Cat Urinating
Cat Urinating Where It Shouldn't?
An indoor cat urinating somewhere other than its designated place can become a major problem for the owner, occasionally resulting in the cat being removed from the household, temporarily or, more commonly, permanently. Cats seldom do anything on a whim, or without an underlying reason. If they are not using the litter box there is a reason, and you need to find it if you have any hopes of fixing the problem.
There are several possibilities to consider. One is, could there be a problem with the litter box itself? If the litter box is not the cause of the problem, something in the household may have changed, creating a stressful situation for your cat, causing it to let you know that there is something it doesn't like. The problem is of course, cats can't talk, but they can pee somewhere you 'd rather they hadn't, and all you have to do is figure out is what it is they're trying to communicate. A third possible cause of a cat urinating problem is a medical condition. Let's take a look at these three areas and see if what's presented here might be of help to you.
Is the litter box itself the source of the problem? One thing to be said about cats is that they are fastidious. They constantly groom themselves, and seem to expect that whoever is responsible for the condition of their surroundings is doing his or her part as well. Cats to seem to appreciate a clean litter box. They know it is their place, and as long as it's kept clean and relatively odor free, it will be their potty place of choice.
If the litter box ceases to be clean enough for the cat, it may start thinking about doing its business elsewhere. There's more involved than cleanliness though. Location of the litter box can be important to the cat. A cat prefers to do its elimination activity in a place where it feels secure, and at least somewhat private. That's why a utility room, or any area of the house which doesn't have lots of traffic, can be a good place for the litter box. Some will tell you not to place their food dishes near the litter box. Most animals don't like to eat in the same place where they defecate. Your cat may or may not mind having the two in the same area. That's something you'll just have to find out. Finally, if you have more than one cat, you'll need more than one litter box, as cats generally don't like to share bathrooms.
There are other causes of your cat urinating where it shouldn't, and these often have to do with stress. Have you ever had your cat spend a few days in a boarding kennel? When you bring the cat home, the first thing it does, is to go through the house very carefully, as if to make certain that all is in order. Cats like to have things in proper order, and unchanged from day to day. Move some furniture, have a house guest for a few days, introduce a new cat, or a cute but lively puppy, and your cat may leave puddles, indicating that all is not well it its house. If your cat starts leaving puddles in the middle of the kitchen or dining room, think what major (to the cat) changes may have occurred in your household over the past few days. You then might face the task of trying to convince the cat all is OK.
A third reason for out-of-control cat urinating could be medical. Female Urinary Tract Disease, which can be brought on by stress, among other things, is a frequent medical reason for urination problems. Other medical problems or diseases can also change your cat's urinating patterns. Anytime a cat's behavior changes abruptly, there's the possibility of a medical problem, requiring a visit to the vet.
Whatever the reason, don't ever scold your cat for this behavior. You'll probably only make things worse. Sometimes if you catch a dog in the act of doing something wrong, you can discipline it with favorable results. Discipline seldom works on a cat. Cats get both mad and even, as the wet spot on your sofa will prove.