Why is my cat doing this and what can I do to stop it?
By Francesca Lees BSc (Hons) NCert (AnBeh) ISFM CertFN ABTC-ATI RVN
Inappropriate elimination (or toileting outside of the litter tray) is a surprisingly common issue that many cat owners find themselves faced with. Whether your cat is urinating outside of their litter tray daily or every once in a while this problem is a really difficult issue for cat owners as the impact on their life and the consequences of the behaviour can be severe.
When working in clinical practice as a veterinary nurse I often met owners who were struggling with this issue, to the point they were considering rehoming their cat or their partner was considering re homing them!
What is it about cats urinating in the house that causes such extreme reactions?
Mainly, the smell. Cats urine contains enzymes which are designed to leave a lasting smell so that they can scent mark their territory. This is highly effective but unfortunately this means that it leaves a strong odour which lingers for a long time within the home. This smell is very difficult to remove and when soaked into carpets and soft furnishings it can be very noticeable when entering the room.
For many homeowners this is extremely problematic, especially when you take pride in your home and want it to be clean and pleasant to live in.
Why do cats urinate in the house and what can we do to prevent it?
Firstly it is important to note that this behaviour is completely normal for cats and in the wild they would scent mark their environment to make themselves feel safe from intruders. Our domestic cats are still very much like their wildcat ancestors and so still behave in a very similar way. Cats are also very particular when it comes to toileting so they will seek out areas which feel safe and quiet. Unfortunately this may not be where you’ve placed their litter tray!
Five ways to stop your cat urinating outside the litter tray
To minimise the chance of your cat urinating outside of their litter tray try to follow these recommendations:
- Make sure to provide a litter tray for each cat within your home. Even if your cat toilets outside they need at least one indoors so that if they don’t feel safe enough, for any reason, whilst outside they still have somewhere safe to go to toilet. If you have more than one cat you need at least one tray for each cat as cats do not like to share litter trays.
- Place litter trays away from windows or glass doors. Cats do not like to be exposed when toileting so may not want to use a litter tray if other cats in the neighbourhood could observe them doing their business!
- Try to keep litter trays in quiet areas rather than busy areas which act as a through fare (such as hallways or landings).
- Make sure to clean the litter trays regularly, scooping out clumps and faeces. Cats do not like to use litter trays which are full of urine or faeces and may look elsewhere for a place to urinate.
- Keep litter trays spread out around the home and away from food and water bowls. Cats are very clean animals and don’t like to toilet and eat next to each other.
- Try using a pheromone plug in. Sometimes cats urinate or spray within the home due to feeling stressed and so pheromone plug ins can help them to feel more relaxed overall which can prevent urine scent marking and spraying.
Never punish your cat for urinating outside of their litter tray. They do not understand punishments such as shouting, being sprayed with water or physical reprimands and this will only cause confusion and a break down in the relationship between you. Remember cats are not doing this on purpose and are only acting in a way which is natural for a cat.
If you have tried all of the above and your cat is still urinating outside of their litter tray then the next step would be to contact a feline behaviourist. You can find a registered and certified cat behaviourist on the Animal Training and Behaviour Council website.
Vet Nurse Health Warning - If your cat has suddenly started urinating outside of the litter tray, urinating more frequently, urinating on cold surfaces such as shower basins or sinks or they appear to be straining when urinating then get them checked out by a vet. This could be sign of a urinary tract infection and not necessarily a behaviour issue. If your cat is straining and struggling to pass urine or you are seeing blood in their urine then this is an urgent matter and they need to see a vet immediately.
If you'd like more advice on this topic or animal behaviour topics, contact Francesca Lees via her website, Wild Cats Feline Behaviour.