Why does your cat urinate on your carpet and not in her litter box?

Answer 1

Peeing everywhere except the litter box can be clearest symptom of a UTI (urinary tract infection). But, this is true only if the cat has, until recently, always, used the litter box and the box is clean. You have to scoop it everyday, and change it once a week. If it isn't clean or it's next to the cat's food, the cat won't use it.

Other reasons for not using the litter box can be: other pets or people bothering the cat when it's using the litter box, putting the box in a busy area, particularly if it's an old or sick cat, or a kitten, if the litter box is too far away or in a hard to reach place, or the cat does not like its litter and wont use it, or, the litter box is too small. But if the cat has been good about using the litter box and suddenly isn't, it probably has a UTI and needs to go to the vet. There are not many effective home remedies for feline UTI. A cat with UTI has to pee very suddenly and urgently, and often can't get to the litter box in time. And peeing with UTI can be painful, and the cat might avoid the litter box because it associates the box with the pain.

One of the easiest things to help avoid a cat contracting a UTI is to increase the water intake, and possibly to use a Feliway plugin or spray for stress-related UTIs. There are several things you can do to increase how much water a cat is intaking. By far the easiest option is to feed a wet food diet. Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 70% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

It may be ideal to and incorporate at least some wet food into the cat's diet each day, so your kitten gets at least some water.

Another way to increase water intake is to leave a tap on, or purchase a pet water fountain. Many cats are fickle when it comes to water and will only drink fresh moving water. A running tap or fountain keeps water constantly moving and fresh, and both methods are very successful in enticing a cat to drink more water.

Until recently, it was thought that a cat urinating in an inappropriate place might be a sign of anger, but newer research indicates this isn't true. The cat isn't urinating outside the box to express anger or annoy you. Please don't take it personally. UTI is stress related with cats, and if you are angry or try to punish your cat, it will fix nothing, and only make the situation worse.

Answer 2

Cats are sometimes very finicky about their litter box conditions. If there is strong urine smell in the box, the cat may not want to climb in and dig around in there. You should try a different size/style of little box and change the types of litter you use till the cat seems content. It's very important to keep the little box clean and odor-free as often as possible. Think of having to climb in there yourself to go to the bathroom. You'd want it clean too. Be kind to your kitty!

Another reason, does your cat have anxiety issues? Because my cat does-well did, and he used to have a favourite room that he could cover with gross stuff whenever he got nervous about things changing around in the house. Things like moving furniture around or a new pet could set it off.

Answer 3

Hi there...if this is something that recently developed, first consider all the possibilities such as: - changes with litter brands - location of the litter box isn't private enough - some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate - cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box) - as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up - kittens who are over 5-7 months can become sexually mature and urine spray as well as defecate inappropriately to mark territory. - senior cats develop age-related disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, etc. If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem such as something as simple as a lower urinary tract disorder: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result. Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying. Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box? One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way. Medical Problems So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, Arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling. Litter Box Aversions Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three. ...please consider visiting the website for further details

Answer 4

The most likely scenario is that your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI). Cats gets them rather easily and it causes them pain to pee. But cats do not have the intelligence to know that the pain they are feeling is a medical problem. Instead, they think the litter is doing something to them to cause pain, so they try to find places that are "softer" for them to pee. Assuming your cat has had more than one accident within a short amount of time, you should always take your cat to the vet to rule out a UTI.

If the vet does rule out a UTI, it can be a few other things:

1-The litter box is not clean or clean enough for your cat. If it is too dirty, they will go someplace else.

2-The cat does not like the type of litter in the box. Some are very picky about it. If this is the case, you will have to try several options until you find one that works.

3-The litter box is not private enough. If it is in an area that is loud, it might be too distracting for the cat and it will go someplace else.

4-Another cat has claimed the litter box as its territory, and won't let any other cats use it.