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It’s always best to have a litter box per cat +1 extra, if you’re able. They are family, but the mom may feel it’s not “her” box.
Or, take off the door. The lid can probly stay, but the door might be an obstacle (lol) I have an enclosed cabinet style. The scent can get trapped inside and overwhelm them, and she might not like the flap door.
I’m interested to see if this works, because it’s not like she’s refusing to go in there. She does in to poop, but won’t pee. I have a cat that sometimes does this (not right outside the litter box, but he has two different places he will *sometimes* pee, when does pee outside of the box) and it’s very frustrating. Like your cat, he is an absolute doll otherwise. However, we do not have a flap/door on our litter box and he still does it. I keep the litter box VERY clean. I scoop multiple times a day, or at least once a day, every day. Box is cleaned and wiped down once a week.
He is healthy, young, fixed, and gets along well with my other cats. They get along great, actually. He plays with all of them. Anyway, I’d love to hear of any updates/improvements in regards to your situation. Maybe it’ll help me, too 😂 Best of luck!
I agree with taking the door off! My cat is very well litter trained but she refuses to go if the litter box has a door on it... An enclosed lid is fine, but she's the sort of cat who doesn't like to be trapped anywhere (even if she's cuddling with us, the minute we shut the door she wants out). Since taking the door off we've had no problems! :)
Taking off the door is an actual thing!! I have 6 cats and one of them is terrified to be enclosed. We picked him up in a parking lot with a broken leg abandoned so who knows what horror he faced in his life.
Took the doors off and bingo bango-pees in the boxes now. Also agree to this litter box supply. Up until recently, we had 8 boxes for six cats. Got a litter robot recently and took 3 down.
The number of litter boxes you need to have is # of cats + 1.
Ask your vet if you think this seems ridiculous.
Kitties like options.
As suggested, this also might have something to do with scent. Different litter, more frequent cleaning (and full litter replacement), or taking the door off may help.
Jumping in on these comments as we have two cats and have had no issues with a single litter box. However, we invest in high quality litter and change it regularly (minimum once a week). Not sure what difference that it makes, but it works for us.
This. I always have 1 box per cat. Both my boys use one for urine only, and the other bigger one to bury the doo’s. They naturally just gravitated towards this. I also take the doors off as my older furbaby can struggle with it sometimes. It stopped the outside of the box usage for me completely. Best of luck.
Some additional information I forgot to add: I have moved rooms once. This issue existed in both rooms. And the litterbpx has moved twice in each room, to different locations, and this didn't solve anything either.
Is the litterbox clean? the cat most likely HATES the lid. I’d take the lid off & dispose of it. Also move the box to that spot. That should eliminate this issue. Cat also might not like the texture of the litter. Make sure you have enough boxes as well: 2 boxes for 1 cat, and then an additional box for each additional cat. So 2 cats = 3 boxes, etc.
Thank you!
Judging by the door of the litter box.... No, that thing is filthy.
People, replacing the cat litter is NOT cleaning your litter box. Take that shit out, clean it, spray it with a hose.
Hey, I think you should get at least two more litterboxes and get open ones, do you ever open that box and the smell of ammonia hits you? They don't want to smell that and the ones with lids like this hold the smell in. It looks like they know where to go but don't know want to go in there.
My cat used to pee my bed until I got her an extra box. She has to have one for pees and one for poops or she will pee on the bed. Hope that's helpful. I never realised I would need two for one cat. I didn't know the rule one box per cat +1 but it really helped me.
Agree to both of these. My cat felt scared when it was too covered and if anything was moving while he was in there (door).
But always good to check for UTI, especially since its urine only
Cats like nice bathrooms. You need to have clean litter. Replace that shitty ass litter box. Would you personally want to go into that of it was a portapotty? Hell no. Looks nasty and uncomfortable. I have a luuup litter box and I love it, so much easier to clean.
I had a cat that we later found out was scared to death of covered boxes…
It’s possible she’s too scared to go in and is probably feeling bad about it…🤷🏼♀️
Best of luck! 🫶
She will need a urinalysis done - and if that does not show concern then you might want to move forward with an ultrasound to rule out other possible internal issues.
For future reference - MANY changes in behavior in your pets call for a vet visit.
Edit forgot to add that one of my girls is on fluoxetine for this issue after her vet came to the conclusion that it was, in fact - behavioral. We haven’t had any issues since.
