One great thing about cats is that they can be trained to use the litter box. Unlike some dogs who will do their business practically anywhere, cats are generally the cleaner of the two. Trained cats are not a problem for lucky owners, as they will almost always go about their business in litter boxes. So why would a feline miss the litter box and pee right outside it? There are a few reasons this could be happening, both dealing with natural and environmental factors.
Here are some reasons your cat would miss the litter box:
– Medical issues
If your trained cat is suddenly peeing or pooping outside of the litter box, you should definitely take it to the veterinarian right away. There are a number of medical conditions that are the cause of this happening, including a urinary tract infection, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cystitis – just to name a few. The proper diagnosis and treatment of a medical condition is extremely important for your cat’s health. If your cat’s health is fine and your cat is technically a “senior cat,” the aging process would be the culprit of its missing the box.
– Urine marking
There are only two prominent reasons why a cat may mark with urine: because of hormones or (what is usually the case) stress. Some stressors may include the addition or a loss of a fellow pet or human, aggression between other cats, the presence of another cat in your home or yard, a change in the household routine, and the illness of another cat. Also, where your cat marks is an important piece of information and help in indicating what is bothering them.
– Strong dislike of the litter box
You can tell if a cat has an aversion to their litter box – they will approach it tentatively. When they poop outside the box but very close to it, it’s pretty much a given sign that that is the case. They could dislike their box for a number of reasons: it isn’t being cleaned enough or they’re sensitive to a chemical in it or they just don’t like boxes with a hood.
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