Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Box? Causes & Solutions

Every cat owner needs to know why cats pee outside the litter box -- and how to solve this problem. Let's take a look.

One of the biggest problems many cat owners run into is their cat peeing outside the litter box. This may happen early on when you first bring your cat home, and then after some time, your cat learns to use the litter box properly. But then the problem suddenly comes back, giving cat owners a headache all over again -- so what's causing it? Let's find out.

Reasons Why Cats Pee Outside the Litter Box

• The litter box is dirty, or there aren't enough litter boxes. Cats are extremely clean animals, which is why we often see them grooming themselves, licking their fur and paws constantly -- this is called "cat grooming." Even dust or a bit of mud stuck to their feet bothers them; even when we pet them with our hands, they'll lick the spot we touched afterward, because they don't want any other scent lingering on their body. So don't even think about letting the litter box go without cleaning -- it should be scooped and cleaned at least once a day, otherwise your cat will feel the litter box isn't clean enough to use. Some cats will hold it in, while others will "protest" by relieving themselves outside the box. For owners using automatic litter boxes, don't forget to deep-clean at least once a month to remove germs and dirt, just as you would with a regular litter box. Besides an unclean litter box, having too few litter boxes can also make your cat reluctant to go, or feel unsafe while doing their business. This is especially true in multi-cat households where cats form separate groups -- you'll need even more litter boxes than usual. The number recommended by veterinarians is the number of cats you have, plus one. In other words, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes; if you have 6 cats, you should have 7 litter boxes.
• Stress. Even though a cat's main job is eating, sleeping, and being adorable, with playing as a hobby, cats can still experience stress -- if they feel unsafe, lonely, or anxious. So during times when no one is home, or when your cat has to be alone for a long stretch, this can cause enough stress and anxiety to lead to inappropriate elimination. Stress caused by another cat bullying them can also be a major reason your cat is peeing outside the box. So observe your cat's behavior closely -- are they hiding in corners or crevices of the room, and relieving themselves in those spots? If so, this may mean your cat is stressed. To fix this, remove the source of stress -- for example, if you'll be away from home for several days, consider boarding your cat at a cat hotel with attentive, quality care. Or if the stress is coming from another cat in the household, you may need to separate the two cats into different areas to reduce conflict and lower your cat's stress levels.
• Your cat is in heat. If your cat hasn't been spayed or neutered, you may run into house-soiling problems caused by heat behavior, especially in male cats! When cats reach sexual maturity and are ready to mate, some will start spraying urine in various corners of the house to mark territory or get the attention of the opposite sex -- sometimes even spraying onto electrical appliances, causing damage or short circuits. Besides cleaning the affected area and using dettol, vinegar, or odor-eliminating spray, owners should nip the problem in the bud by having their cat spayed or neutered -- the earlier this is done before heat behavior starts, the better. The appropriate age for spaying or neutering a cat is 8-10 months, though it's not recommended before 6 months of age, since the body hasn't fully developed yet and this carries added risk. If your cat has already been spayed or neutered but is still spraying, try using a synthetic pheromone spray in the areas where your cat has been urinating, and around the house in general, to help your cat feel more relaxed and stop the behavior.
• Your cat has kidney disease, bladder stones, or cystitis. The last possible explanation for a cat peeing outside the litter box is kidney disease in cats, bladder stones, or cystitis. If you've checked and confirmed the litter box is clean and there are enough of them, your cat has already been spayed or neutered, and there's nothing causing stress, it's possible your cat is unwell. You should bring them to an animal hospital for a thorough checkup so any abnormality can be treated promptly. This is especially true for cats with kidney disease, bladder stones, or cystitis -- so if your cat has been spayed or neutered and there's no obvious source of stress, we recommend a direct veterinary checkup to look for any underlying abnormalities.

Cats peeing outside the litter box is a problem that many cat owners face, especially in the early days after bringing a cat home. Over time, as your cat learns to use the litter box on its own, this problem usually goes away. But if your cat suddenly starts having accidents again after always using the litter box properly, it's time to investigate the cause, understand your feline overlord's behavior, and try the solutions above. If you've checked that the litter box is clean and there are enough of them, your cat has been spayed or neutered, and there's no obvious source of stress, your cat may be unwell, and you should bring them to an animal hospital for a thorough checkup so treatment can begin right away. If you're wondering why your cat is having litter box problems, or suspect there may be an underlying health issue, you can bring your cat in for a checkup at any Thonglor Pet Hospital branch.