Cats urinating and defecating in an undesirable place

Urinating and defecating in an undesirable place

Cats are usually finicky about their toilet habits and will use their litter box all the time.

Therefore, if urine or feces are found in the corner of the room, it can be a very worrying sign. Sometimes it can be a one-off situation if the cat is sick, stuck in a room, or suddenly scared. If urinating or defecating past the litter box persists, you should consider what is bothering your cat and what he is trying to say.

Whatever the reason, punishment is not the answer. It will only increase the cat's fear and the problem.

Deterrents such as foil, pepper, citrus peel, or a water gun will simply redirect the behavior to another location, causing further anxiety and delay in addressing the root cause of the behavior.

Important!

Despite the unpleasant nature of this problem, it is important to remember that this is not a dirty protest! The cat doesn't want to take revenge or act out; something has gone wrong in its world, and it takes a certain amount of detective work to find out.

What is the difference between territory marking and inappropriate urination?

Cats use urine as a scent signal or "marker" for themselves and other cats. Spraying urine for scent marking is different from normal urination. Therefore, it is important to establish whether the cat is spraying urine or urinating, as the potential solutions will differ. To urinate, the cat crouches down and urinates on a horizontal surface. The cat may then scratch the area around the urine, although this is not always the case. Common places for inappropriate urination include carpet, blankets, comforters, bathtubs, or sinks, although it can happen anywhere.

To spray urine, the cat stands up, usually by stepping on its paws, rubs its tail, and a small amount of urine is sprayed back onto a vertical surface such as a wall, leaving an obvious trail of odor. Common places to spray include doors, windows, curtains, electrical equipment, and shopping bags.

How to clean the contaminated area?

Whether it's a one-time occurrence or not, once a cat urinates or defecates in a particular spot, its sensitive nose will prompt it to use that spot as a regular toilet.

The best way to break the habit is to keep the cat away from the area for as long as possible, remove any odor the cat can detect, and possibly change the geography of the location by using pieces of furniture to block access. Also, this area should be thoroughly washed to remove the slightest odor

Why does my cat walk past the litter box?

Some of the most common causes of soiling in the home:

- Dirty litter boxes (litter boxes should be completely cleaned at least once a week and refilled daily with fresh litter after removing solids and clumps).

- Strong odor from litter/cleaning products (use a mild detergent and hot water or a disinfectant specifically recommended for litter box cleaning and rinse thoroughly before use)

- Wrong type of litter

• Location of the litter box (place the litter box in a quiet corner where the cat can only look in one or two directions at a time. Also, food and water bowls should be in another part of the room)

- Type of litter box (closed/open, size, height of sides)

- Illness (urinary tract diseases or diarrhea can cause uncleanliness because the cat is either uncomfortable or simply cannot get to the litter box in time)

- The presence of strangers (sometimes a cat will urinate or defecate in inappropriate places if strangers are at home and access to the litter box requires the cat to go through the same room as the visitor. Some cats suffer from "alone in the house" anxiety when their owners go away and leave them alone in the house. The presence of a stranger caring for them can make some cats feel very threatened and subsequently "mark" an area, especially the owner's bed, that has a strong, familiar and reassuring scent. With strangers, especially small children, it is helpful to provide a closed litter box in the room where the cat seeks refuge.