When you find your cat peeing outside the litter box, it’s easy to think it’s revenge—but don’t take it personally! Cats don’t do this to get back at you; instead, they’re trying to tell you something. Whether it’s a picky litter preference, a health issue or stress, let’s dive into the most common reasons for this feline behavior.
Some cats are quite fastidious, and they don’t like to eliminate in a dirty litter box. Be sure to scoop your cat’s litter box daily to remove waste and deep clean the litter box weekly. For cats who refuse to use a litter box with any urine or feces in it, consider a self-cleaning litter box.
Cats can be very specific about the type of litter they urinate in, how deep the litter box is, the size of the litter box and whether it has a cover. Try a litter box buffet with different litter and litter box types to find your cat’s favorite. Most cats prefer clumping, unscented litter. The litter box should be large enough for your cat to turn around and cover their urine or feces.
Litter box location is key—if your cat is consistently peeing in the same spot outside the litter box, try moving the box there. If your litter box is in an area frequented by other animals, children or guests, try moving the box to a more secluded, calm location.
If you have multiple cats, you may need more litter boxes. Some cats don’t like sharing the same area as other cats. Generally, the recommendation is to have one more litter box than the number of cats in your home. For example, if you have two cats, then you should have three litter boxes.
A cat in a litter box is a sitting duck for other cats in the home to corner or pounce on. If your cat frequently has spats with your other cats, ensure those conflicts don’t spill over to the litter box. Having several litter box options in a variety of locations may reduce ambushing behaviors. In some cases, anti-anxiety medications may be recommended to reduce aggression between feline housemates.
Sometimes, a cat won’t go far—but just far enough to be frustrating. If your cat is peeing just outside the litter box, they might be trying to tell you that something about the box is slightly off. Maybe the sides are too high, the litter is uncomfortable or the box is in an inconvenient location. Try tweaking the setup to see if they start using it properly again.
Does your cat sometimes back up to a vertical surface, quiver their tail and urinate on the surface? This is called urine marking and is most common in male cats who have not been neutered, but any cat can display this behavior. Neutering your cat, reducing stressful triggers or using medication are common treatment methods for urine marking.
If you have a female cat who pees outside the litter box, she could be dealing with a urinary tract issue such as feline cystitis or lower urinary tract disease. Female cats are more prone to urinary issues, so if your girl is having accidents, a veterinary visit is a good idea to rule out medical causes.
Conditions that make it hard to get into the litter box, like arthritis, can also contribute to accidents in the home. Additionally, chronic health conditions that increase the urge to urinate, like diabetes or chronic kidney disease, can lead to peeing outside the litter box. Your VCA care team will usually rule out health conditions before considering behavioral causes of inappropriate urination.
Big changes—like moving, the addition of a new pet, child, partner or roommate in the home, a change in cat litter or food, home renovations or even rearranging furniture—can stress out your cat and lead to litter box problems. Consider using calming pheromone diffusers, anti-anxiety supplements or making changes gradually to keep your cat comfortable.
If you’re concerned that your cat is urinating outside the litter box, your VCA care team is happy to help you determine the cause and develop a treatment plan.
