Why Is My Cat Suddenly Peeing Outside The Litter Box

You know that your cat is a very clean animal. She doesn’t want to soil her own bed, and she won’t use the bathroom on your carpet if there’s a litter box around. So why then would she suddenly start peeing outside of the litter box? There are many reasons why cats stop using the litter box:

Reasons Why Cats Stop Using the Litter Box

• The litter box is dirty.
• The litter box is located in an undesirable place.
• The litter box is too small for the cat to use comfortably.
• You’re using the wrong type of litter (i.e., a clumping clay brand).
• It smells bad or something else about your cat’s bathroom is off (such as its location or size).

If you’ve tried all of this and your kitty still won’t go back, there’s another explanation: Your cat might have been declawed by an owner who didn’t recognize how much pain this would cause him or her. That said, it’s also possible that he or she just doesn’t like using his/her paws to dig around in dirt—just like some people don’t like doing laundry!

1. Urinary Tract Infection

• Urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of cats urinating outside the litter box.
• Bacteria. A urinary tract infection can be caused by a bacterial infection, which could have originated from your cat’s diet or stress. Cats often get stressed out when they feel vulnerable and alone — for example, when you leave them home alone for long periods of time or during major changes in their lives like moving to a new home or bringing home a new pet. UTIs can also be caused by diet and dehydration; if your cat has gone off her food recently, this could be a sign that something is wrong with her health!

2. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease FLUTD

FLUTD is a common medical condition in cats. It’s a broad term that can be used to describe several different urinary tract conditions, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Bladder stones or crystals (also called struvite crystals)
• Urethral plugs, which are small pieces of tissue that get stuck in the urethra and block urine flow

If you suspect your cat has FLUTD, it’s important that you bring him for an examination with your veterinarian as soon as possible. In addition to helping your vet figure out what is causing the symptoms, seeing your veterinarian will help ensure timely treatment and prevention of future episodes.

3. Urination Pain

Painful urination is one of the most common reasons for cats to begin urinating outside the litter box. This type of pain can occur in older cats who have a urinary tract or kidney infection.

Cat urine has a strong ammonia odor and can burn your cat’s sensitive skin if it gets into her coat. That’s why you’ll often see older cats with urine stains on their fur, especially in areas where they’re constantly sitting down like carpeted stairs or furniture with cushions (which absorb moisture). If this occurs, your cat may start using other areas as well because she doesn’t want to sit in wetness anymore!

If your cat experiences this type of discomfort when urinating, she could start going elsewhere out of pain or irritation—like on doorsills, around windowsills, under tables/chairs/racks—but still not inside those locations either because they would irritate her even further after using them (also known as marking behavior).

4. Bladder Stones

Bladder stones, or uroliths, can be a serious issue for your cat. They’re common in cats and are primarily caused by urinary tract infections (UTIs). A bladder stone is formed when crystals form in the urine, which then grow into larger stones. If left untreated, these stones can cause pain and blockages to occur within your cat’s urinary tract. Stones that grow large enough can even obstruct the urethra (the tube from which urine passes outside of the body), leading to an emergency medical procedure called “cystotomy.”

Bladder stones may also lead to infections or even bladder cancer later on as they continue to grow larger inside of your pet’s body.

5. Medical Conditions Outside the Bladder

The following medical conditions can cause your cat to urinate outside the litter box:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes mellitus (DM)
• Hyperthyroidism, which causes high levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. This is usually caused by a benign tumor on one or both lobes of the thyroid gland, but it can also be due to oversecretion from a malignant growth in the body. Cats who are hyperthyroid may have symptoms including weight loss despite an increased appetite and frequent urination or defecation. They may also become aggressive and irritable when they’re feeling ill. A vet will run some tests such as blood work and a physical exam to determine whether your pet is suffering from this condition.
• Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), which occurs when highly active adrenal glands produce too much cortisol throughout their lifetime. Cats who have HAC may show signs like vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, mood changes such as anxiety & depression which can lead up until death if left untreated for long periods at time without proper care being provided for them before seeking help from veterinarians immediately because treatment options vary depending on severity level existing within individual cases diagnosed so early intervention needs prompt attention before dealing with more serious consequences later down line during progression towards recovery stages occurring after diagnosis has been made; however pets suffering from this illness do not always show signs right away so regular checkups should be scheduled accordingly during visits with veterinarians — especially when treating chronic conditions rather than acute ones since they’re easier detect early enough before

6. Bladder Obstruction

What is a blocked bladder?

• Bladder obstruction can be caused by a foreign body (a piece of litter or even an entire clump), stones, or crystals. These obstructions may require surgery to remove.
• A cat that is straining to urinate may have a blocked bladder. If you notice that your cat has started peeing outside the litter box and seems to be having difficulty urinating, she could have this condition and should see a vet right away.

7. Structural Problems (Congenital or Acquired)

Structural problems (congenital or acquired) are more serious than the others and can require medical intervention. Congenital problems include cystitis, urethral obstruction and other renal diseases that affect a cat’s ability to urinate normally. Acquired conditions include urinary tract infections as well as bladder stones (typically from struvite crystals) that form when urine is highly concentrated. These conditions may require surgery in order to treat them effectively and relieve any symptoms your cat is experiencing.

