How to Stop your Cat from Spraying Outside the Litter Box

Health Considerations and Methods to Apply

• 1

  Check with a veterinarian to see if there's something physically wrong with the cat. There are a number of life-threatening conditions that could cause a cat to go outside the litter box, so it's imperative that you consult your vet or pet-care specialist.

• 2

  Provide one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. Cats are very clean and are averse to walking in their own waste. Providing more litter boxes reduces the amount of waste per box.

• 3

  Eliminate the odor emanating from areas where the cat has urinated. If a cat smells urine in an area where either it or another cat has previously sprayed, it will often spray there again. Clean the area using a specialized cleaner containing both enzymes and probiotics. The enzymes break up the stain. The probiotics ingest the odor-causing bacteria.

• 4

  Consider the type of cat box you are using. Some cats won't use a cat box that is covered, so a litter box with a rim to prevent litter from scattering outside the box is a good alternative.

• 5

  Think about where you're keeping the cat boxes. Putting the cat boxes in different areas of your home makes it easier for a cat to go when it has the urge. It also offers options if the cat prefers one space over another. Make sure your cat has enough privacy when it uses the litter box. This will prevent the cat from feeling vulnerable. The box should not so hidden, though, that the cat can't view its surroundings.

Additional Ideas, Therapies and Treatments

• 6

  Keep the litter boxes clean, making sure waste is scooped out at least once per day. Because of the amount of bacteria in stools and urine, litter boxes should be emptied out completely and new litter put in once each month.

  Sifting cat boxes, which come with a center sieve, are useful for removing most of the solid waste. The sieve keeps the litter box cleaner than just scooping.

• 7

  Consider changing cat litters. Always transition to a new litter by having one box with the old and another with the new, gradually changing to the litter the cat prefers.

  Another possibility is trying different types of litters or combining different litters in each box. If you have multiple cats, you may find that your cats need different litters.

• 8

  Try pheromone sprays, diffusers and collars. If your cat experiences anxiety associated with urinating and defecating, released pheromones might decrease some inappropriate elimination. Scientists at the University of Tokyo concluded in a study that there was a 24-percent to 38-percent decrease in spraying when pheromones were used.

• 9

  Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water, placed in as many areas of your home as possible. Cats are ancestrally desert animals, and they will instinctively go long periods of time without drinking unless encouraged otherwise. Dehydration can result in bladder, urinary tract and kidney problems, which could result in a cat associating pain or anxiety with the litter box.

• 10

  Investigate pharmacological alternatives. A study published in the American Veterinary Medical Association found a significant decrease in urine marking after fluoxetine was administered to neutered cats. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant used to treat depression in people and is effective in curbing anxiety in some cats by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Fluoxetine is a prescription drug and must be obtained by prescription from a veterinarian.