Why Is My Cat Peeing In The House?

Why is my cat peeing in the house? 

It can cause a lot of frustration to discover that your cat has taken to peeing inside the house; on surfaces, carpets, bedding - seemingly anywhere but outside or in their litter tray. Whilst this behaviour might be more expected for kittens as they adjust to litter trays and venturing outside, it can also be a sign that something is wrong, especially if your cat starts peeing inside out of the blue. Cats are usually very clean and well-kept animals, so it can raise concerns if they start to toilet inappropriately. So what might be causing your cat to pee inside all of a sudden, and what solutions can you use to help?

Punishing your cat will not reduce the problem! Scolding your cat will only make them feel more stressed and threatened.

1. Medical 

It's important to consider that a change in your cat's behaviour, such as peeing inside, can be an indicator that something is medically wrong. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney infections, bladder stones and diabetes are some examples of medical issues that can lead to a sudden urge to pee, resulting in accidents. It's important to rule out any medical causes with your vet, as a prolonged exposure to infections or inflammation pose further risks to your cat.

2. Aversion to their litter tray 

If your cat usually uses a litter tray but starts to go to the toilet in other areas of the house, then there may be an issue with the litter tray itself. Cats can develop an aversion to litter trays if they are dirty, difficult to access, not private enough or used by another cat. Fussy and fastidious, cats may also turn their nose up to the cat litter you've put in their tray! Opting for unscented or natural litter can be a good option for sensitive cats, such as CJs Cat Litter Wood Pellets, or Sanicat's unscented Clumping Litter. All in all, cats tend to feel vulnerable when they use the toilet, so making sure that you've got the right kind of litter and that their tray is somewhere clean and quiet are easy ways to prevent your cat from peeing elsewhere. Make sure you are cleaning their tray regularly and with the right tools; shop litter tray accessories here. 

    3. Anxiety and stress

Cats are very good at masking when they are unwell and/ or stressed. Peeing in inappropriate areas, or changes to their toileting behaviours, can indicate that your cat is feeling stressed or anxious. This could be in response to a new pet, new furniture, an influx of visitors, moving house, or simply that something has spooked them. If you have more than one cat, it is best to provide one litter tray per cat, as cats are very territorial animals, and ensure that access to cat flaps is unobstructed. You could also consider introducing some anxiety reducing diffusers or treats around the house as additional stress relief. 

4. Outdoor factors

It is possible that an external factor could be causing your cat to pee indoors. For example, a faulty cat flap or the presence of another cat in your garden can make your cat less willing to go outside. In the case of the latter, accompanying your cat outside to give them extra support, and lining the perimeter of your garden with soiled litter can help your cat feel safer, less scared and reinforces the territory as theirs. You could also consider installing a magnetic cat flap that links with your cat's collar - meaning only your cats can enter your space and intruder cats are kept out. Older cats may start to struggle with cat flaps, as their joints stiffen and they become less mobile. It's good to ensure they have a litter tray indoors as an accessible toilet option. 

5. Proper cleaning

One of the most important solutions to inappropriate peeing is to make sure that the targeted spaces are being cleaned properly. A quick wipe and dry will not remove the scent of urine, which attracts cats back to the same spot. Keep your cat away from the area for as long as possible and clean it thoroughly using biological or enzymatic cleaning products. You could also place some dried cat food in the same area to prevent your cat for associating that particular space as a toilet. 

Whether it's clear as to why your cat is peeing indoors or not, there are three important things to remember:

1. Punishing your cat will only make their behaviour worse as it increases stress within the same environment
2. Investigate any medical issues with your vet straight away, particularly if there is no clear indicator as to what is causing your cat's behavioural changes
3. Thoroughly cleaning the area is vital to breaking any repetitive behaviour. A clean litter tray also goes a long way! 

To shop cat litter trays and accessories, please click here.

To shop cat flaps, please click here.

To shop cat cleaning products, please click here.