LITTER BOX ISSUES

Cats might pee or poop (eliminate) outside their litter box for three reasons: medical issues, problems with the litter box setup, or stress. If your cat eliminates outside the litter box, clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner. This breaks down the waste so the cat is not attracted to urinate there again.

Medical Issues

Medical issues may cause incontinence or pain when eliminating. The cats may associate the pain with the litter box and avoid using it. Or they may try to avoid the pain by holding in their urine and feces until they get to the point they can’t hold it in anymore and then can’t make it to the litter box in time.

Signs house-soiling is medical:

• House-soiling is sudden/new behavior
• Frequent trips to litter box
• Little/no elimination in litter box
• Very hard or very soft feces
• Daily/frequent house-soiling
• Blood/discoloration in urine/feces
• Small puddles of urine
• Licks genitals excessively
• Foul smelling urine
• Lies on cold surfaces
• Straining to eliminate
• Vocalizing, yowling, wincing while eliminating
• Avoids litter box

What to do for medical issues: If you think a medical issue might be the cause of your cat’s house-soiling, take your cat to the vet. They may perform tests like a urinalysis, fecal exam, x-rays, or bloodwork to diagnose the problem. 

Litter box setup

Cats need a clean, odor-free litter box where they feel safe and comfortable. If the litter box setup isn’t right, they might start eliminating outside of it.

Signs house-soiling is due to litter box setup:

• Eliminate right next to litter box 
• Eliminate on soft horizontal surfaces
• Stand on side of box to eliminate
• Avoid litter box
• Daily/weekly occurrences
• House-soiling started after you changed type of box, type of litter, or location of box
• Quickly jump out of box after eliminating

What to do for litter box set up
If you think your cat is avoiding the litter box due to the setup, follow these recommendations:  

• Litter box: Use an extra-large box (1.5 times the size of your cat), with no cover, no automatic features, no liners, and a low entry point. 
• Litter: Choose unscented, clumping, fine-grained litter, and fill box about 2 inches deep. Stick with the same brand once you find one your cat likes.  
• Multiple Boxes: Provide one box for each cat plus one extra. Place them in different rooms and at least one on each floor of your home.  
• Cleaning: Scoop the litter box daily and do a deep clean every couple of weeks. 
• Location: Place the box in a quiet area away from loud appliances, children, and dogs. It should be easy for the cat to access, not hidden or out of the way, and away from food and water. Ensure there are multiple escape routes from the box. 

Stress 

Cats can become stressed by changes like adding or losing a household member (human or animal), moving, or introducing new objects, sounds, smell, or routines. Conflict with another cat in the home or cats outside the home can also lead to house-soiling or spraying*.
 
When cats pee outside the litter box due to stress, they are typically trying to re-establish their own scent in an area to make themselves feel more comfortable. Peeing on new items makes them smell like the cat and less like the scary new thing/person. Peeing on their owner’s items, such as their bed or clothing, mixes the cat’s smell with their owner’s smell which brings them comfort and reassurance.

Signs house-soiling is due to stress:

• Corresponds with behavioral changes like fearfulness or aggression
• Daily/weekly incidents
• Starts after a major life event/change
• Location may vary, often far from litter box
• Eliminates on owner’s personal items
• Eliminates next to exterior doors or windows (if stressor is outside) 
• Eliminates on new person’s items or on new objects
• Spraying*

*A note on spraying. Spraying is distinctive from other types of house-soiling. The cat backs against a vertical surface with their tail raised and quivering and sprays a vertical streak of urine. Spraying is a territorial behavior; your cat may spray and still use the litterbox for normal elimination. Spaying/neutering dramatically reduces spraying. Providing scratching posts as an alternative way to mark territory helps. Most important is to reduce the trigger, which is typically cats outside the home or inter-cat conflict within the home.

What to do for stress-induced house-soiling:
You can reduce stress by providing additional enrichment and exercise. Safe hiding spaces where cats can retreat and avoid other animals, people, or noises are important. Provide alternate paths and escape routes for your cats using wall furniture and high perches. For cat conflict within the home, make sure that you have a multitude of resources (food, water, litter boxes, scratching posts, sleeping spots) dispersed throughout the home so one cat cannot guard them and the cats can space themselves out. Reward the cats for positive interactions. In some cases, you may need to completely separate the cats and do gradual reintroductions. For cats outside the home, block windows with blinds or translucent window clings. Set up a gentle deterrent such as a motion-activated sprinkler. Remove bird feeders, food and water from your yard since they may attract outdoor cats.  


For more information on how to resolve cat house-soiling, contact behavior@pasadosafehaven.org.