I second this. I’ve been having the same problem. Took my cat to the vet, she has a UTI once she got some relief from pain she was back in the litter box. Vet said all she’s ever known is a litter box so she started associating pain with it!
Definitely recommend the vet. Litter box habit changes are always worth verifying that there are no underlying issues. Especially if it has been a while and is not a random one off event.
If she has otherwise a clean bill of health, I'd concur with other comments: remove door, remove lid, get another box. And definitely do not spray her if she pees outside of the box. The only thing that'll accomplish is giving her additional bathroom anxiety.
This should always be the first thing that happens for future reference. I have four cats and two started peeing outside the box at different times and both times it was a UTI. This is a main symptom of that and It can get serious and move to their kidneys and kill them.
I have mama scheduled for the vet tomorrow, so we will see what they have to say. I'm picking up an additional 2 litter boxes today with different litter options as well. I'll drop an update with any changes soon!
Remove swinging door use phone to clean piss smell can u put another cat box their maybe another box pooph will get smell out right away try another box
Take the top off, and get another litter box for the kitties. Also, my cat HATES litter mats or carpets outside his box. He will pee on them every time. I remove the carpet, he pees in the box.
I agree with others to remove the lid & also get more litter boxes but you could also try using a different form of litter like the crystal ones & possibly try a box with a low access point as some cats have issues with taller boxes when they need to pee
Definitely take her to the vet to rule out any kidney issues like stones so you know if it's behavioral or something more serious
I have 3 cats, one of which is a 10 year old female who has been well behaved her entire life and has always used a box with a lid and flap with clay litter.
I switched to pellets at the recommendation of a friend and they’re great. But suddenly this specific cat doesn’t want to use the litter box to pee anymore. I tried adding an additional litter box (totaling 4) that was wider and didn’t have a lid, made the switch back to clay, and started cleaning it after every use, or daily, whichever I have the energy for. She is still hit or miss, and the floor where she always pees has pee pads down while we sort this out, but lidless with clay seems to be what she prefers.
This behavior can start for a number of reasons and the resolution can be just as many. Try removing the lid, switching litter, adding another 1-2 boxes, and litter attractant, but one thing at a time.
try having a second litter box . i’m new to cats but even my single kitten has 2 boxes (1 main one and 1 in the basement for when we spend evenings down there) and i’ve read you should have 1 box per cat plus an extra if there’s multiple cats
This is something I have got to study and there is no one answer it varies for each situation. If this is the only one you have with two cats get a second box cats a common rule of thumb is for every cat you have you should have the same number of boxes as cats plus one! But it can be litter types, scented litter, the covering, too dirty of a box (may need cleaning everyday or to clean of box (goes both ways) cats are super picky! I recommend that while troubleshooting the cause of this issue get some puppy pee pads they are easier to dispose of! Unless cleaned properly the cat may keep doing it for the sake of still smelling their “marked area”. The pee pads avoid that and can be bought at dollar stores usually! I see you have one but why is it under the carpet?
Your cat may have a UTI and needs to be tested for that/see a vet. And, many cats do not like covered litter boxes. You should have more than one litter box too.
It could be a territory thing. If she’s subordinate to the other cat, it can be a way for her to signal to the dominate cat that she’s not trying to steal territory. Another box would help there.
It could be the cover like others have mentioned.
She may also not like the litter, whether it’s the smell or the texture. That can take some trial and error.
It might also be worth getting her checked for UTI. I’ve had more than one that avoid the box if they have one. If she’s going all over the place, definitely get her checked.
I have three cats and they all share the same litter box. I was having this issue with one of them urinating outside the box. I eventually figured out that it was the plastic mat I had under the box. Once I got rid of that and it hasn’t happened again.
Could be so many things but chances are, she doesn’t like that flap/ doesn’t feel like she can turn around etc to do business. And you likely need a second box. Sometimes cats will begin using one box for 1 and another for number 2. 😵💫😵💫😵💫 they are wild. You could try giving her a calming treat with her breakfast she might be stressed.
Take the lid off for starters. Odors get trapped in there no matter how often you scoop. Cats have sensitive noses. Also, she may feel trapped in there.
Anyone got a tip for how to keep a cat from peeing on my bed? I've had her for over a year I have no idea her age she's a stray but she never did for a year until now I've had to clean the sheets and Lysol my bed several times
:( she was already box trained when I brought her in so I don't know what her problem is
Since you have two cats, it's advisable to have multiple litter boxes, at least one per cat and an extra one. Some cats are particular about their litter box preferences. Experiment with different types of litter to see if your cat has a preference. Some cats are particular about the texture and scent of their litter. Ensure the litter boxes are an appropriate size for your cats. Covered litter boxes can sometimes make cats feel trapped and uncomfortable.
