Inappropriate Urination In Cats An Indication Of Other Underlying Issues

Since cats are generally clean animals by nature, inappropriate urination usually is an indication that something is amiss either with your cat or the litter box. There may be several medical issues such as diabetes, FLUTD or old age which could lead to such behavior in cats. A visit to your vet can help in ruling out such issues. Once medical reasons are ruled out, you need to know the other issues leading to such behavior.

Reasons Leading To Inappropriate Urination

A primary reason could be that your cats litter box is not clean enough. Cats have a heightened sense of smell. They hate to use a litter box that smells offensive just as we hate to use a dirty toilet. The litter box should be cleared daily and washed with soap and hot water at least once a week. Avoid using strong smelling detergents since your cat may be sensitive to such chemicals. Rinsing with a solution of bleach and water followed by thorough air drying helps in killing bacteria. Use multiple litter trays for multiple cats. Another reason for cats not using the litter box is declawing. After declawing, cats paws are tender and hence they hesitate to scratch around in their litter box as it may be rough.

Cats also like privacy just as humans do. So place your litter tray in an unoccupied area. If the litter tray is placed in a busy area, your cat may refuse to use it leading to inappropriate urination. Also take care to see that the litter tray is kept in a place that is far away from where your cat eats as cats dislike going to the toilet near to the place where they eat. Certain cats also prefer a litter tray that is fully covered.

Another reason causing inappropriate urination in cats is stress. Stress may occur in your cat due to change of residence, another cat walking around in the garden or introduction of a new family member (human or pet). Helping your cat to overcome such stress could result in resolving this issue. However, in certain cases, this behavior may continue even though the reason for the stress has been solved. In such a scenario, you need to consult your vet to find out how your cat can be retrained.

It is important to realize the difference between spraying and inappropriate urination. Spraying is when a cat urinates on a vertical surface and it happens mostly among male cats. Female cats also have been known to spray on occasion. Spraying is a form of marking the territory and is a way of communication among cats. Cats continue to spray over areas that have already been sprayed on once. Therefore, use an enzymatic cleaner to clean the marked areas. Neutering your cat can also significantly reduce this problem.

Old age is another reason for inappropriate urination. As age increases, frequency of such behavior may also increase. Conditions such as poor eyesight, dementia, incontinence and arthritis can also contribute to this problem.