Determine if the problem is inappropriate urination or spraying.

• Urinating on carpet, clothing, etc. usually indicates a behavioral or medical problem.
• Spraying or urine marking is usually done by males and indicates territorial marking. Neutering decreases this tendency.

In Multi-cat homes, make sure you know which cat is causing the problem.

Medical vs Behavioral

Inappropriate urination can signal a health problem. Symptoms include:

• Blood present in the urine
• Urinating or defecating more or less than usual
• Straining when in the litter box
• Drinking more or less than usual

If your cat is spraying possible reasons could include:

• Too many cats in the household
• Your cat needs to be neutered
• Changes in your cat's environment (new baby, new animals-inside and outside of the house, moving, house guests, etc.)

Inappropriate urination/defecation on horizontal surfaces outside the litter box usually indicates litter box aversion. Reasons could include:

• Placement of the litter box
• A change in the brand or type of litter used
• Scented vs. Unscented litter
• Change in the type of box used (open vs. hooded)
• Being bothered by other household cats while trying to use the litter box

If your cat exhibits any of these signs, a urinalysis/fecal and/or Physical exam is necessary.

Urinating on specific areas can also be anxiety-based:

• If this is the case, expect to other behavioral changes (hiding, avoidance, aggression)

House Soiling

• Remove the cause
• Re-establish the habit of litter box use
• Prevent your cat from returning to previously soiled areas

Territorial Spraying

• If your cat is not neutered doing so should lessen the spraying
• Keep cat away from the area/animals that cause it to be come territorial (ie keep curtains closed, keep out of certain rooms, etc.)
• If there are too many cats in the home, consider placing the cat that is causing the problem in a single cat home or isolating it from other cats.

Litter box Aversion

• Scoop feces/urine out of box daily, change litter weekly
• Provide one extra box more than the number of cats in the household (ie 3 cats=4 boxes)
• Place box in sheltered/private area (not too far away from the rest of the household) or in the area where the cat prefers to eliminate.
• Separate box from feeding area.
• Remove hood from hooded box
• Determine the kind of litter your cat prefers.
• Often using unscented clay or scoopable litter will stop the problem. Some cats will even prefer newspaper, sand and carpet remnants.

Make intolerable the inappropriate area:

• Deny access to areas by moving furniture or closing doors.
• Cover carpeted areas and furniture with a plastic drop cloth, foil, or plastic carpet runners.
• Change the area's function to a feeding, sleeping or play area.
• Spray lemon scented deodorant, vinegar or pet deodorant spray.
• Clean soiled areas with pet odor cleaner or a 50:50 mixture of white vinegar and water.
• DO NOT CLEAN AREAS WITH AMMONIA! It will only promote use of that area again.
• If your cat eliminates in your tub or sink, fill them with an inch of water.

Do not hit or physically punish your cat:

• It is the least effective way to control house soiling.
• It may increase anxiety and make the problem worse.
• If the cat associates punishment with you, the bond between the two of you could be destroyed.

Drug Therapy

• If your cat's problem is anxiety based and environmental approaches to behavior modification do not work, you can discuss the possible use of drugs that will decrease your cats desire to eliminate.