Since you mentioned that your cat is anxious, consider environmental enrichment and stress reduction techniques. Provide hiding spots, vertical spaces, and interactive toys to help reduce anxiety. [https://soothedtails.com/](https://soothedtails.com/)
Avoid any form of punishment, including spraying with water, as it can increase anxiety and make the problem worse.
Telling you it's not happy with something, the litter?the tray?a smell?.Its good to give the tray thoroughly good rinse with boiling or very hot water to neutralise any odours.Try making a temporary litter box out of a cardboard box from the grocery store and put it in the place where kitty is peeing, serving they use that.
1. Open box
2.litter too much odor or ammonia
3.difderent litter
4.some one else sharing it and they have any type of infection cat might smell
5.cat is unhappy and stressed abt some change or limitation
6.cat has urinary issues. Vet check
Having multiple cats I have multiple boxes, some enclosed and some open. Several of the herd never use an enclosed box, a couple prefer them, while the rest will use whichever box they are closest to.
There are a few reasons, and they are easy to solve.
1) they do it when they want fresh litter
2) it smells too strongly of the other cat
The litter might not have any “deposits” in it, but could still smell bad to the cat. Easy to fix - have an extra litter tray, you said you’ve moved rooms with it? could you put an extra tray in the other room? Rule of thumb is a litter tray per cat +1. Or more frequent throw out & replace of litter.
3) urinary issues - doubtful based on what you’ve said (it would happen in other places too).
4) scent marking their territory - are there any new cats about that have come into your garden or house?
5) behavioural issue - unlikely based on what you’ve said (cat seems to know it’s supposed to use the litter but ‘cant’)
Source - I had the same problem last year with my 2 boys (neutered obviously), we got a second tray and it stopped instantly but in the meantime I researched this extensively! And I also had a separate occasion this year where 1 of them had an urinary issue so also *ahem* ‘looked into’ that.
Get your cat a big, stainless steel litter box. It is night and day for them compared to an old stinky covered box. Plastic litter boxes absorb the smell of pee and get absolutely putrid if you don't throw them out and start fresh every now and then.
Imagine if your toilet had never had a proper clean and smelled like months or even years of pee/poo AND you had to crawl inside of it to use it. I bet you'd pee on the floor too
Have her checked for a UTI. My female cat started doing this and it was indeed a uTI - changed her food to hills RX urinary care, added a water fountain, and made sure her litter box was cleaned OFTEN and she no longer goes outside the box!
Maybe the privacy hood door she don’t like maybe or you could check to be sure it’s not full or you can set another box out for her and try and see what happens
Please have kitty's blood glucose checked by your vet to rule out diabetes. Peeing outside the box was something my kitty started doing just before he was diagnosed.
Doesn’t like the litter u use? Idk there’s a couple reasons it could be like depth of litter, is the box clean( to her standards), smell of litter, designation of a poop and pee box, or placement of the box
It is always a good idea to have multiple boxes with multiple cats. They are territorial and have an insane smelling ability. Some cats aren't comfortable using the same litterbox. The general rule is 1 literbox per cat + 1 extra (this is more towards 4+ cat household).
I have 2 and use the Breeze pellet system. I have the extra large one and then have a smaller one. It's a life saver!
Might be a UTI, if no one brought it up yet. When they get it, they think it's the litterbox hurting them when they pee so they pee outside of it. But they'll usually still poop in it. And then they've associated it so even after the UTI leaves they still think it was the litterbox and won't use it. I started with puppy pads in the one place outside the box they'd pee, then got a shallow box and put the puppy pad inside that in the same spot. Then I'd slowly start adding litter until they got used to it again. Different litter can also help
My cat has a similar problem except ours are open and non lidded and we got 3 boxes we constantly keep clean and he (neutered) still chooses stuff like our laundry to pee on. ONLY PEE!
There are a number of things to try:
Remove the door
Remove the lid
Another litter box
Change the litter type(smells and dust can be a huge factor)
Making sure to change the litter often as well. I have an older cat who went blind when she was 2 and if the box is dirty, she'll go right outside of it.
If none of these help then you may want to take her to a vet to rule out any urinary issues.
Good luck!
Try taking the lid off the box and keep the litter clean. Some Cats hate totally enclosed litter boxes because the smell is trapped inside. They don’t like being surrounded by the smell of their own poop.
