Solutions for a Cat Urinating on the Rug

Your cat has decided to use a rug instead of the litter box, and you're frustrated and angry. But to the cat, using the rug makes perfect sense. Behavior issues are the most common reason for cats to stop using their litter boxes. But a cat with a urinary tract infection may associate the box with pain. And some diseases cause cats to urinate so frequently and in such volume they can't always get to a box. No matter what the cause, the solutions for a cat urinating on the rug are the same.

  1. Make a Vet Appointment

    • Before you assume your cat's litter box issue is behavioral, ask your veterinarian to rule out all possible health problems, including a urinary tract infection, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease.

    Put a Box on the Rug

    • Put a box with very low sides on the rug, on the spot where the cat is urinating. Or cut one side off a plastic storage box and put the three-sided box on the cat's favorite spot. Use very little litter, or, even better, no litter at all. Putting a puppy-training pad in the empty box will make cleanup easier for you. If this doesn't seem to work, put puppy pads or a plush bath mat on the spot where the cat is urinating. While this won't correct your cat's bad habit, but it will protect your rug.

    Move Litter Box

    • If your litter box is in a laundry or furnace room, the washer going into a spin cycle or the furnace going on may have startled the cat so much it's afraid to use the litter box. With a second box, experiment with new locations. Ideally, you should have a litter box on every level of your home.

    Calm, Quiet Space

    • If you have other animals or young children, give the cat a second litter box in a quiet, easily accessible place where it won't be chased by the other animals or kids every time it tries to use the box.

    Take the Top Off the Box

    • If you have a "hooded" or covered litter box, take the hood off. Cats like to be able to see an escape route from their boxes and that's not possible if the box is covered.

    Experiment with Litter

    • Using a second box, experiment with different brands of litter and the amount you put in the box. Cats' preferences can change over time. A cat who was happy with 4 or 5 inches of litter in the box for years may suddenly decide it wants just 1 inch or less.

    Spray Soiled Rug

    • After cleaning the soiled rug thoroughly with a solution of white vinegar and water, spray the rug with a cat pheromone spray or sprinkle it with catnip. You'll have to do this often. A pheromone spray mimics the "friendly" pheromone in a cat's cheeks and is available at pet supply stores. Catnip, too, is a friendly scent and discourages inappropriate elimination.