Is It Normal For Cats To Pee Everywhere – 7 Key Concerns

It can be a significant problem if you have a cat that seems to use your entire home as its litter box. Not only is this smelly and unclean, but there is a good chance your cat is going to ruin your carpet or furniture in the process. So, is it normal for cats to pee everywhere?

It is not normal for cats to pee everywhere. Cats that are physically and mentally healthy should not be peeing everywhere. When a cat is peeing everywhere, it is a sign that something is not right. The name for that behavior is house soiling, and cats can do it for several reasons.  

While it’s not normal for cats to pee everywhere, especially in adulthood, it’s something that does happen from time to time. We’ll take a deep look into why cats engage in this behavior, and what you as a pet owner can expect when trying to rectify the issue.

Why Does My Cat Pee Everywhere

Your cat could be peeing everywhere for a multitude of reasons. From medical issues to something as simple as losing the location of the nearest litter box. Below are some of the unique reasons you’ll catch your cat doing this.

Your Cat Is Having Medical Issues 

A cat that is experiencing a medical complication might pee everywhere because they are unable to control itself. There are a lot of different medical problems that can cause problems with the bladder, including a bladder infection or a problem with the kidneys or liver.

When you bring your cat to the vet for evaluation, they will want to test your cat for a wide variety of issues to pinpoint what is explicitly causing their bladder problems. The severity of those medical conditions ranges, but do not expect these types of problems to go away on their own without medical attention.

They Cannot Find The Litter Box 

It seems simple, but if your cat is having accidents around the house, it might be because they cannot get to their litter box in time. If you have recently moved or relocated their litter box, there is a good chance they have not been able to find it yet or don’t know how to use it. Take a look inside the litter box to see if it has been used recently to confirm this theory.

There are different types of litter boxes that open at the top or on the side, and your cat might need to be retrained on how to find their box and jump in if you have recently switched yours out for a new style. Guide your cat to the box with a treat to show them the new location. 

They Don’t Like The Type Of Litter In Their Box 

Cats can be quite sensitive to the type of litter that you put in their litter box. If they don’t like it, they may avoid using their litter box altogether, which leads to accidents around your house. Cats are very sensitive to both the texture and smell of litter. 

Typically cats prefer a type of litter that clumps when used and litter that has a fine consistency. The other factor that impacts whether a cat likes its litter is the smell. Cats usually have a strong preference for unscented litter. You may find if you buy litter with any scent at all, your cat will not go near it. 

Your Cat Is Stressed Out 

Cats that are peeing everywhere might also be doing so because they are stressed out. Soiling your home is often a symptom of cat anxiety. Other signs of anxiety in cats include aggression, scratching furniture, or a lack of appetite. 

When your cat is stressed and peeing all over your home, it is just a symptom of a bigger problem. Sometimes there is an obvious reason your cat is stressed out, like loud construction noises next door or a new animal in the home. However, there are less obvious reasons why your cat may be feeling anxious as well.

Some cats are very sensitive to new people or new smells in their homes. Cats can often pick up on the energy of those in the home as well, so take some time to self-reflect on whether you have been anxious recently as well. 

They Are Having Bladder Incontinence 

Bladder incontinence or urinary incontinence is when your cat has a loss of control over its bladder. This is a condition that becomes more typical as cats get older. This is one of the few times you don’t want to scold your cat for an accident because it is not something they can control. 

If your cat is not elderly, there are other reasons they can develop bladder incontinence. Some cats develop incontinence when they are overweight. They may also develop it because they have a chronic inflammatory disease.

Your Cat Is Angry With You 

When cats get mad, they can act out in ways that you potentially may not expect. Sometimes this can look like your cat becoming aggressive or standoffish.

Other times, they take out their anger by peeing somewhere they know that they should not. When cats do this, they try to get your attention and signal that they are unhappy or upset by seeking revenge. You will have to figure out what motivating factors are at play that contributed to your cat reaching this level of anger. 

Your Cat Is Spraying Their Home

Cats sometimes pee on surfaces to mark them as their territory, which is not an acceptable behavior indoors! You can tell if your cat is doing this because it will urinate on a vertical surface like the leg of a chair or the wall. When a cat is about to spray, you have a few seconds of warning to stop them as they usually raise their tail before directing their urine flow backward. 

Cats know what they are doing when they spray like this, so you will have to train them to break this bad but instinctual habit. 

Do Cats Pee Out Of Spite

Your cat definitely may pee or poop in your house out of spite. This is a severe behavioral problem that typically occurs when a cat’s routine has been a shift that they do not like. Certain triggers cause your cat to pee out of spite. Some cats will pee in the house if they are left at home for too long by themself. Other cats get upset if there have been changes in their home environment, as the addition of a new baby. 

Cats are also easily stressed out by changes in their home environment and might pee to spite you for making small changes to their home. A cat that doesn’t like its new food or is upset you have moved to a new apartment may also pee out of spite. 

When cats do pee out of spite, you should discipline them, but you should also figure out why they are doing this. It’s likely that if a cat pees out of spite once, they will keep doing it unless the reason they are doing so gets resolved. With many behavioral issues, spending more quality time at home with your cat can often help you understand what might be upsetting them. In addition, the extra quality time will make them a lot happier.  

Can A UTI Cause A Cat To Pee Outside The Litter Box

Yes, a UTI can cause a cat to pee outside the litter box. A urinary tract infection is one of the most typical reasons a cat will have bladder incontinence. When a cat has a UTI, it may need to pee very frequently. It can also be difficult for a cat to pee while they have a UTI.  

How Do You Discipline A Cat For Peeing Outside the Litter Box

You want to discipline your cat for peeing outside the litter box, but it is not effective to yell at your cat. They will not understand why you are yelling at them, and it won’t resolve the problem. Instead, reward them with words of affirmation and treats. The best way to stop your cat from peeing everywhere is to ignore them, show disinterest when they demonstrate bad behaviors and reward them when they use their litter box correctly. 

How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Peeing Everywhere

If your cat continues to pee everywhere, make sure that their litter box is in the room where they keep having accidents. Try resorting back to a very basic rectangular box that has low sides so that they can easily get in and out of it. Make sure to use a type of litter they are familiar with and a scent-free one. All of this should help your cat find their litter box more easily.