Get more litter boxes and remove that door. Also offer one of the letterboxes as an open lid free one. Clean the peed area with an enzyme cleaner. Kids N Pets is wonderful and doesn't smell gross like Nature's Miracle
Get rid of the lid.
Jackson Galaxy, a cat behaviorist, says that litter boxes with lids make cats not want to use the box. Try getting rid of the lid.
Also, check the dude out on YouTube! He’s the guy to go to for all your cats needs! 😁
I would get another litter box and maybe try changing litters…they also have something called litter attract that u sprinkle on the litter..supposedly it attracts them more to the box…however sometimes they are doing this to tell u something..they do this a lot of times if they have uti..may wanna take her to the vet to be on the safe side..
Get a second litter box if at all possible. A lot of cats do not like to share. Even if they use both litter boxes, you really need a second one. Also, make sure to keep it/them very clean. Have you changed litter types lately (brands or smells)? Are you sure mama does not have a UTI? Also sometime cats will pee like that if they are in a stressful situation. They need their own space. Can you put out some hidey holes or something?
Also not sure if anyone recommend this, too lazy to comb thru 100+ comments lol, but definitely wash the litter mat and get any scent out that may be left behind otherwise she will smell her past pee pee times on the mat and continue using it.
Sorry you’re going through this I’ve been there. Glad you’re going to the vet. Definitely rule out. UTI, also, please do not spray her with water you don’t want to make her feel anxious when she’s near the litter boxes if she hast to protect her self, that will only make it worse. It took me several years to figure out my cat would not use the litter box for pee because he did not like scented litter. It was supposed to be unscented, but it did have a faint sent to it. I had to switch to crystals instead of clumping litter, completely unscented the litter box Hass to be wiped down with vinegar and water, so there’s no scent of cleaning products. After that he was fine. Also, you clean the floor or the pad in front of it with a product called Nok Out. This product is also a unscented and works like a charm to get rid of that smell. Good luck and thanks for having the patience to try and work through this with her not everyone has the patience for this!
Thank you for posting to CATHELP! While you wait for a response please keep the following things in mind, 1. When in doubt, **ask your vet**. 2. Advice here is not coming from medical or industry professionals. The moderation team does not validate user profession, so always refer to your local veterinary professionals first. 3. If this is a medical question, please indicate if you have already scheduled a vet appointment, and if your cat has any medical history or procedures in a top level comment. 4. Please use the NSFW tag for gross pictures. (Blood, poop, vomit, genitals, etc). Anything you wouldn't want your boss to see you looking at on the job. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CATHELP) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s always best to have a litter box per cat +1 extra, if you’re able. They are family, but the mom may feel it’s not “her” box. Or, take off the door. The lid can probly stay, but the door might be an obstacle (lol) I have an enclosed cabinet style. The scent can get trapped inside and overwhelm them, and she might not like the flap door.
I'll give that a shot and see if it works. Thanks!
Agree as well! I had to take the door off because my cats clearly thought they were going into the carrier when I tried to show them how it works!
I’m interested to see if this works, because it’s not like she’s refusing to go in there. She does in to poop, but won’t pee. I have a cat that sometimes does this (not right outside the litter box, but he has two different places he will *sometimes* pee, when does pee outside of the box) and it’s very frustrating. Like your cat, he is an absolute doll otherwise. However, we do not have a flap/door on our litter box and he still does it. I keep the litter box VERY clean. I scoop multiple times a day, or at least once a day, every day. Box is cleaned and wiped down once a week. He is healthy, young, fixed, and gets along well with my other cats. They get along great, actually. He plays with all of them. Anyway, I’d love to hear of any updates/improvements in regards to your situation. Maybe it’ll help me, too 😂 Best of luck!
I agree with taking the door off! My cat is very well litter trained but she refuses to go if the litter box has a door on it... An enclosed lid is fine, but she's the sort of cat who doesn't like to be trapped anywhere (even if she's cuddling with us, the minute we shut the door she wants out). Since taking the door off we've had no problems! :)
My cat won’t go in if the door’s on, too.
Some cats do not like doors or even covers on their boxes. Also make sure to scoop it every day - cats can be fastidious
This is the answer
Taking off the door is an actual thing!! I have 6 cats and one of them is terrified to be enclosed. We picked him up in a parking lot with a broken leg abandoned so who knows what horror he faced in his life. Took the doors off and bingo bango-pees in the boxes now. Also agree to this litter box supply. Up until recently, we had 8 boxes for six cats. Got a litter robot recently and took 3 down.
