I have a domestic cat that goes outside of her litter box sometimes

I have a domestic cat that goes outside of her litter box sometimes more than occasionally even when it is clean and other times she will stay with her litter box. She will usually go to the same spots but she finds new ones as well. We haven't changed her diet or the brand of her litter as she is fussy. My concern is that it is diebetes because when she goes sometimes it is quite a lot but she is not over weight and we don't give her scraps very often. What can I do to stop this behavior because I feel it is more than just marking territory since she is the only cat in the house.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Hi,

The first thing you have to do is bring your cat to the vet to see if she has a urinary infection, stones or crystals. A blood test can be done to check for diabetes and other illnesses, also. Is she drinking excessively lately? Some initial signs of diabetes can be excessive thirst and urination (I know you're seeing the urination), loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Your cat is returning to urinate in certain places because she smells where she has gone before. You need to clean these areas with an enzymatic pet stain/odor remover like Nature's Miracle. This is carried by Petsmart/Petco and other major pet stores. You can also order it online. Unless these areas are cleaned completely with an enzymatic cleaner, she will continue to smell her own urine and think these are appropriate 'toileting' places.

Another product called Feliway may be of help, too. It's made from a synthetic feline pheremone which mimics the 'familiar' scent deposited on objects when cats rub their cheeks against them. It helps to calm stressed cats and also curbs inappropriate urination and urine marking. It comes in both a spray form and a plug in diffuser which treats entire rooms.

For more information: www.felineway.com and
www.catfaeries.com

Your cat may be stressed by any changes in her environment like new carpeting, new furniture, recent houseguests, etc. Even though she's an only cat, if outside cats are hanging around or eliminating outside (marking), she could be reacting to that stimulus, too.

If this is only occasional, and she likes her litter, that's great, but there's a litter called 'Cat Attract' which contains herbal attractants to bring cats who have strayed, back to the litterbox, and it might be worth a try.

Bring your cat to the vet to find out if this is a medical problem first, and if not (hopefully), you can treat it as a behavioral problem.

Please keep me updated on how she's doing and also let me know if I can be of any further help.

Cher : )

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Cat Goes outside of litter box

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