If you’ve ever lived with a cat, then you understand the seemingly unsolvable problem of inappropriate urination. All you want is for your cat to use the litter box like a good kitty—but instead, your feline friend is doing its business on your bed, under the sink, in the corner of the basement, or anywhere but their litter box.
Believe it or not, your cat’s inappropriate urination is not spiteful. Still, your cat is pleading with you for help. Here are five issues that could be causing your cat to eliminate outside their litter box and how to help the situation.
#1: Your cat’s litter box smells like a porta-potty after a football game
No one likes to use a dirty bathroom, least of all your pampered feline. Scoop your cat’s litter box at least twice a day. Empty it, and then clean it with plain water or baking soda once a week.
#2: Your cat’s litter box smells like roses (or lilies, lavender, or lilacs)
On the other hand, your cat is sensitive to strong smells and may dislike the scented litter you bought. Most cats prefer unscented litter that has a delicate, sand-like consistency. Cats also resist change, so once you find a litter your cat likes, stick with it and avoid changes.
#3: Your cat feels cramped inside their litter box
Your cat needs adequate space to scratch, dig, and posture and may look elsewhere if they cannot move around freely. Despite your preference to keep their mess contained, most cats do not like covered litter boxes. Your cat’s litter box should be as long as the length from their nose to their tail tip and as wide as the length from their nose to their tail base to ensure they don’t feel cramped.
#4: Your cat is being bullied by another pet
If another cat is resource guarding or preventing your cat from using the litter box in peace, they may seek out a more private location. To ensure enough elimination stations, purchase one litter box per cat, plus one more. This way, even if every cat decides to go at the same time, each one has an option.
#5: Your cat has a medical problem
Suppose your cat is still urinating outside their litter box, despite the perfect scenario. In that case, a medical problem may be to blame. Contact us—we can help you get to the bottom of the problem.