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11 Reasons Why Your Cat’s Peeing in the House all of a Sudden

It’s safe to assume that you’ve clicked on this article because you’re dealing with a cat who is all of a sudden peeing in the house (Click here for my solution to deal with this & check the price on Amazon #Ad).

I have experienced this with a few different cats over the years and each time it is a frustrating and upsetting problem. Not only was I worried about the cat, but I was concerned about the cleanliness and the smell of my home.

Luckily, once you get to the bottom of the underlying issue, it is easy to fix and both you and your cat will be much happier. Let’s take a look at the 9 possible reasons why your cat may be peeing inside of the house so you can get it taken care of as quickly as possible.

01. Jealousy

Cats are particular animals who can experience feelings of jealousy that may lead to them peeing outside of the litter box to get attention. The main issue that most cat parents experience is the addition of a new baby or a new animal to the family.

When a new dog, cat or child comes into the home, the status quo is upset and your cat may be feeling jealous of the attention being given to the newcomer.

A cat who is peeing in the home due to feeling jealous may need extra attention, a space of their own or even a calming medication that can be prescribed by your veterinarian. 

02. Urinary Tract Infection

When a cat suddenly starts peeing outside of the litter box, most vets test for urinary tract infections (UTI) before moving on to any other reasons. 

UTI’s are painful, but luckily they are easily treated. Your vet can test your cat’s urine and get a quick answer. If they are suffering from a UTI, a round of antibiotics should quickly clear it up and they’ll be back to using their litter box.

03. Disruption in the Home

Any change in the home can be enough to send your cat away from their litter box and straight to the comforter on your bed. Before you begin a renovation project, host multiple large gatherings, move their cat tree shelf or otherwise rearrange the structure of your home, consider ways to help your cat feel calm amidst the upheaval.

Make an effort to keep their litter box in the same place at all times. Your cat may prefer privacy, or they may like to have their box wide open. You can experiment with different sizes and shapes of boxes and ones with hooded tops (Click here to see how to get her to use this litter box) to see which kind your cat prefers. 

 

04. Change in Litter

Don’t be tempted to pick up the back of kitty litter that’s marked down at the pet store if it is very different from the kind of litter that you’ve always used.

If you try a new brand or kind of litter and your cat does not like it, they will choose to do their business elsewhere and pee around your home instead of in the new litter. 

There are sometimes medical or financial reasons that a litter change is necessary. In those instances, make the change gradually. Keep filling their box with mostly the old litter and slowly incorporate more of the new litter, until the old litter is gone.

05. Mobility Issues

As cats age, their mobility can be affected as their muscle tone and overall health decline. If your ​cat is peeing in the house (On your stove? Click here), take a good look at the structure of their litter box and notice if it may simply be too hard to climb into. 

There are litter boxes on the market with lower sides or cut out areas that are lower than the rest of the box. You could also try setting up a small ramp leading into the box to help your kitty get into the box more easily. 

06. Medical Conditions

Underlying medical conditions may be the reason for a cat to stop using their litter box. 

Diabetes, thyroid disease and other diseases of the kidneys and liver are common in aging cats and all can contribute to litter box issues.

Get a thorough veterinary exam for your cat to determine any possibly underlying medical issues.

07. Scents In or Near Litter box

Cats are much more sensitive to scents than most people are.

It is best to avoid scented cat litter, especially if you are having a problem with your cat not wanting to use the litter box. The chemically added scents in commercial cat litters are very strong and can be enough to keep cats out of the box.

Look around the room where their litter box is placed. Remove any air fresheners, candles or other home fragrances. In an effort to make their litter box space as welcoming as possible, it’s necessary to remove any items that may cause them to avoid the space.

08. Anxiety

It may seem strange, but cats can experience anxiety just like people can. Anxiety in cats is displayed in behavioral changes, such as choosing to urinate around the house instead of in the litter box.

Anxious cats may mark their territory through urine spraying on walls, door frames or furniture in addition to peeing on ground level surfaces.

Your veterinarian can prescribe anti-anxiety drugs for your cat to help them to feel more secure and stop the inappropriate peeing (Will baking soda help? Click here to see) and spraying. If you’d rather try a non-medication route, there are plug in pheromone devices that can be successful in helping to keep your cat calm and happy. 

09. Urine Crystals

A cat who is suffering from urine crystals is likely to urinate around the house due to being in pain from the crystals.

Sometimes the crystals go hand in hand with a urinary tract infection, but not always. Your veterinarian will be able to check for crystals with a urine test.

Male cats tend to be more prone to crystals and it is necessary to get the proper medical attention to get them feeling better quickly.

Did you enjoy this article? Was there something new that you read here that you hadn’t known before?

I personally know how hard it is when you find your cat peeing around the house (Click here to learn how to clean up the pee off yor hardwood flooring) and how much you want to help them. Cats do some weird things, like eating grass. I want you to know that you’re not alone and this problem can definitely be fixed!

Are you currently dealing with a cat who is having problems peeing in their box? or maybe you need some ideas to keep your cat entertained while your at work? or maybe you a wondering, with all this cat pee around, should you bath your cat? Have you had cats with urinary issues in the past? Please share your experiences below and share this article to help others who may be dealing with similar issues.

10. Cats need a routine

Cats are big fans of a set routine. They rely on certain things in place each day to make them feel relaxed. For example, they appreciate being fed at the same time each day. If this does not happen it can stress them out and lead to inappropriate urination.

To avoid this try to maintain your cats routine. If you feed your cat at 9 AM each morning then try to stick to it. Obviously, there may be an odd minute or two of variance. But, overall, try to stick to that.

11. A new unexpected habit

Your cat may be peeing a new random spot because of a new habit. Meaning, once it has soiled an area in your home it may feel compelled to return there. Why? Because of the scent.

To get around this you need to clean the area thoroughly. The idea is to completely remove the scent, not just to clean it up. However, bleach is not ideal for this because rumor has it cats may still return even after that has been used.

Should you visit the vet for inappropriate urination?

It is a good idea to visit your vet if your cat is urinating around your home randomly. This may seem extreme, but it’s worth the cost. Because only your vet can truly rule out a medical issue.

Also, if you are told it is not a health issue you can then look into other issues such as a behavioral problem. It is also good peace of mind knowing you can rule out any health issues.

Does the type of litter tray make a difference?

The litter tray can make a difference. For example, your cat may be peeing everywhere because they are struggling to use the litter tray. For example, the cat could be old, with joint pain, and find it hard to climb into a litter tray with high sides.

If this is the case you can easily replace it with one with lower sides so they can get in and out easily.

Can outdoor cats prefer different types of litter?

Yes. Outdoor cats can prefer different types of litter. For example, it may have spent a lot of time outdoors and prefers the feel of soil. In this case, it may need a litter that has a different texture than you are using.

Truthfully, this is an experiment to find what works. Why? Because what works for one cat may be completely opposite for another. So try some samples to see how it responds.