Inappropriate urination can be a frustrating and unpleasant experience for pet owners. In some cases, the cat may be sick or in pain and will need to visit a vet. In other instances, it might just be an issue of inappropriate litter box training.
Regardless of the cause, there are some preventative measures you can take to reduce the risk that your cat will develop a urinary tract infection or spread ammonia-based odors in your home that attract bugs.
Every cat owner should pay attention to the way their cat urinates and eliminate litter boxes that are not well-designed to prevent litter tracking. For example, if you notice that your cat is peeing on certain parts of the house, consider placing a mat or other barriers around those areas. While many cats won’t care about marking their territory with scents they have left behind, others will.
One problem with many cat litter boxes is the difficulty of cleaning them thoroughly. Your cat can be more likely to get an infection if they are forced to stop in one place to pee. The best solution is to find a lit box that your cat will use regularly and place it in a place where your cat will have no choice but to make a quick trip when he feels the urge to urinate. This allows for the quick clean up of any urine that may have splashed on nearby surfaces.
Make sure your cat’s litter box is in a quiet area of the house. Cats don’t like to urinate or defecate in areas where there are lots of distractions. If you notice that your cat goes to the bathroom in areas other than his litter box, try putting a mat down next to the spot where he’s going and putting his litter box in that same area.
To prevent ammonia-based odors, keep your cat’s litter box clean and well maintained. Remove used litter and wash the box at least once a week. Making sure that the urine drains out of your cat’s litter box will also help prevent the spread of bacteria and other bad odors in your home.
If you have a multi-cat household, make sure that each cat has its own litter box. Multi-cat households can be especially challenging, as it is more likely that one cat will urinate in a place where another lurks nearby. If this happens, your cats may develop problems with anxiety and aggression.