Cats normally prefer to take care of their elimination needs in a familiar, safe spot outside or in a litter box indoors. At times, you may notice they are either urinating in an inappropriate area in your house or they are "spraying" their urine. You need to figure out what is causing this behavior, treat it and eliminate the characteristic odor.
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Spraying
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When a cat sprays his urine, he will stand up, tread with his back paws, raise his tail (which will be quivering) and spray a small amount of urine on the area he wants to mark with his scent.
Reasons for Spraying
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Spraying is an instinctive behavior cats engage in so they can communicate their territory to other cats as well as themselves. It is rare, but not unheard of, for a female to spray. Intact males (those who have not been neutered), also called "Toms," are the most likely to spray to mark their territory.
A cat might also be feeling threatened or stressed by a situation within the household by any other household cats or people. He might also begin spraying because an unfamiliar cat is roaming around the house, which causes stress.
Urinating
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When your cat is urinating and not spraying, she will take a squatting position (in or out of her litter box) and deposit a bladder full of urine.
Urination Outside of the Box
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If your cat is urinating in an inappropriate spot, such as on the carpet or tile, he might have been scared away from the littler box or other common urination location by another cat. But you should also consider the possibility that he has a urinary tract infection, especially if blood is present in his urine. Take him to the vet so a test of his urine can be done. If he has an infection, the vet will prescribe an antibiotic for your cat to take until the infection has cleared up.
Treatment
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If your cat's litter box is very dirty, she may refuse to toilet in it. Cats are fastidious creatures and don't like taking care of their toileting needs in an area that is full of old feces, urine and that smells bad. Ideally, you should clean her litter box at least every other day. Change the soiled litter for fresh at least once per week.
If her litter box is in a high-traffic area, near her food and water bowls, or if she makes an association to a past bad experience, she could refuse to use her box. Think back to when she started spraying or urinating outside her litter box and see if you can remember anything that might have triggered it (being frightened by another cat, for instance). This association might be what is making the behavior continue.
A pheromone spray or diffuser can help reduce your cat's anxiety around the litter box (see Resources).
You will also need to find every spot in your house that has been sprayed or urinated on and thoroughly clean it. Spray an enzymatic cleaner to remove the urine scent. This will stop your cat from identifying the area as somewhere she can use.
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