Basically, your cat peeing outside the box can be caused by four main reasons:
- An underlying medical condition leading to painful and more frequent peeing;
- Problems with the litter or the litter box;
- Stress or anxiety that has disrupted your cat’s routine and sense of safety; and
- Behavioral issues or a habit from not cleaning up pee stains properly.
Peeing Everywhere Means Take Your Cat to the Vet
If your cat is peeing everywhere, it’s time for a visit to the vet. This behavior isn’t normal, and kitty is signaling that something is wrong. Cats are great at disguising tremendous pain from humans, but peeing outside the box is definitely something you will notice and take action on.
Your veterinarian will help you unravel the mystery of why your cat is peeing everywhere. The vet will likely check your cat for a urinary tract infection, bladder infection, kidney issues, diabetes, or a few other possible causes. Only a veterinarian can diagnose whether there’s an underlying medical reason, so if you see your cat peeing outside the box, get out the cat carrier and bring her in.
The good news: if it is a medical cause, medications and sometimes dietary changes can get kitty feeling better soon. And most of the time, once the underlying condition is treated, cats resume their normal litter-trained habits.
If all of the medical tests come back clear, the pee problem may be behavioral or psychological.
Litter or the Litter Box May Be Lead to Peeing Outside the Box
The least worrisome reason why a cat may be peeing outside the litter box is a fault with the litter or the box itself. Something may have happened that makes the box unappealing to your kitty, and they don’t want to use it. Consider:
- Is the litter box in need of scooping or a complete change? Cats do not like using a dirty box and may choose to go elsewhere.
- Did you change the type of litter you were using? Some cats are flexible but others have definite preferences for texture or scent.
- Can your cat reach the litter box? Did something obstruct it, or is your cat no longer able to easily jump through the opening due to age or weight gain?
- Did you change the location of the litter box? Kitty may not like where it now is.
- Did something happen in or near the litter box that spooked your cat? Consider if something fell, they were ambushed by another animal, or there was a loud, unexpected noise while they were in it. Your cat may associate the litter box with a lack of safety and privacy now and not want to use it.
A first attempt at solving a cat peeing outside of the litter box problem is to address any of these issues. Empty and clean out the litter box and refill with a litter your cat prefers. ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ Litter is used by millions of cat parents and minimizes the smell of cat urine and feces, making the box more pleasant for you and kitty.
If you did move the litter box or think your cat may be uncomfortable with its location, try moving it or placing a second litter box someplace else and see if your cat uses it. If kitty isn’t feeling well or has gotten older, a long trek to the box may discourage them from making the trip. Try putting the litter box closer to their favorite hang-out spots.
Stressed Out or Anxious Cats May Pee Everywhere
A cat who is anxious, nervous, or stressed may pee outside the box. This isn’t “revenge-peeing” or holding a grudge – though many humans blame passive-aggressive kitties.
A distressed cat can forget routines or legitimately have difficulty with bladder control. They also may not feel comfortable using the box due to whatever is stressing them out. Some factors to consider:
- Did you get a new pet, lose a pet, or foster some kittens? Did you have a baby or adopt a child? Your cat may feel uncomfortable and as if their territory has been invaded. New pets and children also make loud and unexpected noises, which no cat is a fan of. Repeated loud noises and erratic behavior can create underlying kitty stress that leads to peeing outside the box.
- Did you have a change in routine? A new work schedule or visitors to the home, an illness or injury? What about home renovations or a new appliance installation? Cats get nervous about changes to their home structure and may respond by inappropriate urination until they feel safe again.
Your veterinarian can help if you have a stressed-out kitty, with advice and behavioral modifications or perhaps with medication. If you can identify the likely cause and it’s something that won’t continue (such as a home renovation or houseguests), you can re-establish routine and see if the behavior clears up on its own once things are back to normal.
Inappropriate Cat Peeing and Separation Anxiety
If your cat is peeing on your bed, pillows, or clothes, especially while you are gone, it might be a symptom of separation anxiety. Talk with your veterinarian or a cat behavioral specialist about ways you can help your kitty feel more secure. Medication, changes in playtime with your cat, getting her a companion, or other tactics may help.
Also, make sure whoever is taking care of your cat while you are gone keeps up certain routines and maintains a clean litter box. As above, these changes in schedule and environment may exacerbate stress and peeing outside the litter box.
Most cats resume normal litter box usage once the underlying stressors causing anxiety are under control. If you’re still having trouble, talk with your veterinarian.
Clean Up All Urine Accidents Properly to Discourage Peeing Outside the Box
Between your care as a cat parent and the help of your veterinarian, you’ll have your kitty on the mend and back in the litter box soon. And one more thing: make sure you clean up any urine outside of the litter box completely, so that your cat doesn’t return to that area to pee again. This is very important for re-training them to use the litter box and not picking up new (and unwanted) habits. Try ARM & HAMMER™ Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator Plus OxiClean™ to neutralize the urine smell and remove stains.
May your kitty feel better soon!
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It can be frustrating when a cat won’t use her litter box, but don’t give up! Usually this litter box problem is a sign of something else, and it’ll just take a little detective work to figure out what your cat is trying to tell you.
Don’t get discouraged! It may take some troubleshooting, but you will be able to find a solution that works for you and your cat.
Start with these two steps:
1. Get a veterinary exam to rule out a medical cause.
Litter box issues can be a cat’s way of letting you know something is wrong. Cats can suffer from urinary tract infections (UTI), bladder infections, emergency urinary blockages, arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and other conditions that may affect their litter box habits.
