Inappropriate urination can be one of the most frustrating issues for a cat owner. Often, it is caused by an underlying medical issue. A trip to the vet should always be the first step, especially if your cat is straining and producing little to no urine, is crying, passing blood, not eating or is displaying signs of pain or lethargy.

If your cat has been given a clean bill of health by your veterinarian, you may be dealing with a behavioural problem. In fact, it is the most common behavioural issue in cats. Do not believe the misconception that your cat is seeking “revenge” for something – cats do not have the cognitive capacity to understand that peeing outside the litterbox will make you angry.

Inappropriate elimination is most often brought on as a result of stress. Cats are very sensitive and any major change around the household can trigger a change in their behaviour. A new baby or pet, a move, or visitors to the house can all be the source of inappropriate elimination. Always consider your cat when making major changes to their environment and try to lessen the impact they may have.

Minor changes made to the cat’s environment may also have an impact. Changing the type of litter or litter box location may cause a cat to eliminate in the wrong place. Using a harsh cleaner in the box, having the box in a high traffic area and having a dirty litter box can all be causes as well. Make sure you have at least one more litter box than you have cats in your household (ie, 2 cats = 3 litter boxes) located in different areas, scoop them out daily, and only use soap and hot water to clean them. If you have a dog, place the litter boxes in an area that the dog cannot access.

If you need to change the type of litter, gradually mix in the new type over the course of a couple of weeks. If you need to change the location of the litter box, add a new one at the new location, but leave the old one where it is until the new one is being used. If you are moving a single litterbox, move it a few inches each day to the new location.

Any spot where your cat has eliminated will need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove the odour. If any smell remains, the cat will deem it to be an appropriate spot to eliminate. Avoid products with ammonia since they smell similar to urine. There are products available from your veterinarian specifically for this purpose. Temporarily place a litter box in the location the cat has been eliminating and gradually move it next to their regular box before removing it. If your cat is eliminating on furniture, deny them access by keeping doors closed, covering the furniture, or making it unpleasant by covering it with foil or double sided tape.

Solving this problem may take some time, but it is worth the effort. Often, the solution can be simple if the source of the problem can be identified. With time and patience, you can teach your cat to start using the litterbox again.