VIP Advice
VIP Advice
Here’s Why Your Cat Is Peeing Outside The Litter Box
3 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Behavior | June 2019
Here’s Why Your Cat Is Peeing Outside The Litter Box
3 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Behavior | June 2019
By Dr. Karie Johnson | June 2019
IS YOUR CAT PEEING OUTSIDE THE LITTER BOX?
Out of (what seems to be) NOWHERE, your cat starts peeing on your clean clothes 😒, on your bed 😳, anywhere that’s not where they are allowed.
CALL ME- your family veterinarian! There are a handful of reasons your cat is doing this.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Cats can begin peeing outside the litter box when it hurts to urinate. They begin to go elsewhere in hopes it won’t hurt. They have a urinary tract infection, urinary stones, feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease or other medical issues that can be treated.
Once the veterinarian rules out a medical problem (👩⚕️-that’s me!), then it’s time to dive deep into BEHAVIOR!
Cats are complex creatures. They stress over any small change. So let’s think about it… Have you changed anything in your house. ANYTHING being the key word.
Have you moved furniture? New furniture? Renovated? New laundry detergent? New litter? New litter box? New litter box location? New cat? New house? New dog? New baby? Changed perfume? Changed shampoo? Changed deodorant? (I wish I was kidding…)
Take note of ANY changes and talk to me – your veterinarian about them. We will find a solution!
BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!
Are there cats that roam outside that your cat can see? Is their litter box in the same room as their food? Are there enough hiding places for all the cats in the house? Is there enough food bowls and water bowls for all the cats in the house? The list of questions can seem overwhelming or confusing, but a Veterinarian who specializes in behavior is trained to identify these issues and provide the necessary guidance.
I recommend not allowing your cats to see stray cats outside. This causes them stress since cats are territorial in nature. If you have one cat, you should have at least 2 litter boxes. If you have multiple cats, always have one more litter box than you have cats, and have different types of litter boxes – cats like options ☺️.
Also, make sure the litter boxes are all in different rooms or at least far enough away from each other (opposite sides of the room). Make sure food and water sources are not located near or next to litter boxes (because who wants to eat in the bathroom 🤷♀️). Cats like their resting space, eating space, and toilet-ing space all separate from each other, so keep that in mind when placing their food, water, beds, litter boxes, and hiding spaces.
VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDATIONS
I highly recommend getting Feliway in these behavioral situations. It is a natural pheromone that helps relieve stress in cats. If you have a multiple cat household get the MultiCat version.
Each cat is different and each scenario is different. There are dozens of factors to identify, but we can find and treat the source of your cats problem or stressor.
Cats RULE 👑 and Cats HATE CHANGE! So, don’t change anything…🤦♀️ but if you have to, try your best to change it slowly and talk to your veterinarian about preparing your furry feline!
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
IS YOUR CAT PEEING OUTSIDE THE LITTER BOX?
Out of (what seems to be) NOWHERE, your cat starts peeing on your clean clothes 😒, on your bed 😳, anywhere that’s not where they are allowed.
CALL ME- your family veterinarian! There are a handful of reasons your cat is doing this.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Cats can begin peeing outside the litter box when it hurts to urinate. They begin to go elsewhere in hopes it won’t hurt. They have a urinary tract infection, urinary stones, feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease or other medical issues that can be treated.
Once the veterinarian rules out a medical problem (👩⚕️-that’s me!), then it’s time to dive deep into BEHAVIOR!
Cats are complex creatures. They stress over any small change. So let’s think about it… Have you changed anything in your house. ANYTHING being the key word.
Have you moved furniture? New furniture? Renovated? New laundry detergent? New litter? New litter box? New litter box location? New cat? New house? New dog? New baby? Changed perfume? Changed shampoo? Changed deodorant? (I wish I was kidding…)
Take note of ANY changes and talk to me – your veterinarian about them. We will find a solution!
BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!
Are there cats that roam outside that your cat can see? Is their litter box in the same room as their food? Are there enough hiding places for all the cats in the house? Is there enough food bowls and water bowls for all the cats in the house? The list of questions can seem overwhelming or confusing, but a Veterinarian who specializes in behavior is trained to identify these issues and provide the necessary guidance.
I recommend not allowing your cats to see stray cats outside. This causes them stress since cats are territorial in nature. If you have one cat, you should have at least 2 litter boxes. If you have multiple cats, always have one more litter box than you have cats, and have different types of litter boxes – cats like options ☺️.
Also, make sure the litter boxes are all in different rooms or at least far enough away from each other (opposite sides of the room). Make sure food and water sources are not located near or next to litter boxes (because who wants to eat in the bathroom 🤷♀️). Cats like their resting space, eating space, and toilet-ing space all separate from each other, so keep that in mind when placing their food, water, beds, litter boxes, and hiding spaces.
VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDATIONS
I highly recommend getting Feliway in these behavioral situations. It is a natural pheromone that helps relieve stress in cats. If you have a multiple cat household get the MultiCat version.
Each cat is different and each scenario is different. There are dozens of factors to identify, but we can find and treat the source of your cats problem or stressor.
Cats RULE 👑 and Cats HATE CHANGE! So, don’t change anything…🤦♀️ but if you have to, try your best to change it slowly and talk to your veterinarian about preparing your furry feline!
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
