If you are a cat owner, and have been keeping a lot of cats, you would definitely relate to this situation. Yes, we are talking about your cat peeing everywhere. This may be sudden or right from the beginning. Some off your cats may decide to use any place in your home as their restroom. Ever wondered why is your cat peeing everywhere? How to stop your cat from urinating outside its litter box? Let us find out the details.
Your cat may pee outside the litter box due to a multitude of reasons. It may include medical conditions, or even a dirty litter box. It may also be a behavioural issue that your cat may decide to pee outside the box. Territorial marking, aging, stress and anxiety are a few of the reasons for your cat to pee everywhere.
Why is My Cat Peeing Everywhere?
Some of the issues that may affect your cat and make it pee everywhere can include medical conditions or a dirty litter box. Stress and anxiety can also be an issue that may affect your cat peeing everywhere.
Some of the reasons that your cat may decide to pee everywhere can include
Medical conditions
If your cat is peeing outside the litter box, the first thing you need to do it to visit your veterinarian. They will take a sample and decide on the treatment required. There are several medical conditions that can affect your cat. Some of them can include
Bladder stones
This can be a result of infections of changes in pH. Your vet can suggest x-rays to find if your cat has bladder stones. Stones will have to be removed surgically. If your cat has stones, it may also have UTI _ Urinary Tract Infection.
Metabloc diseases
There are several types of metabolic diseases. Some of the metabolic diseases include liver disease, diabetes, and thyroid issues. Metabolic issues can result in an excessive urination and you may need to clean the litter box quite often.
Urinary tract infection or UTI
UTIs are quite rare in younger cats, but they may be found in older cats. UTIs may be present along with other health conditions. UTIs typically need antibiotic treatment.
Behavioural issues
cats may begin peeing everywhere due to behavioural reasons. Once your vet has checked your cat and no medical conditions are observed, it is advisable to look for the behavioural issues. You can consult a cat behaviousist to get to the root of the issue.
Some of the possible reasons can include anxiety, stress, and frustration. There are several triggers that may start the behaviour of peeing everywhere. A new member in the family, moving to a new place or scoldig it can be a few triggers that may make your cat begin peeing everywhere.
Territorial marking
Cats tend to mark the regions around the house as their territory. Cats always want o mark their territory and have control over it. Urinating and leaving their scent in the areas that it considers its territory is one way of marking the territory for the cats.
Cats may get annoyed with anything that changes their normal environment. This can include adding new cats to the household, threat from the outside cats, children who crawl and grab things, nw guests in the house – just about anything can make your cat to get annoyed.
Aversion to litter box
Cats are opinionated. They have strong preferences about practically anything in their environment. It is possible that your cat has a few “reservations” about the litter box. Maybe your cat has a negative experience previously with the litter box. In such cases, it may decide to avoid the use litter box.
Placement of the litter box may have also be factor for litter box aversion. Cats typically prefer their litter box to be placed in a quiet and less trafficked area of your home. They would also want to see the possible threats when they are eliminating. Being both preys and predators, they do not like a litter box placed in an inaccessible place.
Attraction to another location
Cats, like we already stated, prefer a quiet location for their litter box. That apart, if your cat has marked an area with its scent through urine, they will keep getting attracted to the area repeatedly. In fact, getting the cat urine out of the blankets and furniture can be a real tough task.
It may be advisable to clean the area immediately if you notice that the cat has marked an area with its scent. Use of enzymatic clleaneers has been one of the best means for cleaning the cat urine.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is another reason that can make your cat begin peeing everywhere. If your cat is left alone for a prolonged period of time, it may develop a separation anxiety and may begin peeing everywhere. It can be due to frustration, or may also be the cat’s way of protest.
Separation anxiety may show itself in several ways – it can include an aggressive behaviour, destruction of things, and an inappropriate peeeing and excretion. Provide your cat wiht enough resources to engage itself when you are away and the cat is alone at home.