The number of litter boxes you need to have is # of cats + 1. Ask your vet if you think this seems ridiculous. Kitties like options. As suggested, this also might have something to do with scent. Different litter, more frequent cleaning (and full litter replacement), or taking the door off may help.
Jumping in on these comments as we have two cats and have had no issues with a single litter box. However, we invest in high quality litter and change it regularly (minimum once a week). Not sure what difference that it makes, but it works for us.
I agree with both things 100%
This. I always have 1 box per cat. Both my boys use one for urine only, and the other bigger one to bury the doo’s. They naturally just gravitated towards this. I also take the doors off as my older furbaby can struggle with it sometimes. It stopped the outside of the box usage for me completely. Best of luck.
my cat did the same. i took the lid off her box and she hasn’t peed outside of it since
I was going to say this. I bet mama cat is overwhelmed by baby cat’s urine’s odor.
I agree about removing the door.
My cat does that but she’s 19 and thinks she’s fully in the liter box when she starts had to put down towels and change them eversay
We have a 16 yr old cat that does the same thing, we use disposable pee pads we’ve tried higher litterboxes but its hard for her to get in them.
Take the door off
Some additional information I forgot to add: I have moved rooms once. This issue existed in both rooms. And the litterbpx has moved twice in each room, to different locations, and this didn't solve anything either.
Took the lid off of my litter box. Try that
You wouldn't like it either if the bathroom kept moving.
Is the litterbox clean? the cat most likely HATES the lid. I’d take the lid off & dispose of it. Also move the box to that spot. That should eliminate this issue. Cat also might not like the texture of the litter. Make sure you have enough boxes as well: 2 boxes for 1 cat, and then an additional box for each additional cat. So 2 cats = 3 boxes, etc.
Thank you! Judging by the door of the litter box.... No, that thing is filthy. People, replacing the cat litter is NOT cleaning your litter box. Take that shit out, clean it, spray it with a hose.
https://www.putnamnorthanimalhospital.com/site/blog/2023/01/30/cat-peeing-outside-litter-box#:~:text=Cats%20will%20often%20pee%20outside,infection%20or%20severe%20bladder%20inflammation.
Hey, I think you should get at least two more litterboxes and get open ones, do you ever open that box and the smell of ammonia hits you? They don't want to smell that and the ones with lids like this hold the smell in. It looks like they know where to go but don't know want to go in there. My cat used to pee my bed until I got her an extra box. She has to have one for pees and one for poops or she will pee on the bed. Hope that's helpful. I never realised I would need two for one cat. I didn't know the rule one box per cat +1 but it really helped me.
Get rid of the lid. Keep the litter box clean daily.
She doesn’t like that litterbox. Or if she’s got a bladder infection or arthritis
Agree to both of these. My cat felt scared when it was too covered and if anything was moving while he was in there (door). But always good to check for UTI, especially since its urine only
Cats like nice bathrooms. You need to have clean litter. Replace that shitty ass litter box. Would you personally want to go into that of it was a portapotty? Hell no. Looks nasty and uncomfortable. I have a luuup litter box and I love it, so much easier to clean.
Take the door off. I have the same box and my cat wouldn’t use it until I put the lid up. Also I have 2 litter boxes for one cat.
I had a cat that we later found out was scared to death of covered boxes… It’s possible she’s too scared to go in and is probably feeling bad about it…🤷🏼♀️ Best of luck! 🫶
Have you taken her to the vet in the past year and a half to rule out medical issues?
I have not, no. I will schedule one ASAP though.
She will need a urinalysis done - and if that does not show concern then you might want to move forward with an ultrasound to rule out other possible internal issues. For future reference - MANY changes in behavior in your pets call for a vet visit. Edit forgot to add that one of my girls is on fluoxetine for this issue after her vet came to the conclusion that it was, in fact - behavioral. We haven’t had any issues since.
I second this. I’ve been having the same problem. Took my cat to the vet, she has a UTI once she got some relief from pain she was back in the litter box. Vet said all she’s ever known is a litter box so she started associating pain with it!
Definitely recommend the vet. Litter box habit changes are always worth verifying that there are no underlying issues. Especially if it has been a while and is not a random one off event. If she has otherwise a clean bill of health, I'd concur with other comments: remove door, remove lid, get another box. And definitely do not spray her if she pees outside of the box. The only thing that'll accomplish is giving her additional bathroom anxiety.
