There are various reasons cats urinate carelessly. Cats will stop using the litter box because they are stressed, have a health problem, or simply because the litter box is not cleaned often. Depending on what's causing the problem between the cat and the litter box, you may need a vet's help. There are several things you can do to encourage your cat to use the litter box instead of rugs or other furniture. You can try a new type of litter box, clean the litter box more often, play with the cat near the box, add more litter boxes, and do a number of things to prevent your cat from peeing anywhere other than the litter box. Keep reading to learn more about how to keep your cat from urinating.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Understanding Common Sandbox Problems
Step 1. Consider how often you clean the litter box
Cats don't like using a dirty litter box and will litter if the litter box is dirty when the cat is about to go to the bathroom. If you don't clean the litter box every day, this may be the reason why your cat is urinating indiscriminately.
- In addition to shoveling the dirt in the litter box every day, you should also replace all the sand and clean the litter box with warm water and unscented soap or baking soda once a week. When you're done, dry the box and add new sand.
- Try a self-cleaning litter box to make it easier for you to keep the litter box clean.
Step 2. Count the number of litter boxes in your home
It's important to have a litter box with more than the number of cats in your home. For example, if you have three cats, you should have four litter boxes. If you only have two litter boxes while there are three cats, the number of litter boxes may be the reason why the cats refuse to use them.
Step 3. Determine if the cat can easily access the litter box
If the cat has to walk a long distance to get to the litter box or if the litter box is difficult to get into, that could be the reason why the cat is urinating openly. Place the litter box in an easily accessible place when the cat is in a hurry, such as one upstairs and one downstairs.
- Make sure your cat can see people or animals that are approaching and that it can easily escape. Cats don't like to feel cornered.
- Keep up with the needs of an aging cat by providing a low-sided litter box so he can easily get in and out of the litter box.
- Place the litter box near where your cat usually pees.
Step 4. Find out if the sand you are using is causing this problem
Your cat will not want to use the litter box because she doesn't like the smell or texture of the litter, or because the litter box is too full. Shallow sand of medium or soft texture is best, but you can also try offering other types of sand to see which one he prefers.
- Give your cat a choice of litter type by placing two litter boxes with two types of sand side by side. At night, check to see which one your cat is using.
- Provide sand with a shallow height. Most cats like litter boxes with 2.5 to 5 cm of sand.
Step 5. Determine if the litter box is causing the cat's discomfort
Some cats don't want to use a litter box because they don't like the size and shape. The litter box liner (liner) can also cause discomfort to the cat which may lead him to avoid the litter box. Remove the liner and lid of the cat's litter box to determine if they are causing the cat to refuse to urinate in the box.
Also consider the size of the cat's litter box. If it's too small, he won't want to use it
Part 2 of 3: Considering Possible Health and Behavioral Issues
Step 1. Determine if stress is a factor in your cat's litter box problems
Other pets, children, or a noisy environment can stress your cat and avoid the litter box. Make sure the cat's litter box is kept in a slightly dark, quiet, and secluded place. If the litter box is in a frequented area, he will most likely not use it.
Try using a Feliway spray to help your cat calm down. This product gives off a scent that some cats find soothing
Step 2. Consider the cat's current or past health problems
The cat's medical history can provide an explanation for why the cat is not using its litter box. If you suspect that your cat is sick, take her to the vet as soon as possible. Early treatment of the disease with the help of others will stop litter box problems and also save the cat from pain and discomfort. Urinary tract infections and feline interstitial cystitis are health problems that are often found and cause cats to urinate indiscriminately.
- Urinary tract infections can make cats avoid the litter box even after the infection has been treated. Cats will still associate the litter box with pain and will avoid it.
- Feline interstitial cystitis is the cause of reluctance to use the litter box. A cat with feline interstitial cystitis will urinate indiscriminately because he feels he has to urinate more often.