Multiple pets in the home
Having multiple pets in the home can also be a concern and can bring about the habt of peeing everywhere. Multiple cats in a single home and their incompatibility wiht onee another may also be what results in pee wwars between cats.
Cats use their urine to mark their territories. The fight for their own territories, the cats in your home may begin peeing almost everywhere. It is always a good idea to have multiple litter boxes – one for every cat you have. They are cats, not unlike us miser humans. They all need a separate litter box – one of their own!
Why is My Cat Peeing Everywhere All of a Sudden?
This happened with me actually. My beloved Chingu (that’s my cat’s name, and you know it very well if you have been following us for long) had the best litter habits. She used to eliminate in the toilet and ask us to clean it up soon after she is done. She even used demand cleaning the area before going about her task – if the area in found to be unclean. But she never peed or defecated anywhere outside.
But things went for a toss when we shifted to a new home ten months ago. Chingu began peeeing in the bedroom and eliminating outside. Till then, she had no litter box, as we did not felt a need for – she simply went to toilet. No amount of cleaning and using cleaners solve the issue.
Fianlly we brought a new litter box for her and she was glad to begin using it right away.
Well, the new environment was an issue for her initially and she perhaps began marking the area by peeing. Over the weeks, it became a habit – like the attraction to a location that we just discussed above.
Cat can begin peeing everywhere all of a sudden if it comes under stress and anxiety, or observes a change in its environment. Of course, medical conditions may also be a reason.
Some of the good options to help you get the cat pee smell out of furniture can include
- Enzymatic cleaner – They are most effective as they break down the urine molecules and remove the odor completely. They can also be the best if your cat uses pee as a marking option.
- Baking Soda – Clean the urine from the furniture completely and spray baking soda. It can absorb the odors completely and ensure that the furniture is free from cat pee smell.
- Vinegar – Vinegar is yet another excellent option to help you remove cat pee smell form furniture and other objects. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the area. Vinegar is acidic and can remove the alkaline salts in the dried urine.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – It is a good option for removing stains. Simply pour Hydrogen peroxide on the cat pee and it should clean it and also mask the smell.
- Baking soda and white vinegar – You can also spray a 50:50 solution of baking soda and water on the cat pee. Wipe it off after 10 minutes and then sprinkle baking soda.
How to Control the Cat Peeing Everywhere?
Well, once you understand the actual reasons why your cat is peeing everywhere and out of their litter box, you can take the appropriate corrective measures. Most of the time, it is because of the litter box aversion and may need an immediate attention to clean up the litter box.
Some of the tips to help you prevent your cat from peeig outside the litter box can include
- Keep the litter box as much clean as possible. Make sure that the size of the litter box is also appropriate to your cat’s size.
- Keep the litter box in a quieter and accessible place in your home. Never place it where your cat eats and drinks.
- If you live in a huge home such as a mansion, make sure to have a litter box for each of the levels.
- Choose a litter box that your cat likes. An unscented and scoopable litter box can be the best choice for you and your cat alike.
- If you have multiple cats, vets suggest having one litter box per cat. This will prevent the war between the cats for the litter box territory.
- Ensure that the cat finds your home refreshing. Provide enough options for your cat so that it is not bored at all.
- If you find any inappropriate area that the cat has peed, make sure to clean it up immediately. Using enzymatic cleaners can help you calen it up better as it breaks down the elements that cause the smell.
In Conclusion
The primary reason for your cat peeeing everywhere can have multiple reasons. It can range from simple behavioural issues to more serious medical concerns. It is always advisable to check the reasons for inappropriate urination. Understanding the reasons and taking a prompt action can help reduce the habit of peeing everywhere.
Why why is my cat peeing everywhere all of a sudden?
Your cat may begin peeing everywhere all of a sudden when it comes across any changes in its environment. This behaviour may also be caused by bringing new petss or other cats, a new member in the home or even a loud noise.
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