How to Deter Cat Urination

If your cat is urinating in your house, the most important thing to do is have your veterinarian rule out any underlying medical cause. If your cat gets a clean bill of health, the household soiling is behavioral and it can be eliminated with vigilance and patience. Cats who urinate outside their litter boxes do so as a means of communicating. If you figure out what your cat is trying to tell you (or other cats), you can take the steps necessary to correct the problem.

Things You'll Need

  • Enzymatic pet stain cleaner
  • Paper towels
  • Scrub brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Figure out why your cat is urinating around the house. If your cat is doing this on vertical surfaces like walls or the legs of furniture, the marking is likely territorial. The urine spots from territorial marking will also smell pungent and the quantity of urine will be minimal because it is not for relief of the bladder. Cats that urinate because of dirty litter boxes usually do so in larger amounts and on flat surfaces.

    • 2

      Neuter male cats. All cats have the potential to mark their territory, but male cats that are not neutered have a greater probability than female cats and neutered male cats. Unneutered male cats don't just urinate around the home to mark territory, they also mark to let female cats know they can reproduce.

    • 3

      Clean up any areas in your home that have been marked with cat urine. Use a pet cleaner with enzymatic cleaning ingredients. This helps neutralize the odor of the urine so the cat won't keep marking in that spot.

    • 4

      Place your litter box in a part of the home that is out of the main living area. Your cat should be able to use the box without interruption from other animals or humans. In addition to this, don't make your cats share a litter box. Have one litter box for each cat you own.

    • 5

      Scoop your cats litter box daily. Once a week, wash your cat's litter box with an unscented soap and water. According to the ASPCA, you can also use odor-neutralizing baking soda and water. Replace the litter with fresh, clean litter after cleaning the box.

    • 6

      Buy enough toys, food dishes, water bowls, scratching posts and beds for all of your cats. This will help eliminate the possibility of your cat marking as a result of a conflict with another cat. Additionally, make sure you limit your cat's exposure to cats that don't live with you. Find ways to keep stray cats and other neighborhood cats off your property. The ASPCA suggests installing motion-activated sprinklers. If you cannot do this, try to keep your cat out of the window.

    • 7

      Use a cat pheromone product to calm stressed cats. Cats can suffer from excess stress when the normal routine changes around their homes. It may be a change in your work schedule, a new pet, a new family member or just a new piece of furniture that triggers your cat to mark from stress. Pheromone devices can be plugged in or sprayed around the home to calm your cat.

    • 8

      Consider treating your cat with an anti-anxiety supplement or medication. If you cannot get your cat to stop marking and all health problems have been ruled out, your vet may recommend a prescription medication or supplement to calm your cat and reduce marking.