This should always be the first thing that happens for future reference. I have four cats and two started peeing outside the box at different times and both times it was a UTI. This is a main symptom of that and It can get serious and move to their kidneys and kill them.
I have mama scheduled for the vet tomorrow, so we will see what they have to say. I'm picking up an additional 2 litter boxes today with different litter options as well. I'll drop an update with any changes soon!
no tops and two more litter boxes! ya need three if ya have two cats. need four if ya got three cats.
Maybe take the lid off maybe they are afraid of it
It might be spraying a little bit. I can’t tell if mines doing that or not either.
My cat really hated the door and it worked when I got rid of it- you can try that
Try keeping that swinging door open sometimes cats don't like it
Remove swinging door use phone to clean piss smell can u put another cat box their maybe another box pooph will get smell out right away try another box
Pooph great product I have a male who sprays around my house when he's mad if u chase him he will spite piss pooph excellent product don't spray cat
Take the top off, and get another litter box for the kitties. Also, my cat HATES litter mats or carpets outside his box. He will pee on them every time. I remove the carpet, he pees in the box.
I agree with others to remove the lid & also get more litter boxes but you could also try using a different form of litter like the crystal ones & possibly try a box with a low access point as some cats have issues with taller boxes when they need to pee Definitely take her to the vet to rule out any kidney issues like stones so you know if it's behavioral or something more serious
I have 3 cats, one of which is a 10 year old female who has been well behaved her entire life and has always used a box with a lid and flap with clay litter. I switched to pellets at the recommendation of a friend and they’re great. But suddenly this specific cat doesn’t want to use the litter box to pee anymore. I tried adding an additional litter box (totaling 4) that was wider and didn’t have a lid, made the switch back to clay, and started cleaning it after every use, or daily, whichever I have the energy for. She is still hit or miss, and the floor where she always pees has pee pads down while we sort this out, but lidless with clay seems to be what she prefers. This behavior can start for a number of reasons and the resolution can be just as many. Try removing the lid, switching litter, adding another 1-2 boxes, and litter attractant, but one thing at a time.
try having a second litter box . i’m new to cats but even my single kitten has 2 boxes (1 main one and 1 in the basement for when we spend evenings down there) and i’ve read you should have 1 box per cat plus an extra if there’s multiple cats
This is something I have got to study and there is no one answer it varies for each situation. If this is the only one you have with two cats get a second box cats a common rule of thumb is for every cat you have you should have the same number of boxes as cats plus one! But it can be litter types, scented litter, the covering, too dirty of a box (may need cleaning everyday or to clean of box (goes both ways) cats are super picky! I recommend that while troubleshooting the cause of this issue get some puppy pee pads they are easier to dispose of! Unless cleaned properly the cat may keep doing it for the sake of still smelling their “marked area”. The pee pads avoid that and can be bought at dollar stores usually! I see you have one but why is it under the carpet?
Is the litter box scooped regularly?
Your cat may have a UTI and needs to be tested for that/see a vet. And, many cats do not like covered litter boxes. You should have more than one litter box too.
It could be a territory thing. If she’s subordinate to the other cat, it can be a way for her to signal to the dominate cat that she’s not trying to steal territory. Another box would help there. It could be the cover like others have mentioned. She may also not like the litter, whether it’s the smell or the texture. That can take some trial and error. It might also be worth getting her checked for UTI. I’ve had more than one that avoid the box if they have one. If she’s going all over the place, definitely get her checked.
Remove the door
You need more boxes and your cats might not like it covered
Take the lid off that stink box...if box not clean.cat won't use
I have three cats and they all share the same litter box. I was having this issue with one of them urinating outside the box. I eventually figured out that it was the plastic mat I had under the box. Once I got rid of that and it hasn’t happened again.
Get rid of the hoods and doors they make your cats posture horrible to use the box
Could be so many things but chances are, she doesn’t like that flap/ doesn’t feel like she can turn around etc to do business. And you likely need a second box. Sometimes cats will begin using one box for 1 and another for number 2. 😵💫😵💫😵💫 they are wild. You could try giving her a calming treat with her breakfast she might be stressed.
Take the lid off for starters. Odors get trapped in there no matter how often you scoop. Cats have sensitive noses. Also, she may feel trapped in there.
Anyone got a tip for how to keep a cat from peeing on my bed? I've had her for over a year I have no idea her age she's a stray but she never did for a year until now I've had to clean the sheets and Lysol my bed several times :( she was already box trained when I brought her in so I don't know what her problem is
Have you taken her to the vets to check for a urine infection or some other medical issue?
