Thinking Inside The Box

Inappropriate urination in cats accounts for a large number of veterinary consultations every year and can have many causes. The first step in managing the problem is to work with your veterinarian to eliminate possible medical conditions causing the behavior.

If your cat hasn't been spayed or neutered, talk to your veterinarian about having this procedure done. Additionally, diseases such as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, urinary tract infections or stones, diabetes and kidney disease are just a few of the medical causes of inappropriate urination. Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and may recommend some diagnostic tests to help assess the health of your cat. If there is a medical cause for the problem, it must be treated appropriately.

If there are no obvious medical causes, give some thought to things that could be triggering the change in litter box habits. Did you add another pet or new baby to the household? Is there a stray cat outside spraying your home or shrubs? Did you recently start a remodeling project or move to a new house? If you can determine a trigger, behavioral causes of inappropriate urination can be managed more specifically.

Next, evaluate the litter box itself. Take time to consider the number of boxes, cleanliness, location and type of litter for each box. Litter boxes should be scooped daily and cleaned thoroughly every week using soap and hot water. It is a good idea to avoid harsh cleaning chemicals because the smell will deter some cats from using the box. Also, as a general rule, you should have one more litter box than the number of cats in your household.

Try adding a new litter box in a different location and on multiple stories of your home to determine if your cat has a preference. Your cat may avoid boxes that are difficult to access or are located next to an appliance. Most cats prefer clumping clay litter, though it is a good idea to experiment with other types of litter as well as different kinds and sizes of litter boxes. All of these things can play a significant role in a cat's desire to use the litter box.

Regardless of the cause of inappropriate urination, environmental cleanup is essential in controlling the problem. Because cats are drawn to areas that smell like urine, it's important to clean all soiled areas with a cleaner designed to neutralize pet urine. If possible, you should discard soiled furniture, bedding, carpet, rugs or other objects.

Don't despair if your cat still insists on urinating in that special corner of the living room after you've carefully implemented the above suggestions. Focus on trying to make the area where your cat is improperly urinating less accessible or less desirable. For instance, try placing an object such as a plastic sheet, a piece of furniture or even your cat's food dish over the location. If possible, close the door to the room where the cat is improperly urinating. If it is urinating in multiple areas, it may help to confine the cat in a smaller room until it is consistently using the litter box - letting it out for short periods of time under close supervision. Once the cat is consistently using the litter box, gradually reintroduce it to the rest of the house and closely monitor its behavior.

Dogs aren't the only creatures that respond to training. Basic behavioral training can be useful for some cats. Praising your cat for appropriate urination will provide positive reinforcement. If you observe your cat in the act of urinating outside the box, startling it with a loud noise will usually abort the behavior, though to be successful, this must happen at the exact moment that the unwanted behavior is occurring. Physically punishing your pet is never appropriate as it is ineffective and will exacerbate the problems you are having.

If you've exhausted this checklist and are still struggling with improper urination, you may need to consider pheromone and drug therapy. Some cats urinate outside the box due to anxiety, aggression or other similar behavioral conditions. Pheromone sprays and behavioral modification drugs may be useful tools in these situations. Your veterinarian can discuss these treatment options with you.

Inappropriate urination in cats can be a difficult problem to manage. By remaining diligent and patient, there are plenty of options to get your cat thinking inside the litter box.

Jennifer Blair is a veterinarian and the owner of St. Francis Animal & Bird Hospital in Roseville.