The definition of inappropriate urination in cats means to urinate in any location other than the litter box or outdoors. There are many reasons a cat may urinate where it is not supposed to. These include medical and behavioral issues.
Medical issues that may lead to inappropriate urination outside the litter box include but are not limited to kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, urinary tract infection, urinary stones, arthritis, and a condition called idiopathic cystitis or profound inflammation of the bladder. Idiopathic cystitis is one of the medical problems that often has a behavior component that will be addressed as part of the therapy. Your veterinarian may run blood work (CBC, Chemistries, T4), urinalysis (analyzing urine), x-rays, and sometimes an ultrasound to determine if a medical issue is to blame. Each disease process has its own treatment designed to help your cat achieve normal metabolic or endocrine (hormone) status, and in turn, hopefully return to the litter box for elimination.
Behavioral issues that may lead to inappropriate urination outside the litter box include: dislike of the brand of litter used, foreign cats seen outside, addition of a new pet or person to the household, changes in routine, construction, moving to a new house, and new scents near their litter box, especially citrus. It can be challenging to determine the exact cause or issue that irritates your cat. The following are a few tips/ideas for you to try to modify your cat’s behavior whether the issue is medical or behavioral:
1. That’s my litter box...Make sure there are enough litter boxes available. There should be one litter box per kitty in the household + one. (E.g. If you have 2 cats, there should be 3 litter boxes). If you have multiple levels to your house, provide a litter box on each level. The litter box should be in an area where there are not a lot of people or dog traffic. Sometimes if your cat experiences pain upon urination, they may develop a negative association with the box, so changing its location, or size may help after beginning treatment directed by your veterinarian.
2. I need my space to escape...Cats feel most comfortable when they have an area to escape to that is above ground level. Cat trees or window sill benches for cats can enrich your cat’s life and make them feel like they have a place to escape to.
3. I need a schedule... Cats thrive on routine and can feel stressed when their routine is disrupted. Feed your cat consistently at the same time as well as schedule in a defined play time or affection time each day. This can be very helpful, and becomes very important when you add children, other adults or pets to the household. A new addition can make your cat feel their routine is changed and in turn increase stress.
4. I’m stressed...Try to eliminate stressors. I have often said that if cats could talk they would have their own psychiatrist. Cats can become stressed by activities that occur outside and around the house. So if you are remodeling your house or there is construction going on outside, you may need to find a quiet room for your cat or give your cat a vacation. Also keep in mind that if you have outdoor cats that visit your yard often, this can make an indoor only cat anxious. It may not be wise to feed the neighborhood cats if it makes your cat unhappy.
5. I need to relax...The use of Pheromone products which contain appeasing pheromones, are designed to reduce stress and anxiety in your cat. There is no odor to humans...only to your cat. There are a variety of ways to deliver pheromones to your cat.
- Collars that allow the pheromones to remain with your cat.
- Diffusers that plug into the wall dispensing pheromone to one room (~600 square feet).
- Sprays that are only effective in the area sprayed such as bedding or kennels.
These are alternatives to drugs that can at times be more effective.
When the litter box is no longer being used, it can be very frustrating, not to mention foul smelling. Please don’t discipline your cat for this behavior, it only tends to make your cat more anxious and escalate the behavior. It is always recommended that you have your cat examined by their veterinarian to rule out any medical reasons for inappropriate urination. Even if it is a behavioral issue, your veterinarian may have a few ideas on how to get your kitty back in the litter box. Good Luck!
Resources:
www.veterinarypartner.com
www.indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
INAPPROPRIATE URINATION IN CATS
By Dr. Jennifer Tutko, DVM
September - October, 2011