Your vet will be able to provide you with recommendations on how best to manage these conditions based on your pet’s age and overall health status. In addition, there are several things you can do at home to help ensure your cat remains comfortable while she recovers:

• Make sure she has clean drinking water at all times—it’s important for keeping her hydrated during periods of illness or stress like this one!

8. Old Age Issues (Arthritis, Cognitive Dysfunction)

• Older age issues.

Older cats are more likely to have cognitive dysfunction, which can be a major cause of litter box issues. Cognitive dysfunction refers to any type of mental decline or impairment that affects your cat’s ability to learn new things or remember previous lessons. It may also impact their memory and judgment skills, making it difficult for them to navigate around the house and find their way back to their litter boxes. These problems can make it impossible for an older cat to regularly use his or her litter box when there is another option available (like an open window!). Additionally, if your older cat has arthritis in his joints he may be unable to jump into or out of a litter box easily enough due pain from arthritis. The good news is that cognitive dysfunction is one of the easiest conditions for veterinarians and pet owners alike can detect early on; if you notice any changes in your senior kitty’s behavior—especially related specifically toward going potty—it’s always worth getting checked out by a vet first before assuming there’s something wrong with him/her!

9. A Dirty Litter Box

If the litter box is not being cleaned often enough, or if it is dirty for some reason (such as the cat urinating on top of the clumps), then a cat might prefer to find an area in the house to use instead. This is most often seen when there are multiple cats in your home and one becomes dominant over another.

It’s also possible that your cat simply prefers a certain type of litter over others. For example, some cats may prefer fine-grain material while others like coarse granules. In general, cats tend to prefer clay-based litters because they’re soft on their paws and don’t stick when wet so it’s easy for them to dig around without getting stuck in trampled clumps or wet paw prints everywhere!

10. Changes in Your Cat s Environment or Routine

There are many changes in your cat’s environment or routine that could cause him to stop using the litter box. Some major changes include:

• A new pet or person in the home. Cats are territorial and may not feel safe with a new animal around them. It can take several weeks for cats to adjust to one another, so be patient during this time and make sure your cat has access to his own space where he feels comfortable and secure.
• Moving to a new house. Cats often don’t like change, especially when it comes to their living spaces! If you move into a new place, find ways of making the transition easier on your feline friend by keeping familiar items they’re used to seeing at home (like toys), using scents such as lavender oil on blankets/bedding, or even setting up an area where they can hide out while they adjust (see step 5).

11. Fear, Stress, or Conflict in the Household

If your cat is urinating outside of the litter box, it’s possible that he or she is experiencing some kind of stress or conflict in the household. Cats are territorial creatures, and you may have a new animal in the house that is causing your kitty to feel threatened. For example:

• A new baby or child may be keeping him awake and preventing him from getting enough sleep.
• If you’ve recently adopted another cat into the family, there could be some jostling for rank between them that causes one to start peeing outside of their litter box as a way of asserting dominance over the other.
• If you’ve introduced an entirely new pet into the home (such as a dog), it would make sense for your cat to feel insecure about his territory being encroached upon by this new presence with whom he must share space—and even worse yet if he feels like he has been usurped as top feline in command!

12. Inadequate Number of Litter Boxes and/or Location of Boxes

If you have more than one cat, you should have at least one litter box per cat.

If you only have one cat and your litter box is in a central location in the house, it could be that the cat finds it uncomfortable to use the box because of traffic or loud noises nearby. You may want to try moving it to a quieter area of the house that isn’t close to traffic areas and noisy pets.

If there are too many cats in your household and/or they’re not being properly separated so they don’t feel like fighting over territory, then consider giving each cat more room by adding more boxes. Most cats are reluctant to share their space with another cat—especially if they’ve been raised together since kittenhood—so even though having two boxes might seem excessive at first glance (and possibly obnoxious), it’s actually a good thing for both your kitties’ happiness levels as well as yours!

It is important to keep your cats litter box clean, happy and accessible to your cat

It is important to keep your cats litter box clean, happy and accessible to your cat. The easiest way to do this is by keeping the following in mind:

• Clean the box regularly. You should clean it at least once a day, but if you have more than one cat, you may need to do it more often. Remove any feces from the box as soon as possible because they can be very smelly and uncomfortable for your cat if left for too long.
• Keep the box in a quiet place that isn’t frequented by many people (including children). Cats are naturally shy creatures who prefer privacy when going about their business; therefore, they don’t like having people around when going about their business! Your bathroom might not be ideal because there’s usually some sort of noise coming from it; however, even if it has double doors with soundproofing foam installed on them doesn’t mean that there won’t be some sort of background noise coming through since all rooms will pick up sounds no matter how well insulated they are! Versus using the backyard which is exposed wide open with nothing surrounding except grassland where animals could potentially harm them while using bushes/trees nearby which makes hiding difficult so try using something else instead such as inside another room where there aren’t any windows letting sunlight leak through while still being able to see outside without actually being exposed yourself.”

If you have noticed a change in your cat’s litter box habits, it is important to take the time to try and figure out the cause of this change. It could be very serious if left unattended, so please don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you think something may be wrong with your pet!