- Kidney stones or blockages in the cat's urinary tract also cause cats to be reluctant to use the litter box. He will meow while using the litter box and the fear of the pain will persist even after treatment.
- Keep in mind that early treatment of this health problem is very important so that the cat does not feel reluctant to use the litter box in the long term.
Step 3. Find out if urine marking is the cause of your cat's litter box problem
Urine marking is the behavior of a cat squirting a small amount of urine on furniture or other surfaces to mark its territory. The amount of urine excreted is much less than when the cat is urinating. If your cat exhibits this behavior, many of the suggestions in this article can help you, but there are a few additional things you can do to stop urine marking.
- Urine markings are common in unneutered male cats, but unneutered female cats will have the same behavior, so it's important to neuter your cat.
- Urine markings are also common in homes with more than 10 cats, so keeping less than 10 can help alleviate this problem.
Part 3 of 3: Making Cats Stop Peeing Randomly
Step 1. Move the cat's litter box slowly
If your cat starts to defecate on the carpet or elsewhere in your house, place the litter box on top of it to encourage her to use the litter box. After using it for a month, move it a little each day until it's back where you want it.
Step 2. Light up the dark place where your cat pees
Cats like dark places to pee, so a closet may feel appealing to them. If your cat starts peeing on the floor or in a dark place, keep the lights on and consider buying a light with a motion sensor to encourage the cat to pee there.
Step 3. Turn the carpet over
Some cats like certain surfaces and use them as bathrooms. Turning the rug over will keep the cat away due to the changed surface texture. Try turning the rug over for a few days to see if this will stop your cat from peeing on it.
Step 4. Attach the double tips to the furniture
Double tips can encourage cats not to pee on furniture because the adhesive sensation of the double tips on the soles of their feet is unpleasant. Try to stick double tips to the ends of furniture and also where your cat likes to pee.
Step 5. Clean the “crash” with an enzyme cleaner
Cleaning up cat litter as soon as it occurs will also help keep the cat away from the same place to pee. Use an enzyme cleaner instead of a cleaner with ammonia. Ammonia cleaners will make your cat urinate more often because they will interpret the ammonia as other cat urine that must be covered with their own urine.
Step 6. Cut the long hair around the legs
If you have a long-haired cat, he may not like using the litter box because he feels dirty after using it. Keeping your cat's coat well-groomed will help her use the picker box. You should also bathe him to make sure he doesn't smell like urine or feces.
If you feel uncomfortable bathing your cat, find a trusted cat breeder in your area
Step 7. Play with the cat around the litter box
Negative associations with the litter box will improve if you play with the cat around the litter box. Try playing with the cat a few steps from the litter box several times a day to help create a more positive feeling about the litter box.
- Don't try to reward your cat for using the litter box by giving him treats. Cats don't like to be disturbed when they urinate.
- You can leave treats and toys near the litter box, but don't keep bowls of food and water near the litter box. Cats don't like to eat too close to where they poop.
Step 8. Talk to your vet if things don't improve
Encouraging a cat to use the litter box takes time and effort, but it doesn't always work. Some veterinarians do special exercises to help people deal with problems such as peeing. If your cat is not getting better, consider talking to a trusted veterinary behaviorist.
Tips
- If you have more than one cat and you're not sure which cat is constantly urinating, ask your vet for advice on using fluorescein to help you identify the cause. Use a black light to check the cat's urine. Fluorescein will stain certain cats so it's a way to find out who did it.
- Always wear gloves when cleaning the litter box and when removing the sand. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water when you're done.
- Consider having a cat door installed if your cat is always in and out of the house. A cat door will make it easier for him to go outside if he wants to get out of the water rather than inside.
Warning
- Do not rub the cat's nose in its urine. Pick up the cat and place it in the litter box or lock it in a small room. This will not solve the problem and will only make it worse by creating more negative associations with the sandbox.
- Do not use an ammonia-based cleaner to clean cat urine. Using this type of cleaner will increase the cat's desire to pee in that spot again.
