-
Urinating outside box
Urinating outside of the box has become a big problem, we have a total of 10 cats in our household and four adults. There are four automatic litter boxes that are well maintained. Only two of the cats are female so there has been some territorial issues. We all love all of the cats and give all of them attention.
We moved into the house with three of the male cats and our five male cats and two female. We have been here almost a year and this has just gotten worse in the last couple of months. I don’t know what to do to keep the cats from doing this but am tired of cleaning up the mess and having the smell.
-
2 Replies
-
Hi Deborah
Merry Christmas!
Urination outside the litter box can be a complex issue, often rooted in both medical and behavioral causes.
If you have 10 beautiful cats and only four litter trays, including territorial disputes among the cats, these might all contribute to the problem.
Here are some steps to address the issue:
1. Consider setting up a webcam to determine which cat or cats are urinating outside the litter box.
2. Maintain a log of any incidents of house soiling for at least 7-14 days. This information can be helpful when you visit the vet. If you need a copy of the log template, feel free to reach out to me.
3. Take the cat that is having accidents outside the litter box to the vet for a comprehensive health check, including urine analysis.
4. Increase the number of litter boxes in your home. Add three standard litter boxes instead of automatic ones, as some cats may be uncomfortable with automatic trays, especially if they are feeling unwell or have previously been startled by them.
5. If the vet rules out any medical issues, you may want to consider an in-home behavioral consultation. You can ask your vet for a referral to a qualified behaviorist.
By taking these steps, you can better understand and address the urination issues.
I hope that helps guide you on the right track.
All the best
Melina
-
I’m sorry you’re having this problem. I know how tiring it gets wiping it up and contending with the smell. We have 2 males who were peeing out of the box for years. One even jumped up on my lap and peed one time. So I think with our males it’s more a territorial issue. One of them did have crystals years ago and so he’s been monitored since then so it’s not that. I would start with having them checked for crystals or a infection.
Could it be the litter boxes are beginning to frighten them? I’ve heard of others having issues with them so that’s why I asked. And although experts advise 1 box for each cat and 1 or 2 extra but with your 10, that could be a problem for you and get very expensive with litter. But maybe trying at least 2 or 3 more regular boxes and areas that the girls spend the most time, may help out. I’m sure you’ve heard that using vinegar to clean with is a big no no. A good bacterial agent will help with the smell and help prevent them from returning. It’s several months later now so I’m hoping you got it worked out. If not, keep posting and I’m sure people on here will try their best with suggestions.
Janet
Log in to reply.