Help Cat Advice

Updated on July 13, 2009
M.S. asks from Lincolnshire, IL
7 answers

I have three cats. One of my cats keeps peeing in the same spot on my carpeting. The wierd thing is that she is peeing about one foot away from the liter box! Anyone know why she would not use the litter box and pee on the carpet?? Is there anything I can do to stop her??

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A.W.

answers from Chicago on

First thing I would do is to have her urine tested to rule out any illnesses. If it isn't illness it could be behavior. Have there been any major changes in the house? How many litter boxes do you have? Ideally you should have one per cat.
Good luck!

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I have heard that when a cat gets a urinary tract infection, they won't use the litter pan. Another reason could be that she does not want to share. Cats sometimes do NOT want to use the litterpan another uses. For 3 cats, you should have a minimum of 2 pans. I have actaully been told 1 per cat plus an extra. Of course, that doesn't mean we all have room for that. :)

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B.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi
I had three cats too and one of them peed everywhere but the litter box. After a couple of vet visits (and a lot of $), he got checked out and I was told to get another litter box. Try putting another litter box in the spot where he likes to pee (maybe he's marking his territory), hopefully he'll do it in the box this time.
Bernie

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L.K.

answers from Chicago on

hi

do you have litter box with a top on it? Does your cat need to have it changed really often? I found these two things to be a reason the cat changed her habits. also- has anything been moved or different with the litter box?

some don't like change at all.

take care.
L.

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M.

answers from Chicago on

Literally just went through this, had to tear out my carpet b/c NOTHING got the odor out and he kept doing it. Took him to the Vet and had a UTI, so we got meds, kept him isolated for a while and we are good to go now (knock on wood). The vet did say that sometimes cats will do it for different reasons too. Before we got the test results, she told us to change the area for the litter box, get a new litter box, keep the litter box super super clean. She also said that if there is a stray cat in the neighborhood that your cat hears, it might be a territory thing.
Even though our cat had a UTI, we still got a new box, changed the location of the litter, tore out the carpet and we make sure the cat box is cleaned daily if not twice a day.
Hope this helps :)

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S.E.

answers from Chicago on

Before you even go to the vet to rule out illness, have you changed the kind of litter you normally use? The reason I ask that is about 10 years ago our black cat started doing something similar. We took him to the vet and $80 later they said we find nothing physically wrong with him but have you changed the kind of litter you use?
We had changed to a cheaper brand and when we went back to Fresh Step the behavior stopped. Our Vet said it is just like cat food. Some cats will only eat the food they are use to and they will only pee in litter that smells right. Also the vet told use some cats so not like to have scents added to the litter box to cover up odor.
If you can you may also want to consider moving your litter box off a carpeted area. Even if you cat discontinues this behavior, cats can still get their waste in your cat when they step out of the box. You also could put a large plastic mat under and around the box. Like one that you would put under a chair that rolls.

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D.T.

answers from Chicago on

As someone who worked for a vet, what you have received to date is all very good advice. Additionally, you can try putting down a carpet runner with the underside facing up. This way the pointers face up and make walking in that area uncomfortable and could help break the habit. Another thing to try is called cat attract. It's looks like large tea leaves that you sprinkle in the litter box to attract the cat. they also make a cat attract litter, so you could try that as well. But, first off, you have to get the smell totally out of the area or you will never have any luck. And I do have to say, it is very very hard. We have 2 cats and 2 if not both of them, keep peeing on us too. It's been terrible and very time consuming. We have already installed carpeting once and new paneling as well. I am not sure what is next, but I won't get rid of the cats :P

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