Common Causes of Feline House Soiling

Why Isn’t my Cat Using Her Litter Box?

                One of the most frequent and most frustrating reasons for owners to bring their cat to the vet is for urinating (and sometimes pooping) outside of the litter box.  There are many reasons why your cat may decide to use someplace other than the litter box as a toilet.  A few common reasons are discussed here.

1.      Medical problem:  Some cats may actually be sick or have a medical condition that causes them to eliminate outside their litter pan.  Bladder or kidney infection, diarrhea, constipation or gastrointestinal issues, or inflammation of the bladder as in cases of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) are common reasons your kitty might not use his litter pan. Many of these conditions cause either pain or urgency to go, so cats may need to use the bathroom now and can’t make it to the box, or may associate pain with the litter box and go someplace else.  Medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus or kidney failure may cause a cat to drink more water and urinate more and may occasionally cause accidents outside the box.
2.      Issue with the type of litter or with the litter box itself:  Cats may have certain bathroom preferences that, if not met or if changed may cause them to seek other areas in which to do their business.  Some cats may prefer a certain location for elimination, a certain surface or substrate/ type of cat litter (clay vs. clumping vs. pellets) or, the box may simply not be clean.  No one likes to use a dirty public restroom—your cat is no different. 

While each cat may have his or her own preferences, here are some general guidelines:Most cats like a quiet, secluded area but NOT a covered cat box which can trap ammonia and bad odors.Unscented litter is usually best-cats do not like strong floral or citrus scents.Scoop boxes daily and dump/clean boxes at least once a week.If you have multiple cats, make sure there are enough litter pans—the recommendation is to have one more litter pan than the number of cats you own.Once you have selected a type of cat litter that your cat uses, don’t change the type or brand if possible.

3.      Marking behavior:  Some cats will attempt to express displeasure, control or possession of an object or area by marking territory with urine (and sometimes stool).  Urine marking may be exhibited by both male and female cats, neutered or un-neutered.  Typically, the cat will urinate on a vertical surface such as a wall, but sometimes it will be on an object like a pile of clothing or suitcase.  Cats may be trying to claim an area of the house telling others to “keep out” by urine marking.  Cats are quite regimented and fastidious and so sometimes changes in their routine will cause urine marking or even stress-related FLUTD behavior in which the cat develops inflammation in the lining of the bladder causing straining and urgency.  Cats tend to be solitary creatures, and, while a single cat may experience any of the causes mentioned, the chance of house soiling increases with increased numbers of cats in a household.   

If your cat is house soiling, please make an appointment so we can rule out medical causes and discuss treatments and solutions to get your kitty using her litter pan once more.

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.