The first thing to do if you have a problem with your cat urinating or soiling outside the litter tray is to take her or him to the vet for a check up to rule out any medical causes such as cystitis, kidney or liver problems, constipation or arthritis.
Unneutered males and unsprayed females in heat are likely to mark indoors so unless there is a medical reason that prevents it, have your cat neutered. This will prevent any unwanted litters of kittens and may also help stop other unwanted behaviours such as fighting, roaming and calling at night.
Bear in mind inappropriate elimination isn't done to get even with you or out of spite. Cats have no understanding of how important our furniture and carpets are to us or of how horrible the smell of cat pee is! Your cat is reacting to her circumstances and any punishment or scolding will exacerbate the problem.
Litter Tray Avoidance
Sometimes the cause can be as simple as your cat not liking the litter you provide and the problem can be easily solved, though if this has been happening for some time your cat can become conditioned to going in certain places outside the tray and it will take longer to break the habit.
Number
Do you have enough litter trays?
Cats are generally fastidious and prefer clean trays and often will not use the same tray as another cat. The general rule is one tray per cat plus a spare one so 3 cats = 4 trays.
Be alert for one of your cats blocking the others access to the litter tray. This can be subtlety done with out you noticing.
If your cat has outdoor access you might need to provide a tray if she is elderly, not well , to anxious to toilet outside or the weather is very bad.
Some cats may also dislike covered trays.
Cleanliness
Remove the used litter and any mess as frequently as possible. Rinse out the tray thoroughly after cleaning.
The scent of strong disinfectant can put cats off as they have a very fine sense of smell.
For cats and kittens that haven’t established the habit of using the litter tray, leave a little of the used litter in it as the scent will attract them and remind them to use it .
Litter type
Cats may dislike of certain types of litter such as the large grain ones or wood based which can feel uncomfortable to them. Changing the litter to a fine grained one can make a difference. Scented litter can put cats off.
The depth of the litter might be too shallow or too deep. Two íinches is usually recommended but find out what your cat prefers.
Location
Cats feel vulnerable when they are toileting and may use another place if the trays are placed in a busy or exposed area. Like us, they do not like to eat near their toilet so make sure it's placed away from their feed and water bowls.
Learned Avoidance
A cat may avoid using the tray if she has had an unpleasant experience while using it such as pain , being ambushed by another cat or being startled by a loud noise.
It's important you clean up any urine from the areas your cat has been using with an enzymatic cleaner otherwise she will still be able to smell her scent and be drawn back to the same spots.A product from the pet store can be used such as Urine off or you can use a solution of 10% biological washing powder and warm water. Do not use bleach. A black light torch will show up any areas where your cat has urinated.
Deterrents
Most behaviourist will recommend placing food, preferably dried, down in the places your cat is using as a toilet. UA members have found this method sucessful as cats don't like to soil where they eat.
Tin foil, orange peel or deterrents from pet stores can be used and they can be successful in simple cases but it's not advisable to use with cats who have more complex issues. Unless you get to the root of the problem, your cat will just toilet elsewhere.
The dry food is the best method to use especially if your cat is stressed or having to cope with any changes in the household. Peter Neville says "Food is reassuring rather than alarming and gives the cat a sense of security at places where it has previously expressed its feelings of being under threat ( i.e spraying)"
Also, deterrents such as tinfoil can be irksome and annoying, adding to the stress of the cat. Do not use pepper as a deterrent in case it is inhaled.
Cats will face rub on surfaces to leave their facial pherenomes from their glands. It's appears they rarely spray over these marks so you could gently rub a cotton hanky on your cats chin and then transfer it to the previously sprayed surface ( after cleaning first ). But these need to be topped up and artificial feline facial pherenomes in spray form called FELIWAY, can be used instead.
Feliway is also available in a plug in Diffuser and is effective at calming and relaxing cats over a
period of time.
Inappropriate Elimination due to behavioural issues
Urinating and soiling indoors on carpets and other places isn't abnormal behaviour , it is the natural way a cat would react to pressure and stresses if in the wild.
Cats can live happily in our domestic households but when under pressure and in stressful situations where they cannot escape, both females and males will spray up entrances and doorways to rooms etc , and urinate in the laundry basket, sofa and your bed. They will "midden" (poo) in the centre of hall ways or on the door mat. Cats will spray and midden if they feel at threat from outside sources such as a strange cat in the garden or from the smells on the doormat from your shoes or a new member joining the household e.g a new cat or dog. The smell of their own scent makes cat feel more secure and they often urinate on beds and sofas where the scent of their owners is strongest. The mix of scent reassures them and gives a sense of security.
They also sometimes spray out of rage and frustration e.g if they see a cat in their territory and can't get outside to chase it away .
What causes stress in a cat will depend on her personality, (i.e.timid or assertive) her upbringing,(socialisation with humans etc) her genes, and the circumstances in which she lives.
Play detective and think of any changes that have happened in your household . It could be something we don't think of us as important such as changing the furniture around or changing the time you come home from work and it could be several things are happened within a short time.
Some common behavioural reasons for a cat to start spraying are -
Too many cats in one household.
A new cat, dog or baby joining the household.
New cat in the neighbourhood.
Being attacked by another cat.
A local cat entering the house through the cat flap.
The loss of a companion cat or member of the family.
Building work inside the house or nearby.
Moving the furniture.
Spending more time away from home .
Scents from outside on the door mat or on objects such as bags or shoes.
The last two are more common in indoor only cats.
The above problems can be dealt with in different ways. It would take too long to go into each individual one here though some can be solved through commone sense such as locking the cat flap. You can use the search to find advice in previous posts from members who have had the same problem or ask for advice yourself. It helps to talk about your cats problem and to know you're not the only cat owner who's cats wees on the furniture.
You can help your cat cope by raising her mood. Simply spending more time with her, playing with her and brushing her (if she likes it) and placing a plug in Feliway diffuser near her favourite sleeping place can make a difference.
More information about Inappropriate Elimation -
http://priory.com/vet/catlit01.htmhttp://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/spraying/info.htmlhttp://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htmInformation about Feliway -
http://www.feliway.co.uk/Pet Counsellors -
http://www.apbc.org.uk/http://www.coape.f9.co.uk/
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