One of our CatTime readers has a problem with a cat who won’t stop urinating outside of the litter box. She writes:
Dear Tabby,
I adopted a calico cat and her two tabby kittens, all females. They occasionally fight, but in the past months, the calico mama has taken to peeing on the carpet for no particular reason. She even looked me right in the eye when she did it.
I took her to the vet, and the she does not have a bladder infection or any related illness. I don’t know how to make her stop — help! If this doesn’t stop, I won’t have any unstained carpet left in the house!
Sincerely,
Calico Accidents Taking Place Every Evening
Dear Tabby Has The Answer!
Dear C.A.T. P.E.E.,
First of all, you were right to take your kitty to the vet. It’s always important to be sure and consult your vet whenever you’re concerned about your pet.
Calicos can be very particular about certain things, one of which is a clean litter box. Seeing as there are three cats in the house, I imagine the box gets a lot of traffic and deposits.
Your calico may be avoiding it and sending you a signal that it isn’t clean enough for her tastes. Try and clean it as often as you can — after each “visit” if possible.
Another factor that may contribute to your feline’s habit is lack of a “safe zone,” especially since she isn’t alone in her surroundings.
One possible solution could be to get a cat pagoda, preferably one that’s three to five feet tall. This will give her a place to escape the other cats and look “down” on them — it’s a “superiority” thing.
Neither of these potential solutions are guaranteed to work, but they’re a great place to start. They’re pretty “quick fixes” to try before you take further steps.
Your veterinarian may have other suggestions, or you may want to consult an animal behaviorist to help train the unwanted behavior away if all else fails.
Has your cat ever started having accidents in the house? How did you get your kitty to start using the litter box again? Let us know in the comments below!
