Is your cat peeing on the carpet? The bed? Anyplace other than where he’s supposed to be peeing? This is one of the most common reasons that cats are given up for adoption, and, sadly, often times it isn’t their fault!
The very first thing you should do, if your cat is peeing outside the litter box, is to take kitty to the vet. Why? Because a number of serious health problems can cause cats to pee outside the litter box.
These include (among others):
- Urinary tract infections
- Feline lower urinary tract disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hormonal imbalance
- Diabetes
- Colitis
- Kidney disease
- Arthritis
Even if your cat has peed outside the litter box before, and the problem was not medical then, do not assume that kitty’s health is fine now.
Here’s an example. I work for a veterinarian, so you’d think I’d be able to recognize the difference between peeing outside the litter box because of a behavioral problem instead of a medical problem, right? Nope.