Cats are picky about their own cleanliness and generally limit their toilet behavior to the litter tray or garden. The smell of cat urine in the house or the discovery of feces in the corner of the room can be worrisome.

If you are the proud parent of an adorable cat and you wonder why my cat is peeing inside the house?  OR 

How do I stop my cat from peeing in the house? OR 

What smells deter cats from peeing? OR 

How do I get my cat to stop peeing on the carpet and floor? Then this post is especially for you.

Your cat may begin to urinate outside the litter box for two main reasons, such as medical problems and behavioral problems. First of all, you need to diagnose the cause, and then the treatment will be carried out according to it.

Why my cat is peeing in the house?

If your cat is urinating in the house, you must first begin to find the reason. A cat urinates outside its litter box for one of two general reasons: 

  • Medical problems
  • Behavioral problems

Medical Problems

If your cat is urinating out of its litter box, the first step is to visit your vet to rule out the medical problem because medical problems are the most common cause of this behavior.

Infections or irritation can cause cats to urinate immediately, rather than trying to get out or go to the litter tray. There are several common urinary medical issues in cats such as:

  • Bladder stones or blockage
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI).
  • Idiopathic cystitis
  • Metabolic disease

Bladder stones or blockage

If your cat shows any signs of discomfort and pain when urinating, then your cats may have developed actual bladder stones that can cause irritation and even blockage.

This blockage can be serious if blood traces also appear in the cat’s urine. You should immediately take your cat to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection is the most common disease among older cats but rare in young cats. If your cat urinates frequently in small amounts, he or she may have a urinary tract infection.

The urinary tract infection is usually caused by bacteria and must be treated properly with antibiotics. After treatment follows up visit to the vet is necessary.

Idiopathic cystitis

Idiopathic cystitis is also known as Feline interstitial cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. This condition can make a cat urinate so suddenly that it doesn’t have time to get to the litter box.

You should visit the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. This condition can be treated through modifications in food and the environment.

Metabolic disease

The different metabolic disease also causes inappropriate peeing inside the house such as liver disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and thyroid issues.

Behavioral problem

Now that you have ruled out medical problems related to your cat’s inappropriate peeing, then it’s important to determine what factors are causing your cat to behave this way.

The Litter Box

Simple is that if the cat is not happy with the litter box, she will not use it. There are several reasons why your cat is not using the litter box, such as:

  • The litter box may simply be too dirty  or too clean
  • The litter box may be too small
  • Your cat doesn’t like the location of the litter box 
  • Change of location
  • Upset or interrupted while using the litter box

Stress

You should know the fact that the cat is sensitive to change. This change will result in stress. New people, new animal or change environments can cause stress which will result in peeing in the house.

You should know that cats are sensitive to change. New people, new animals, or a changing environment can cause stress. It will result in inappropriate peeing inside the house.

Old Urine Smell

Your cat’s sense of smell is much better than your sense of smell. If your cat urinates in an area, the odor may remain even after cleaning up the accident. There is a good chance your cat will return to the area because of the odor.

Spraying or marking territory

You should know the difference between spraying and peeing. Spraying is a cat behavior to mark their territory. This behavior usually common in intact cats but neutered and spayed cat also mark their territory if they feel threatened.

Elderly cat urinating in the house

If your older cat is urinating in the house, it could be due to many reasons, such as arthritis, diabetes, forgetfulness, etc. You should provide them a comfortable litter box.

How do I stop my cat from peeing in the house?

First of all, you need to diagnose the problem as to why this is happening. After diagnosis, you can prevent the cat from urinating inside the house.

If your cat is peeing outside the litter box due to stress, try setting a schedule for yourself and your cat to minimize stress. You can also use synthetic pheromones that simulate feelings of relaxation in your cat. Minimize the stress-causing factor and never scold your cat.

You should make changes to the litter box if your cat doesn’t like it. You can change the litter box or change its position. The litter box should not too clean and too dirty. You can put the cat food and toys near the litter box to attract the cat.

If a peeing accident occurs, you should immediately clean the place so your cat doesn’t think this place is okay to urinate.

If your cat’s behavior does not improve with household and litter box changes, you should contact your vet for proper treatment.

How to stop cat from peeing on the carpet and floor?

You can prevent the cat from urinating on the carpet and the floor by following the above guidelines. You can also use physical repellant as double-sided tape because cats don’t like sticky areas.

No one likes the smell of cat urine. The best way to get rid of the smell in your home is to prevent the cat from peeing there in the first place. Ignoring the problem or yelling at your cat won’t make the problem go away.

Looking for a complete and balanced nutrition for your cat?

Our Skin or Stomach cat food has been scientifically formulated to nourish and support cats with sensitive skin or digestive systems. We use only the most natural, high quality and hypo-allergenic ingredients available in Australia. Most commercial cat foods use corn or gluten-based grains as a base. We proudly use Australian-grown whole sorghum as a highly digestible base instead, paired with prime Australian kangaroo and duck as the main protein sources.

Looking to keep those pearly whites clean and healthy? Dental Diet for Cats is an all life stage food specially formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for cats while at the same time promoting dental health. Delicate Care™ Dental Diet for Cats is a perfect complement to the dental management plan prescribed by your Veterinarian and is suitable for lifelong use.