For about the last 6 months my 5yr old neutered male cat has been urinating outside the litter box... I first attributed it to him being sick. For a couple weeks he was very sick, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration... He was treated and gained his weight back and was fine, but I noticed he stopped using the litter box for urination - I have two large hooded litter boxes and a small pan. When I started noticing this, I first thought it was behavioral as we had just moved and had a new kitten. Then found out he had a UTI. This has since been treated and he's perfectly healthy. All litter boxes have scooping tidy cat litter that are cleaned at least twice a day, even tried a Naturals Miracle pine stuff thinking maybe after the UTI he thought litter=pain. I put down puppy pads where he tends to go, and for the most part he hits them, but I hate having those all over. Ive moved the litter boxes to these places, scrubbed the carpet with every kind of odor remover, even covered them up and yet he still goes there. He will even go so far as to do it right NEXT to the litter box. Typically its during the night; I never come home to messes. Just wake up to them. I'm at my wits end and don't know what to do. He's a very special cat - he had some mild brain damage as a kitten but he's never had any litter box issues until now. I dont know what to do. I rent, i can't afford the damage he's doing!! I'd hate to put him down, but I dont know what else to do!: (
My guess is that his UTI resulted in litterbox avoidance , and the spots he urinated on, while cleaned, are not really clean to his nose. So he returns there.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
I am posting a link to several effective and cheap methods. Vinegar and water work quite well. And keep with the puppy pads. Use a black light (UV) to make sure you find all the spots.
You might consider removing the lids from the covered litter boxes to see if that makes any difference. But if he uses them for defecation, probably won't make a difference.
I recently had the same issue with a 12 year old male cat. He was doing exactly what your guy is doing.
I have 3 boxes. 1 upstairs in a bathroom and 2 in the basement. No hoods on the boxes anymore. 2 cats total.
I scrubbed and deoderized the boxes - minimal improvement.
I kept the boxes scooped as soon as used - no improvement.
Both litter boxes in the basement were about 18 inches apart to start. I moved one litter box 8 inches further away. Vast improvement (his box was too close to the other cats box)
I bought a huge new box and put it on the other side of the basement room. He immediately claimed it as his. He uses his new box and the other cat uses her boxes.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com No problems for 3 weeks now.
The male cat has always had territorial issues with the female cat. I think he's feeling threatened by her as he gets older. He's going from dominant to the less dominant cat. Cats are extremely territorial. Perhaps your guy is feeling threatened by the kitten now . I know, sounds weird.
Oh, I tried all the cleaning and chemical stuff where he was peeing too. It didn't help at all.