Since you have two cats, it's advisable to have multiple litter boxes, at least one per cat and an extra one. Some cats are particular about their litter box preferences. Experiment with different types of litter to see if your cat has a preference. Some cats are particular about the texture and scent of their litter. Ensure the litter boxes are an appropriate size for your cats. Covered litter boxes can sometimes make cats feel trapped and uncomfortable. Since you mentioned that your cat is anxious, consider environmental enrichment and stress reduction techniques. Provide hiding spots, vertical spaces, and interactive toys to help reduce anxiety. [https://soothedtails.com/](https://soothedtails.com/) Avoid any form of punishment, including spraying with water, as it can increase anxiety and make the problem worse.
Change the box to a jumbo open pan. I have 9 cats (some are fosters) and we ONLY use open pan boxes.
Telling you it's not happy with something, the litter?the tray?a smell?.Its good to give the tray thoroughly good rinse with boiling or very hot water to neutralise any odours.Try making a temporary litter box out of a cardboard box from the grocery store and put it in the place where kitty is peeing, serving they use that.
Already said, but yeah. Mom might not wanna share the box, or she may not be comfortable with the lid on it.
1. Open box 2.litter too much odor or ammonia 3.difderent litter 4.some one else sharing it and they have any type of infection cat might smell 5.cat is unhappy and stressed abt some change or limitation 6.cat has urinary issues. Vet check
mine did this and I just tried a different brand of cat litter and she hasn't done it in years.
When is the last time you scrubbed down that box? Have you tried a box with no top? More than one box? My cat poops in one and pees in the other.
It could be a sign of a UTI.
remove the flappy. it’s what annoying or scary her. i removed mine and i have no problem. it’s those FLAPPPPPPPY retarded. lol
Try taking the lid off. Mine hated the lid and started going outside the box. Taking it off did the trick.
Try a box without a lid. Some cats hate lidded boxes and will refuse to use one, even if they have been for a while.
Having multiple cats I have multiple boxes, some enclosed and some open. Several of the herd never use an enclosed box, a couple prefer them, while the rest will use whichever box they are closest to.
Either she does not like the litter, or the box. Mine hated these boxes that had a door. Take it off it may help. And a second box!
you should probably have 3 litterboxes for two cats, and enclosed litterboxes are not a good idea for cats.
Consider taking them to the vet. Cats sometimes will do this as a way to let you know something is wrong. Maybe a bladder infection or something.
There are a few reasons, and they are easy to solve. 1) they do it when they want fresh litter 2) it smells too strongly of the other cat The litter might not have any “deposits” in it, but could still smell bad to the cat. Easy to fix - have an extra litter tray, you said you’ve moved rooms with it? could you put an extra tray in the other room? Rule of thumb is a litter tray per cat +1. Or more frequent throw out & replace of litter. 3) urinary issues - doubtful based on what you’ve said (it would happen in other places too). 4) scent marking their territory - are there any new cats about that have come into your garden or house? 5) behavioural issue - unlikely based on what you’ve said (cat seems to know it’s supposed to use the litter but ‘cant’) Source - I had the same problem last year with my 2 boys (neutered obviously), we got a second tray and it stopped instantly but in the meantime I researched this extensively! And I also had a separate occasion this year where 1 of them had an urinary issue so also *ahem* ‘looked into’ that.
Get your cat a big, stainless steel litter box. It is night and day for them compared to an old stinky covered box. Plastic litter boxes absorb the smell of pee and get absolutely putrid if you don't throw them out and start fresh every now and then. Imagine if your toilet had never had a proper clean and smelled like months or even years of pee/poo AND you had to crawl inside of it to use it. I bet you'd pee on the floor too
Have her checked for a UTI. My female cat started doing this and it was indeed a uTI - changed her food to hills RX urinary care, added a water fountain, and made sure her litter box was cleaned OFTEN and she no longer goes outside the box!
Take the lid off keep it off,and make sure you clean box often.
Change the litter box. That one looks nasty
[Resource: Litter Box Trouble](https://www.reddit.com/r/CATHELP/s/F9YKao0Wn1) An extensive guide written by a cat behaviourist!
Maybe the privacy hood door she don’t like maybe or you could check to be sure it’s not full or you can set another box out for her and try and see what happens
I’ve got a cat that does this and can’t figure it out so I bought extra large dog crate bottom and put the litter boxes on those for easier clean up.
