Urinating: Outside the Box or Spraying
Inappropriate elimination (litter box avoidance) is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners and the number one reason cats are surrendered to shelters. It includes cat behavior urinating and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.
Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
The idea that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge is a common misconception. The actual causes are usually one of the following:
Medical Problems
Cats may suffer from medical conditions that make them urinate outside the litter box. It’s always wise to consult your veterinarian to eliminate this as the cause.
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Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems such as litter box aversions or urine spraying can imply that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.
Something about the litter box bothers your cat.
- The box contains harsh odors. The litter box may have an offensive odor if you clean it with harsh chemicals. Or, if you don’t clean it enough, the box may smell strongly of ammonia (a normal byproduct of urine). In either case, covered litter boxes hold in and amplify such odors.
- The sides of the box are too high. Cats with painful legs, sore joints, or other mobility problems may have trouble getting into a box with high sides. Kittens have similar problems.
Something about the litter bothers your cat.
- The litter is dirty. Cats usually prefer clean litter.
- The texture of the litter is distasteful. Your cat may have a preference for finer-textured clumping litter over coarser non-clumping litter—or vice versa.
- The scent of the litter is unpleasant. Most cats prefer non-scented litter.
The location of the litter box bothers your cat.
- The box is in an unpleasant area. Avoid placing the litter box in a high-traffic, noisy, dark, or dank area.
- Your cat is afraid to use the box. If another cat, dog, or human terrorizes your cat when she’s in the box, or ambushes her as she exits, she may avoid the box altogether.
Cats with aversions usually eliminate on varying surfaces. You may find puddles of urine and/or feces on either soft surfaces like carpets, beds, or clothing, or on hard, shiny surfaces like tile floors or bathtubs. Depending on the severity of your cat’s aversion, he may continue to use the litter box, but only inconsistently.
Inappropriate Site Preferences
Your cat may also develop a preference for eliminating in a spot other than the box. Preferences can be categorized as follows:
- Another surface is more desirable for elimination. Cats that prefer certain surfaces usually stick with that choice. For example, a cat that finds it more pleasing to eliminate on soft surfaces like clothing or carpets would be unlikely to use tile floors.
- Another location is more desirable for elimination. This usually results from an aversion to the current box location.
As with aversions, cats with preferences for certain surfaces or locations may continue to use the litter box inconsistently. One cause for house soiling may lead to another. For example, a cat with a urinary tract disorder that can’t make it to the litter box in time will urinate wherever she is. She may then develop a preference for the new site and continue to eliminate there.
Urine Spraying
Urine spraying is the deposition of small amounts of urine around a given area. Spraying is not a litter box problem. A cat can have a spraying problem while at the same time properly using his litter box for defecating and urinating. Spraying announces a cat’s presence, establishes or maintains territorial boundaries, and advertises sexual availability.
Cats usually spray on vertical surfaces, like the backs of chairs, or walls. They don’t squat to spray (as they do to urinate), but the tail lifts and quivers, and small puddles of urine are left in several consistent locations. It is perfectly normal for unaltered males to make territorial claims by spraying. Females in heat also tend to spray.
Cats may spray when they perceive a threat to their territory, such as when a new cat enters the home, or when outside cats are nearby. New furniture and carpet smells can prompt spraying as well. Cats may also spray out of frustration resulting from factors—like restrictive diets, or insufficient playtime—often wrongly perceived by humans as revenge.
