How do I stop my cat peeing outside the litter box?

Cats peeing where they shouldn’t can be a source of great frustration and anxiety for pet parents. Unfortunately, it is also a reason some people decide to re-home their animals. A few weeks ago, we shared a video highlighting why your cat might be peeing outside the litter box, and today we’re talking about how to address that behaviour.

Here are a few tips from our blog, Thinking outside the box – What to do if your cat is peeing inside the house. Read the full blog here.

Do a deep clean

If your cat starts to pee outside the litter box, get the spot cleaned up quickly and rinse the area with a pet friendly enzyme cleaner. Cats have an incredibly strong sense of smell and if the odour is not removed, they will continue to urinate on that spot.

As frustrating as it may be, never yell at your kitty or rub her nose in it. This type of reaction won’t solve the issue and could lead to stress and further behavioural issues.

Get the scoop on litterbox habits

Many cats are very persnickety when it comes to their toilet habits. If the litter isn’t changed  regularly, they may soil outside of the box or if they don’t like the feel of the litter or even the location of the litter box, the results can be soiling somewhere else in the house. The litter box should always be placed away from the area the cat is fed.

Providing a litter box on every level of the house may also help, especially in a multi-cat household. Is one of the cats guarding one of the litter boxes or making another uncomfortable using it? Providing a litter box in a more private location may remedy this problem.

Help your cat adjust to changes 

Has a new pet or new baby been added to the family recently, or have there been other changes in your cat’s regular routine? Change can be extremely stressful for cats. Provide time for the cat to adjust and a quiet place for the cat to retreat.