2. Consider your cat’s spay or neuter status.
If your cat isn’t spayed or neutered, what you think is peeing outside the litter box may actually be spraying and marking. These behaviors are strongly associated with mating, and usually stop after your cat is spayed or neutered.
14 Litter Box Problem Solutions
Once you’ve ruled out a medical issue or mating behaviors, it’s time to look at other reasons why your cat may be eliminating (pooping and peeing) outside the litter box.
Here are some solutions that will make life better for your cat and you. We’ve included an explanation for each so you know what your cat may be thinking.
Be patient and try the following solutions until you find what works for your cat.
1. Create a calm environment.
Establish a strict routine for feeding and play. Try using pheromone sprays like Feliway® and Rescue Remedy® or special treats such as Composure Soft Chews. These can be found at many pet stores or online.
If your cat is generally stressed, she may be communicating that through the change in her litter box behavior. Maybe you’ve moved, or you have a new baby, or a new cat. Changing their environment or routine can stress cats, and sometimes that stress can even lead to a medical issue like a UTI. Reducing that stress as much as possible may solve the issue.
2. Keep the litter box clean.
Scoop the box at least twice a day and be sure to completely clean, disinfect, and replace all the litter in the boxes every week.
Cats don’t want to step in a dirty litter box. Some are more sensitive to an unclean environment than others.
3. Use shallow litter boxes.
Provide litter boxes that are shallow so your cat can climb in easier. If it’s too hard for your cat to get in the litter box, she may go elsewhere. This is especially true for small kittens, older cats, and special-needs cats.
4. Get a bigger or uncovered litter box.
Use a bigger litter box and/or uncover it if it’s covered. Place it in an area where the cat can see her surroundings and has multiple escape routes.
Your cat might feel cramped or trapped in her litter box, which makes her feel unsafe. Or she may just not fit in the box at all! When in doubt, go bigger.
5. Get a cover.
If you have an uncovered litter box, try a covered one. While some cats feel safer with an open litter box, others feel more protected when it’s covered.
6. Add more cat litter.
If there’s a thin layer of litter in the box, put in more. If there’s a thick layer of litter, put in less. Your cat may think there is too much or too little litter in the box for their comfort.
7. Location (and privacy) is key.
Make sure the litter box is in a quiet location away from foot traffic, or put another litter box in such an area. If you know your cat feels comfortable in a specific space or room, place it there. The litter box may feel like it’s unsafe or lacks privacy. Cats want to go in areas where they feel protected and away from commotion.
8. Keep litter box away from dogs and kids.
Put the litter box in a place where dogs or kids can’t access it. Then everyone will be safe. Cats may be stressed by the presence of others near their litter, especially very active or loud children and dogs.
9. Give multiple cats options.
If you have multiple cats, make sure you have one litter box per cat plus one other. Set them all in different locations so the cats have options.
Cats are territorial and may be too stressed to use the litter box if they’re competing with another cat. Sometimes, cats will even chase each other away from the box or wait outside of it to jump on a cat who emerges.
10. Put a litter box on every floor.
If you live in a multi-story home, have a litter box on every floor. Cats can have occasional accidents if they don’t have a litter box nearby when they need to go. This is especially true of kittens, older cats, and special-needs cats.
11. Change the type of litter.
Try a different brand of litter. Use unscented litter if you haven’t been, because cats dislike strong smells. Keep trying different litters until you find the right one. You can even try setting multiple boxes, all with different litters in them.
Litter types include:
- Shredded paper
- Pellet style
- Pine
- Corn
- Clay
- Sand
- Clumping
- “Attraction” scent
If your cat doesn’t like the type of litter you’re using, try another variety. For clues, pay attention to where your cat is eliminating outside the box. If your cat is going on a smooth surface, try keeping the box empty. If she’s going on carpet, try putting towels in the box.
12. Eliminate accident odors.
Clean up any accidents outside the box with enzymatic cleansers specially designed to eliminate pet odors, which you can find at most pet stores. If your cat is still smelling her elimination in an area she’s not supposed to go, she’ll keep thinking it’s a bathroom.
13. Make the area less appealing.
Move the litter box to the area your cat is eliminating. If you can’t, make the area less appealing as a bathroom by laying upside-down carpet runners, sticky tape, or crinkly foil in that spot.
Your cat has decided she wants to go in a certain spot and really doesn’t want to stop. After all, cats really like routine.
14. Make it a positive experience.
Help your cat associate the litter box with something positive. Get a new box and change the box’s location. Your cat may associate using the litter box with a stressful experience, whether it was a scary noise while she was in the box or a past medical issue that made it painful to eliminate. You’ll have to try and give her new, positive associations with the litter box.
Is Your Cat Still Not Using the Litter Box?
Consider consulting a cat behaviorist. A professional may be able to pinpoint the cause by observing your cat’s behavior. You can also learn more about cat behavior with our Cat Behavior webinar series.
As a last resort, you may consider behavior-modifying medication. Ask your veterinarian about these options and possible side effects.
DO NOT:
- Rub the cat’s nose in her own waste. This will never work and will only serve to stress your cat.
- Place the cat by force in the litter box. It could cause your cat to develop a negative association with the box.
- Yell at the cat. This will only cause fear, not solve the issue.
And don’t get discouraged! It may take some troubleshooting, but you will be able to find a solution that works for you and your cat.
Find more tips in our Cat Care section.