Top 10 Ways to Help Cats that Don't Like the Litter Box

Addressing Inappropriate Urination

When your cat starts shunning its litter box in favor of other places throughout your home, it is definitely not something you want to become a habit. Address the issue quickly with these simple ways to help your cat stop peeing outside of the litter box.

10. Define the Problem

The first thing you need to do when you discover pee where it doesn’t belong is determine whether it is the result of spraying or inappropriate urination. Spraying is a result of cats marking their territory, and is generally just a splatter, whereas inappropriate urination will be a larger puddle.

9. Tackle the Problem Quickly

You will want to address any urination outside of the litter box quickly, before it becomes normal behavior for your cat. If your cat is spraying, try making it feel more secure in its territory, as that is often why cats get possessive. In a multi-cat household, it may help to provide separate living areas for each cat.

See Also: Cat Behavior 101 (Slideshow)

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Gabriella B.

10:50AM PDT on Aug 28, 2012

thank you for that

August 28
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Dale O.

8:24AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

The 16 year old cat that owns me is very good about using her sole litter pan. Having a small apartment it is placed strategically so that it is about the same distance from all locations.

Her Humble Servant cleans the pan several times purr day using unscented litter, on occasion baking soda is mixed in.

Over the years some accidents which were few for a urinary infection, couldn't get to the pan in time for a poop, so rare an event that many years take place before that reoccurs...and several times when the Wednesday fire alarm test went off, a horrific one minute of ear shattering noise, a pause and then another one minute blast. That scared the "piss out of her literally...while sleeping on my bed. Had to plug my ears and her hearing is five times more sensitive than mine,,,glad we have a new system where the alarm is very brief and much quieter!

Have been quite fortunate but even when blind Her Grandness knows how to use her pan well.

A dirty litter pan is akin to having urine/feces smeared on the toilet lid!

July 31
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MarilynBusy W.

5:53AM PDT on Jul 20, 2012

Wendye, you say you've disinfected, but i you haven't used an enzyme cleaner then the cats can still smell the odor and think it's ok to go there.
You HAVE to use an enzyme cleaner.
You may also want to try Dr Elsey's Cat Attract litter. It works.

July 20
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Wendye K.

1:50AM PDT on Jul 20, 2012

We have two pusses so we're not sure which one is doing numbers 2s throughout our place. I've disinfected the area where the litter boxes are and clean their litter boxes on a regular basis. We're not sure what's going on. I'm a little concerned that there's something they don't like but not sure what. God bless ALL animals! xo xo xo xo xo xo

Trudy K.

5:12PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

As my cats have become seniors, I have taken off the tops, changed to different litter- unscented & not real gravely litter, put plastic & carpet pads under the boxes, lowered the boxes due to arthritis issues.. They still have accidents which I don't understand- I have 3 cats & 4 boxes. Cleaned well. I might have to try the Attract a Cat litter. I do have verying degrees of carpet spots that just will not come up despite every spot remover I believe I have ever tried. But they are my babies, & I just deal with it. Like when they get sick & make a stain. It's like your kids. They are much loved. Thanks for all the info.

July 2
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Aimee A.

4:14PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Thanks for posting!

Elaine A.

10:24AM PDT on Jun 27, 2012

Privacy, clean litter box at all times and good litter they can really dig into. NOT that green pellet crap! Fresh step clumping is the best for my fur kids!