Soiling outside of the litter box is one of the most common complaints owners have about their feline friends. Although it can be very frustrating and difficult to deal with, you should never hit, kick or scream at them for this can often worsen the problem.  It takes a little detective work to figure out the underlying problem and coming up with a solution.

            Cats eliminate outside of the litter box for many reasons. Medical problems such as inflammation of the urinary tract, or a urinary tract infection can cause pain while urinating. Cats will associate their litter box with pain and try to find a different spot to go. Other medical problems such as kidney disease, thyroid disease or diabetes can cause your cat to drink more and urinate more. Digestive tract problems can also cause your cat pain when defecating, or increase urgency and frequency, and decrease the cats control over defecation. Also, age related changes such as arthritis can make it difficult to get to the litter box on time.

            Our feline friends can also be very picky when it comes to location of the litter box, texture of the litter, or type of litter box they have. If you have ruled out medical problems, it may be a simple fix like moving the litter box to your cats preferred location if possible, switching types of litters to see which one suits your cat best, and figuring out what type of litter box your cat likes. Keeping the litter box clean is also very important. Most cats hate using a dirty litter box! Cleaning the box daily will help prevent your kitty from going elsewhere!

            Marking their territory such as rubbing their face against you is cute, but once your kitty starts to spray urine on your furniture and walls is when marking can be a problem. Most spraying happens when you have an unneutered or unspayed cats in the household. They can spray when they sense a threat in the household. Such as a new pet, living environment, or new furniture. Inadequate playtime can also be a cause.

            Such a common and frustrating problem can be treated! Early detection is key to prevent these bad habits from forming. A little patience and consistency can go a long way.