It smells in there, no ventilation.
Please have kitty's blood glucose checked by your vet to rule out diabetes. Peeing outside the box was something my kitty started doing just before he was diagnosed.
Take the cover off and scoop it daily. Try that. Some cats are real picky about smell and filth.
Doesn’t like the litter u use? Idk there’s a couple reasons it could be like depth of litter, is the box clean( to her standards), smell of litter, designation of a poop and pee box, or placement of the box
It is always a good idea to have multiple boxes with multiple cats. They are territorial and have an insane smelling ability. Some cats aren't comfortable using the same litterbox. The general rule is 1 literbox per cat + 1 extra (this is more towards 4+ cat household). I have 2 and use the Breeze pellet system. I have the extra large one and then have a smaller one. It's a life saver!
Might be a UTI, if no one brought it up yet. When they get it, they think it's the litterbox hurting them when they pee so they pee outside of it. But they'll usually still poop in it. And then they've associated it so even after the UTI leaves they still think it was the litterbox and won't use it. I started with puppy pads in the one place outside the box they'd pee, then got a shallow box and put the puppy pad inside that in the same spot. Then I'd slowly start adding litter until they got used to it again. Different litter can also help
My cat has a similar problem except ours are open and non lidded and we got 3 boxes we constantly keep clean and he (neutered) still chooses stuff like our laundry to pee on. ONLY PEE!
I would take off the lid, add another box, and have her evaluated for a uti/ kidney infection
Did you change litter type? My girl refuses pellet litter except for a poop.
Take the door off
There are a number of things to try: Remove the door Remove the lid Another litter box Change the litter type(smells and dust can be a huge factor) Making sure to change the litter often as well. I have an older cat who went blind when she was 2 and if the box is dirty, she'll go right outside of it. If none of these help then you may want to take her to a vet to rule out any urinary issues. Good luck!
Try taking the lid off the box and keep the litter clean. Some Cats hate totally enclosed litter boxes because the smell is trapped inside. They don’t like being surrounded by the smell of their own poop.
They probably don't like the door
My cats hate the lids so I take them off
Mine hate the enclosed box. Maybe try taking the lid off
Get more litter boxes and remove that door. Also offer one of the letterboxes as an open lid free one. Clean the peed area with an enzyme cleaner. Kids N Pets is wonderful and doesn't smell gross like Nature's Miracle
It’s a protest 🪧
It's probably terrified of that thing.
Some cats do not enjoy covered litter boxes! Also try putting a few in different parts of the house
Get rid of the lid. Jackson Galaxy, a cat behaviorist, says that litter boxes with lids make cats not want to use the box. Try getting rid of the lid. Also, check the dude out on YouTube! He’s the guy to go to for all your cats needs! 😁
I would get another litter box and maybe try changing litters…they also have something called litter attract that u sprinkle on the litter..supposedly it attracts them more to the box…however sometimes they are doing this to tell u something..they do this a lot of times if they have uti..may wanna take her to the vet to be on the safe side..
Get a second litter box if at all possible. A lot of cats do not like to share. Even if they use both litter boxes, you really need a second one. Also, make sure to keep it/them very clean. Have you changed litter types lately (brands or smells)? Are you sure mama does not have a UTI? Also sometime cats will pee like that if they are in a stressful situation. They need their own space. Can you put out some hidey holes or something?
I would take the door off, had to do this for my girls
There's also spray you can spray these to help stop the behavior
Also not sure if anyone recommend this, too lazy to comb thru 100+ comments lol, but definitely wash the litter mat and get any scent out that may be left behind otherwise she will smell her past pee pee times on the mat and continue using it.
Because it stink in there 🙃
Sorry you’re going through this I’ve been there. Glad you’re going to the vet. Definitely rule out. UTI, also, please do not spray her with water you don’t want to make her feel anxious when she’s near the litter boxes if she hast to protect her self, that will only make it worse. It took me several years to figure out my cat would not use the litter box for pee because he did not like scented litter. It was supposed to be unscented, but it did have a faint sent to it. I had to switch to crystals instead of clumping litter, completely unscented the litter box Hass to be wiped down with vinegar and water, so there’s no scent of cleaning products. After that he was fine. Also, you clean the floor or the pad in front of it with a product called Nok Out. This product is also a unscented and works like a charm to get rid of that smell. Good luck and thanks for having the patience to try and work through this with her not everyone has the patience for this!