like something might be wrong.
Oh, and apologise to your kitty for smacking her and rubbing her nose in her pee. Lots of cuddles and treats.

tabbydog

Get her to the vet ASAP. She could have a urninary tract infection, bladder infection, etc.... My cat has done this twice in his life and both times he had something wrong. He is on prescription food now.

Starlage

i can uncover the other box, I'll try that too- thanks!

risefromruin

Don't rub her nose in it and don't smack her.

These work for some cats: http://www.feliway.com/gb

This. I've worked in the pet industry for going on five years now. If what you say about the younger cat is true, your older cat is probably stressed. Definitely take her to the vet to rule out any bladder/kidney problems, as that can be a medical reason. The feliway however is a diffuser that you can put in the area that she spends the most time at your house. It emits pheromones that will make her feel more comfortable in her environment if the peeing is stress induced. You can also try internal calming supplements, such as Bach Rescue Remedy (they have an alcohol free one for animals) or Hilton Herbs Kitty Kalm. They are both liquid based supplements that can easily be put in the mouth or in canned food on a daily basis to help with any stress she has. Adding the extra litter box is also a great idea. The general rule for litterboxes is: one for each cat in the household PLUS one box. This prevents any litterbox guarding and ensures that they have a clean place to go each time. Hopefully something in here helps ya...

Starlage

i've actually never heard of it before, I'll check it out. She is kind of naturally high strung, when i'm at the store for the box and litter i'll check out the kitty stress products )

Starlage

Just wanted to make a little closing THANKS!!! I appreciate all of the advice, pretty much what I planned on doing- I just wanted some conformation/ other thoughts on how to go about things and good products to use.

here's my revised plan, i'll post later on how things are doing:

1) taking her to the vet this weekend just to make sure there's nothing really wrong
2) getting another litter box or two, uncovered and finding places in my little apartment to leave them....
3) changing litter; thinking about taking the advice on the clumping flushable all natural kind. Hopefully they like it, i'd imagine that'll be dustless and easier for me to clean often since i'll be able to flush stuff instead of finding a bag and tying it up
4) remind myself not to get angry, even if it's happening first thing early in the morning! )
5)keep an eye on her water/food intake and output until I take her saturday (when I'm home that is... work during the day)
6)getting a citrus scented something to spray on the areas to add/ put ontop of the enzyme cleaner
7) check out kitty de-stressing stuff when I'm at the store tonight for the litter and boxes
8) clean the boxes at least once a day
9) accept it!! )

I'll jsut have to work on creating new habits for myself as far as cleaning out more often goes. THANKS everyone!

cheshirequeen

haha, acceptance is hard, but with as many cats as weve had weve learned to live with it. just like the 2 year old little monster i call my son, haha.

Starlage

It sure is! Not getting angry's hard too. It was my first reaction this morning even though I know that's not the way to respond. Well, home now. In tow: orange scented nature's miracle for cat pee, a collar that lasts 30 days that is "calming" and doused in pheramones, two new sift n pour uncovered litter boxes (bathroom, front hall where she went this morning and dining room/kitchen, big 40lb bag of swheat scoop flushable biodegradable clumping litter. Hope this is my miracle cure! Oh, and thinking of giving the older cat a little cat nip daily. Cross ur fingers!

garlic7girl

I wonder did you move the box? Sometimes when older that confuses them. Also, was it clean? Did you use a different litter?
Just ideas.

kennethmgreen

Do you have Google at work? You might have better luck there...

Please don't Google about animal medicine, it does not make you a veterinarian. Instead, it causes people to do stupid things that sometimes endanger their animals.

Like asking for (or giving) vet advice on a fitness website where membership requires zero credentials?

Starlage

No, I didn't move the box or change litter. Thanks tho! Kennethmgreen... Vet advice? No, fellow pet owner advice from other people that have been through it. Vet advice will be saturday with a real vet. Thanks for being rude tho! Always nice when people make a snarky rude comment, brightens the day right up....

gracemleone

You smacked an animal and rubbed their nose in it? You do realize that this teaches them nothing but to fear you, right? Not only that, but rubbing an animal's nose in their urine can cause infections. How would you feel if you were old and ill and you had an accident like that and your caretaker smacked you and rubbed your nose in it?! That is horrifying.

