WHY IS MY CAT PEEING IN THE HOUSE?

If your cat is suddenly peeing in the house, it can be extremely frustrating. It's especially true if your kitty previously used the litter box just fine, but his habits have recently changed for no apparent reason. If your cat's urinating on the carpet or other parts of your home, what can you do to stop it? First, look for triggers that might be causing the behavior. You may be surprised to learn that even a small change can stress out your cat.

Check for Health Issues

If your cat previously used the litter box with no problems and all of a sudden is peeing everywhere in your house, then you want to visit your veterinarian to rule out any health issues. Cats typically either spray vertically onto walls or furniture or horizontally on the carpet or random objects on the ground. Horizontal spraying is more likely to be a sign of health issues, but vertical spraying may also be an issue.

 Either way, you want to get your cat checked out by a vet . Also, a cat that isn't spayed or neutered is more likely to spray inappropriately.

Litter Preferences Can Trigger Inappropriate Peeing

Several issues can trigger inappropriate peeing around the house. If the litter box is dirty or not cleaned frequently, your cat might prefer to pee on the floor in front of the box instead. If you have more than one cat, they might not like to share the litter box. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one litter box in the home per cat, plus one extra.1

But the issue can even be more subtle. If your cat used to be an outdoor cat, he might be accustomed to the feel of soil when peeing, and the litter you provide just feels wrong. Or perhaps he has long fur, and some litter particles got stuck in the fur between his paws, and now he doesn't want to step in the box anymore. It's a good idea to try different types of litter to see if your choosy cat has a preference. Try clumping and non-clumping, fragrant and scentless, crystal, pellets, clay, and even sand or soil.