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Cat Behavior: House Soiling:

House soiling is the most common behavior problem in cats. It can include urination and defecation outside the litter box.

Why do cats do this?

Some people think that it has to do with their pets being mad at them, taking out revenge, or acting out. However, it is unlikely that this is the case, since we would be assuming that cats think that their urine or feces are something bad.

So why do they do it? It could be that they have a urinary infection. The cat may associate the litter box with the pain that they experience when they use the box, or he may not be able to make it to the box on time. Older animals may always have this problem; not recognizing the need to go until it is too late.

It would be that the litter box itself is bothering your cat. It could be that it is not clean enough, or that the cleaner used on the box has a smell the cat doesn't like. Covered boxes especially retain odors inside the box. The sides of the box could be too high, or the location might be one that doesn't give the cat enough privacy.

The litter itself could be the problem as well. If the litter is dirty, the cat may stop using the box. If you have changed litter recently, the cat may not like the new one - it may prefer clumping litter over non-clumping litter. Scented litter could also be a problem.

So what do you do to address the problem? First, take care of it immediately. Take the cat to the veterinarian for a thorough exam, to rule out any diseases that may be causing urinary problems.

If medical problems are not a concern, start to pay attention to where the cat is soiling the house, since that may provide clues into the problem. If the cat is soiling particular surfaces (like smooth surfaces, or cloth), then try changing the amount of litter or type of litter to try and accomodate for it. If it's more about the location, try moving the litter box to the room or location the cat prefers. If there is more than one animal in the house,who may be terrorizing the cat as it leaves the litter box, try taking the cover off to give the cat a bigger view of what is going on in the room.

If the cat cries, refuses to bury its waste, perches on the edge without touching the litter or eliminates next to the box, you may need to check the box for cleanliness, determine if the litter is the problem and switch back to an older brand, or try a different type of box.

Be sure to clean all of the areas the cat used inappropriately, using neutralizing cleaners found in pet stores.