It seems all cat owners have a love-hate relationship with their cat’s litter box. They love it in that they don’t have to frequently let their cat outside to potty, but they hate it when it comes time for cleaning, or worse when their cat isn’t using it. Since you rely on your cat’s litter box to contain the mess that you don’t want elsewhere in your home, it can be more than frustrating if they start peeing outside the litter box. We’re here to help you get to the bottom of why this may be happening and what you can do to stop it.

Why Cats Pee Outside the Litter Box

I’m sure your cat has their reasons, unfortunately, they’re not going to tell you why they’re peeing outside of the litter box. So, we’ve outlined a few of the more common ones here:

Health Haphazards

Kitties often like to hide their health woes so as not to show vulnerability. That can make it difficult to know when something is wrong. Fortunately, if you’re keen to their normal behaviors, you can more easily spot when something is a bit off. One behavior that may go to the wayside when a cat isn’t feeling 100% is their litter box habits. Peeing outside of the litter box can be an indication of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary issue, an injury that affects mobility, or another illness, such as diabetes or kidney disease, that affects their water consumption and urination frequency. It could even mean that your older kitty is starting to experience some cognitive dysfunction.

Along with peeing outside the litter box, you may also notice a change in appetite, hiding more or becoming overly clingy, weight loss, or a change in water consumption if your cat has a health issue that’s affecting their litter box use.

Dealing with Dirty

It’s no secret that cats like things clean, that’s why they spend most waking minutes carefully grooming themselves. Their need for clean extends to their litter box as well. When confronted with a smelly, unscooped potty area, they may turn up their nose and choose a less obnoxious area to do their business.

If you’ve noticed an increase in litter box odor, rest assured your cat has too, so if litter box cleaning has fallen by the wayside for whatever reason, this may the culprit.

Picky Preferences

Most cats like things just so. You’ll recognize this if you get a quick nip when you pet an area on your cat’s body that’s “off limits”. This pickiness can even include their litter box set up. Cats can be very particular about the type of litter, size or placement of the litter box or even whether or not they have to share their bathroom with other furry roommates. Your cat may choose to pee outside of the litter box as a way to show you that they’re unhappy with their accommodations.

You may notice this happening after you’ve made a change to your cat’s litter, litter box, or if you’ve moved it to a different location.

Secret Stress

Secret, or not so secret, stress has a way of bringing out the worst in our feline friends. Stress can change the way they behave in many situations, including affecting their appetite, grooming, playfulness, sleep patterns, and even litter box habits. If there’s been a sudden change in your cat’s routine, such as a move, addition to the family, or even a noisy neighbor dog, peeing outside the litter box may be their way of showing their stress or anxiety.

Bad Behavior

While some cats have a meow that for all intents and purposes sounds like complaining, they can’t actually tell you that something is up with them. Instead, they have to show you. Peeing outside the litter box may be their way of getting your attention. It could mean stress, health reasons, or unhappiness with their litter box as we hit on above. Or it could mean you’re not giving them enough attention, exercise, or mental stimulation, or the house is too noisy so they can’t nap.

If you’ve ruled out all of the other potential causes, make sure you’re checking all of your cat’s boxes and meeting their needs in a way that works for the both of you.

How to Stop Your Cat From Peeing Outside the Litter Box

With any luck, one of the potential causes for peeing outside the litter box resonates with you and your cat so that you can get started on remedying it. If not, don’t worry, your vet may be able to help you sort it out. That’s why a good first step for any cat that is peeing outside the litter box is a veterinary visit. This is important to diagnose or rule out any health issues and to help address any behavioral concerns.

Your vet will be able to treat urinary tract problems often with medication and a change in diet. They will be able to alleviate pain that’s affecting mobility and even get you on a treatment plan for lifelong illnesses, such as diabetes and kidney disease.

When it comes to your cat’s preferences, this may take a little trial and error. If you’ve recently changed litter or litter boxes, go back to the old version or something as similar as possible. Otherwise, you may have to look into different options and then gauge your cat’s reactions.

Remember that cats can be particular about the height and size of their litter box, the texture and style of their litter and the placement of their litter box. Keep it out of high traffic areas and out from behind closed doors. As a general rule, avoid anything scented.

If cleanliness is the issue, clean the litter box more often! Simple fix, right? Maybe not for everyone. If scooping has got you down, look into helpful products such as the SiftEase Litter Box Cleaner to help clean the litter box at least once a day. Don’t forget to completely change out the litter at least once a week and to wash and disinfect the entire box when you do.

Final Thoughts

If your cat is currently on the outs with their litter box and they are peeing outside of it, it may likely be due to one or more of these reasons. Enlist the help of your veterinarian to pin down the exact cause and to help you remedy the situation. Hopefully, you, your cat, and their litter box can have a beautiful and mutually beneficial relationship again soon.

About the Author

Chyrle Bonk has been a veterinarian since 2010 and has been writing for pet and veterinary publications for over 7 years. She also owns a small cattle herd and a menagerie of animals. When not working, Dr. Bonk enjoys spending time with her family somewhere in the great outdoors.