Thank you.. I'm glad someone said this!!

And to the OP, I haven't gone through this whole thread so I don't know if someone already said this but considering it is not a medical problem (which you will find out at the vet like you said), it can be a dirty litter box. You say you don't clean the box as often as needed. Think about this, would you want to use a toilet that hasn't been flushed for a few days, especially if you have to put your feet in it?

DisneyAddictRW

One of our 3 cats has a "spot" they started using. We took the plastic piece from under the desk and placed in the area with the little spike sides up. Every time mowgli went to his corner the spikes bothered his was. Problem fixed. Vet told us it was a behavioral issue but I was on the edge of him finding a new home! Couldn't take the stress anymore!

chezmama

I would suggest that rather than getting a different litter box, you get a low and wide rubbermade container....like a sweater box sized one and use that as a litter box. My mother had that problem, and when I started to have it too, that is what she suggested I do. It worked for us. This is especially helpful for a bigger cat.

Starlage

wll, so far no more peeing. It's only been 24hrs but thankfully she's used the litter box and is definitely eating and drinking/ peeing and pooing normally. good signs. My little apartment's now basically a big litter box with all of them laying around but oh well, it's worth it. I do love those little critters )

Starlage

I would suggest that rather than getting a different litter box, you get a low and wide rubbermade container....like a sweater box sized one and use that as a litter box. My mother had that problem, and when I started to have it too, that is what she suggested I do. It worked for us. This is especially helpful for a bigger cat.

Thanks for the advice! I'll go there if this doesn't work. Right now I uncovered the original box and added two more boxes around the apartment (and am trying to clean them out once a day if not twice a day)

Starlage

One of our 3 cats has a "spot" they started using. We took the plastic piece from under the desk and placed in the area with the little spike sides up. Every time mowgli went to his corner the spikes bothered his was. Problem fixed. Vet told us it was a behavioral issue but I was on the edge of him finding a new home! Couldn't take the stress anymore!

Thanks for that advice too! I'll keep that in mind if she keeps peeing outside of the boxes. So far so good though even though it's only been 24hrs

Pangea250

A visit to the vet is definitely in order. And you really have to clean the litter box. Cats HATE dirty litter boxes. Also, if you cat is afraid of another cat in the house, she might not feel like she has free access to the box all the time. A second box sounds like a good idea. Good luck!

ninerbuff

I wish I could have a dog. rental apartment, indoor cats only. I can't toss her outside either. And yeah I worry about cat pee smell! This is probably what got me angry this morning in the first place, thinking of the smell. augh

Probably won't get your deposit back if the smell lingers and could even be charged extra to remove it. Get a hamster.

Starlage

acutally the enzymatic cleaners have really effectively removed the smell, but thanks for the lack of sympathy. appreciate it. great words of encouragement...

SCC88

No, I didn't move the box or change litter. Thanks tho! Kennethmgreen... Vet advice? No, fellow pet owner advice from other people that have been through it. Vet advice will be saturday with a real vet. Thanks for being rude tho! Always nice when people make a snarky rude comment, brightens the day right up....

acutally the enzymatic cleaners have really effectively removed the smell, but thanks for the lack of sympathy. appreciate it. great words of encouragement...

The way some people carry on these days!
This clip from the Simpsons immediately sprung to mind!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoAiyUduyrY

BurtHuttz

Crate training works just as well for cats as dogs.

weese17

Kitty diapers?

DontStopB_Leakin

Just spread cat litter over your entire house. Problem solved.

Admiral_Derp

Pee pads. When our cat, (Chairman Meow) was a kitten, he would climb into bed and sleep in between my wife and I. Once or twice we woke up to find that he peed in the bed. We started sleeping with a couple of the pads on the bed and he got used to them. then we would gradually move it closer to the litter box until he started using it. It takes time and patience!

MeIShouldB

I have had cats all of my life (me and my boyfriend have 2 kittens we got in January). From my experience, and talking to the vet a cat will pee/poop outside the litterbox for a couple of reasons. They will do it if stressed, upset, or sick (this includes a move, you being gone too long, or the arrival of a new pet or child). Also once they do it one time, the smell with stay in that spot causing them to think that is where they are supposed to go now. So once they have done it, clean that spot VERY VERY WELL. And get some kind of pet odor destroyer.