Cats are picky about the environment due to their natural cleanliness. However suddenly you can find your cat has started peeing on the bed, then another day on the carpet, then the next day, on the pillow. All of a sudden your house smells like a litter box! I bet that will make you freak out! Calm down! You should learn some methods to deal with the issue.
Why Is Your Cat Peeing Everywhere In The House?
The first step in stopping your cat peeing all over the house is to find out the causes.
There are two common reasons for inappropriate urination:
1. Emotional and behavioral reasons
2. Medical reasons
If your cat is healthy, then you need to check the litter box. Keeping the litter box clean is the first principle for a cat owner. We’ll talk about it in detail later.
Also, It might be a behavioral problem. A nervous or stressed cat will react with inappropriate peeing. You need to find out whether your cat is frightened by the change in environment or if they are in a territorial dispute. For example, whether you move to a new house or have the addition of a new family member. The latter mostly happens in a family with more than one cat.
If your cat was trained properly to use his litter box, the final thing you should consider is a medical issue.
Your cat could have a urinary tract infection (UTI), which will cause him pain and he’ll refuse to use his litter box. There are some symptoms, such as straining to urinate, but little or none comes out.
Your cat could have a bacterial infection. Or if you notice your cat is always thirsty and runs to the litter box but can’t make it there on time, your cat may have diabetes.
Other factors including cats are in pain (a scar, for example), or they are overweight or old. Such things can cause your cat to pee all over the house.
How To Stop Your Cat Peeing All Over The House?
If your cat pees due to a disease, then you must take him to the vet in time. If the treatment is delayed for a long time, your cat could die. I’m serious!
We now mainly talk about the peeing problems of a healthy cat here. Only three steps will help you solve the problems:
Step 1：Check The Litter Box
Keep the litter box clean: If your cat normally uses a litter tray but has recently refused to use it. You first need to check whether the litter box is dirty. Your cat will not like to use a dirty box and ideally you should clean it every day. Besides, a cat has a much stronger sense of smell than a human, if you put a litter box next to his cat food it will make him crazy! Therefore, don’t put litter box next to cat food! Imagine that: Would you like to enjoy your lunch along with pee smell?
Make sure the litter box is in a safe and an accessible place for your cat: If you suspect that something near the box is scaring your cat, try to move it and observe the changes in your cat’s behavior.
A cat doesn’t like to be watched when he pees, just like any human would. Maybe, he feels awkward or something, but he can’t say it! Please give him space and privacy!
If he has difficulty in getting there, he will give up for sure. If there’s a spot where your cat keeps urinating, you’re better off moving the litter box there, which could help teach him to pee in the box.
Try a different box: Sometimes, cats refuse to use the box because it’s uncomfortable for them. Simply changing the litter box can help alleviate the problem. Choosing a suitable litter box for your cat may take some time. If you have a smaller cat, a kitten or an older cat, avoid a high-sided litter box. If your cat is timid, avoid an enclosed litter box because it is small and dark.
Here are some recommendations: (the top three best sellers in cat litter boxes at amazon.com)
1. Hagen CatIt Hooded Cat Litter Box
2. IRIS Open Top Cat Litter Box Kit with Shield and Scoop
3. Nature’s Miracle Disposable Litter Box
Add another litter box: If you have more than one cat, you should add another litter tray, because it’s possible there may be territorial disputes between the two. Place another box in a different location. If you only have one cat but have a house with multiple levels. Putting a litter box on each level will ensure your cat can get there in time.
Choose the right litter: A sand-like substance is preferable, and it is better not to use scented litter, or it may put the cat off using it. If you want to change the type of litter, you can mix the new one in gradually over a week and observe the cat’s reaction.
Step 2: Retrain Your Cat And Give Him More Safety
Retraining your cat to use litter box when the environment changes: If you have recently moved, or your house has been decorated, your cat may feel frightened by the unfamiliar environment. Inappropriate urination can happen in such a situation.
The first thing is to give your cat time to adjust. Then, you should observe if there is a particular area where your cat likes to pee. If there is, you can put the little box at that spot. If there is not, you can put the cat in a clean litter box with litter, observing your cat’s reaction. If the cat shows a little interest and stays for a while, you can put the box there, if the cat leaves immediately, you may need to change a place, until you find a better one.
You should be persistent, and it will work. Doing this can help a cat to be familiar with the little box and with time goes by he can build a connection with it.
The best solution is to add another little box to solve the problem of territorial disputes.
Relieve your cat’s stress: You shouldn’t scream or shout at a cat when you found it peeing outside the box or elsewhere in the house. That will only scare your cat, and the next time he will pee at a secret place that is hard to clean.
Step 3: Get Rid Of Cat Pee Smell In Time
Removing the scent will prevent cat’s return. Cat pee smell is smelly. Your cat will keep returning to the area if he can pick up the scent. Wipe up the mess with paper.
If it’s difficult to find the spot, such as the urine on the carpet, you can use the aid of a black light torch. How to get rid of cat pee smell? Here is a simple homemade way to help you better remove the scent:
1. Preparation includes vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
2. Mix three parts of water to one part of vinegar in a squirt bottle and spray the affected area till it becomes dry. Vinegar will neutralize the odor.
3. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. Take 3% hydrogen peroxide and some dish soap to pour it over the baking soda.
4. Use a soft brush to scour the floor or the carpet, which will kill all the bacteria that was left behind.
5. Use paper or dry/wet vacuum to soak up the excessive water.
What’s more, you should pay attention not to use ammonia-based disinfectants because your cat will think it is urine and continue peeing in that area. Cats also dislike the smell of citrus; you should take full advantage of the orange peels.
Cats won’t pee where it eats. Thus you could put cat’s food there if it is convenient. Cats hate the aluminum foil, and you can cover the spot where your cat has peed.
That’s all the effective ways we recommend for you. Don’t be worried! If you find the right cause of a cat’s peeing and solve the problem, your cat will use the litter box very soon and will never pee around the house, because cats are some of the smartest animals in the world.
