Urea + urochrome + uric acid = the contents of the litter box. That’s the optimistic version. In the realistic version, all those smelly ingredients end up anywhere except the litter box. Why do cats start avoiding the litter box, and how do you stop a cat from peeing and pooping around the house? Let’s find out.
See your vet first. Peeing or pooping outside the litter box is one of the most common signs that a cat is unwell. Bladder inflammation (cystitis), urinary crystals or stones, urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, constipation, arthritis and other conditions can all cause it. If your cat, especially a male, is straining in the litter box and passing little or no urine, it’s an emergency: get to a vet immediately.
Why Do Cats Go to the Bathroom in the Wrong Places?
To fix the problem, you need to understand its cause. A cat that was never litter trained is one story. But if your cat used to use its litter box and has started “missing” or avoiding it more and more often, there are several possible reasons:
- Health problems. This is the first thing to rule out, even if your cat seems otherwise fine. A cat that associates the litter box with pain, from cystitis or constipation for example, may start avoiding it even after it recovers.
- The wrong litter box. It may be too small (a box should be about 1.5 times your cat’s length, from nose to the base of its tail), have sides that are too high for a senior or arthritic cat, or have a hood that traps smells. Read more: why your cat has stopped using the litter box.
- Dirty litter. Cats are very clean animals. Scoop the box at least once a day and change the litter completely regularly.
- The wrong litter. A sudden change of litter, or scented litter, can put cats off. Most cats prefer unscented, fine-grained clumping litter.
- An uncomfortable location. If you’ve recently put a new washing machine next to the litter box, your cat may start avoiding it and looking for a quieter spot. A new air freshener or a strong-smelling cleaner near the box can have the same effect. Boxes should be in quiet, private places, away from food and water bowls.
- Not enough litter boxes. In a multi-cat home, one cat may block another’s access to the box. Have one litter box per cat, plus one extra, in different places.
- Stress. Moving house, a long absence, a new pet or a new baby, or cats outside the window can all make a cat start going to the bathroom in the wrong places. Read more: stress in cats.
Cats don’t pee in the wrong places out of spite or revenge. It’s always a sign that something is wrong: with their health, their litter box or their sense of security.
Why Do Cats Spray?
Cat urine doesn’t smell great, but spray marks are even worse! The urine of unneutered males contains sulfur compounds that make the smell much stronger and more pungent.
Spraying is different from peeing outside the box. When a cat sprays, it stands with its tail up and quivering and squirts a small amount of urine onto a vertical surface, such as a wall, a door or the side of a sofa. It’s a way of communicating: marking territory, advertising for a mate and coping with anxiety.
Why do cats spray?
- Hormones. Most unneutered males and many unspayed females spray, especially when they reach sexual maturity.
- Territorial anxiety. Cats spray to feel more secure, for example when there are other cats in the home or neighborhood cats outside.
- Stress and change: a move, new furniture, visitors, a new pet or a new family member.
How to Stop a Cat from Spraying
Some people believe you can never stop a cat from spraying, but that’s not true. These methods work:
1. Spay or neuter your cat. This is the single most effective solution. Neutering stops or greatly reduces spraying in most males, and it makes urine smell much less strong. It works best if done before the cat starts spraying, ideally at around 4 to 6 months of age, but it also helps most adult cats.
2. Reduce stress and competition. Make sure each cat has its own resources, block your cat’s view of outdoor cats (for example, with window film on the lower part of the window), and use a synthetic pheromone diffuser, such as Feliway.
3. Clean marked spots thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner, so your cat isn’t drawn back to them. Read more: how to get rid of cat urine smell.
4. Talk to your vet. If spraying continues, your vet can check for medical problems and, if needed, prescribe anti-anxiety medication.
Never punish your cat for spraying or peeing outside the box: don’t scruff it, shout at it, rub its nose in the mess or spray it with water. “Dominance” isn’t the reason cats spray, and punishment only increases anxiety, which makes the problem worse.
How to Stop a Cat from Peeing and Pooping in the Wrong Places
Once your vet has ruled out medical problems, try these steps:
- Make the litter box perfect. Use a large, uncovered box with low sides, filled with about 2 inches (5 cm) of unscented clumping litter. Scoop it at least once a day.
- Add more boxes. Put an extra litter box in the place where your cat has been going. Once your cat uses it reliably, you can move it gradually, a few inches a day, to a better location.
- Use your cat’s own scent. Gently rub a soft cloth on your cat’s cheeks, then wipe it on the spots where it has been going. Cats are less likely to soil places marked with their friendly facial pheromones.
- Put food there. Place food bowls, treats or your cat’s bed in the spots where it has had accidents. Most cats don’t like to go to the bathroom where they eat or sleep.
- Change the texture. Cover the area temporarily with aluminum foil, a plastic carpet runner turned upside down or double-sided tape. Cats don’t like going on these surfaces.
- Use a deterrent spray. Pet stores sell cat-safe deterrent sprays for the areas you want to protect. Read more: cat deterrent sprays and scents that repel cats.
- Restrict access temporarily. Close the doors to rooms where your cat keeps having accidents, or cover beds and sofas with waterproof covers.
- Retraining in a small room. If nothing else helps, keep your cat for a few days in a comfortable small room, such as a spare bedroom or a large bathroom, with its litter box, bed, toys and food and water placed as far from the box as possible. Spend time with your cat there every day. Once it uses the box reliably, gradually give it access to the rest of the home. This isn’t a punishment, just a way to rebuild good habits.
- Spay or neuter. Unspayed females and unneutered males are much more likely to have litter box problems.
Cat Deterrent Products
Pet stores sell many products designed to discourage cats from going to the bathroom in the wrong places, from indoor deterrent sprays to outdoor granules and gels for the garden. Look for products labeled as safe for use around cats, and always combine them with fixing the underlying cause. Motion-activated deterrents, such as air-puff devices and sprinklers for the garden, can also help.
We also recommend getting an ultraviolet (UV) flashlight, which makes dried urine stains glow, so you can find and clean them all.
Home Remedies: What Works and What Doesn’t
Some people believe bleach will stop a cat from peeing in a spot. Remember: bleach is a no-go. To a cat, the smell of chlorine can actually attract it, not repel it, and mixing bleach with urine, which contains ammonia, can release toxic gas. The same goes for ammonia-based cleaners.
So what can you use to treat the spot so your cat isn’t drawn to it? An enzyme cleaner first, to remove the smell completely. After that, fresh lemon or orange peels can help discourage your cat, and so can wiping hard surfaces with a mix of white vinegar and water. Don’t use essential oils, garlic, iodine or pine-scented products: some are toxic to cats and others are irritating.
If your cat uses a houseplant pot as a toilet, cover the soil with large decorative stones, pine cones or a mesh pot cover. Don’t use sharp objects such as toothpicks or skewers, which can injure your cat. Double-sided tape along the windowsill also works: cats don’t like the sticky feeling on their paws.
When deterrents can help:
- when your cat pees on the carpet or floor;
- when your cat pees on your bed or sofa;
- when your cat goes next to the litter box;
- when your cat uses the bathtub or sink as a toilet (this can be a sign of a urinary problem, so see your vet);
- when your cat goes in the corners of rooms;
- when your cat uses plant pots.
But the best strategy is prevention. Litter train your kitten early. Read how: how to litter train a kitten. And if nothing helps, take your cat back to the vet: there may be a medical problem that hasn’t been found yet, or your vet may refer you to a veterinary behaviorist.
What tips can you share for stopping a cat from going outside the litter box?
