Urine marking

This is more likely a medical problem than a behavioural one. People will allow the situation to continue, thinking precisely that their cats are angry or being vengeful, when in reality, the problem may be caused by pain.

Here are the most common issues:

1. Your cat could have a Urinary tract condition
   1. Infection : bacteria are found in the urine.
   2. Urinary crystals: This is a substance similar to sand that is formed in the urine. There are several types of crystals and each type is linked to a different cause. Your veterinarian can identify the type through a urinalysis.
   3. Your cat may have stones in her bladder, which can be detected with an x-ray or ultrasound. Bladder stones can be detected via an X-ray or an ultrasound. Depending on the type of stones, they can be dissolved with a special food or removed surgically.
   4. Stress: Stress in cats can lead to feline idiopathic (in short, an ailment for which no specific cause can be found) cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). An unpredictable routine and changes in the surroundings can cause an unsuspected amount of stress in cats.

While pets who eat lower-quality food are more prone to urinary tract issues, your cat could eat generic cat food all its life and never have this type of problem. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are other predisposing factors.

1. Your cat could have a metabolic condition

Kidney failure, diabetes and hyperthyroidism are diseases that cause the cat to urinate more. The litter box gets fuller, faster, so if it is not cleaned more often, the cat may stop using it because it doesn’t meet his cleanliness standards.

1. Your cat could have an aging-related condition
   1. Joint issues can make it harder for the cat to access the litter box and the cat could choose another spot that is easily accessible.
   2. Cognitive dysfunctions, often compared to Alzheimer in humans, can lead to house soiling.

See your veterinarian right away to have a physical exam and get a urinalysis. If bacteria are found, a bacterial culture will be done to determine the type of bacteria and the appropriate antibiotic to administer. In some cases, an X-ray and/or ultrasound will also be done to check for bladder stones. Other diagnostic procedures could be required if the physical exam calls for it because a metabolic condition is suspected.

Your veterinarian will often recommend a therapeutic diet. It’s important that your cat eats only the prescription food; otherwise, the issue might resurface at a later time. Please note that, just like any other pet food, prescription food does not contain any medication.

It’s also recommended to increase your cat’s water intake. The more cats drink, the more they urinate, which leaves less time for crystal formation in urine.

That would be urinary obstruction, mostly present in male cats. The urethra (the long tube draining urine from the bladder out of the penis) is especially narrow in male cats. It can be obstructed by crystals or stones. The cat tries to push urine out, but nothing happens.

If you suspect your cat to be blocked, please see your veterinarian urgently. People will often confuse this issue with constipation and waste precious hours trying to relieve their pet. If urinary obstruction occurs, the bladder will continue to swell until it explodes, which could even cause death.

Once potential medical issues have been cleared, it’s time to focus on behavioural issues. Here are a few tips:

• The first thing to do is to make sure that there are enough litter boxes in your home. The golden rule: one litter box more than the number of cats. You also need to place them in separate locations: 2 litter boxes next to one another = 1 litter box.
• If you have 2 cats, keep a close watch. When 2 cats live together, one can decide to guard the litter box from afar and prevent the other cat from using it. Cats send each other hard-to-detect signals Cats send each other hard-to-detect signals—through their pupils and ears and body positions, for instance—and in that way, one cat can scare the other one from the litter box.
• Next, change the litter box. Plastic is a porous material and even when it is well cleaned, a residual odour remains and quickly takes over. You can get into the habit of changing the boxes every year.
• If you adopt a new cat, do not use the same old litter box you used for your previous cat. Get a brand-new litter box for your new companion.
• Cats generally prefer a soft and ultra-fine grain clumping litter that closely resembles sand. Some cats might release their bladder or bowels on a bed because it’s a soft and plush surface for their paws.
• It’s also important to keep your litter box very clean. If it’s not clean enough for you to leave it in the living room, then that means it’s not clean enough for your cat.
• Choose a big litter box. Cats often like to turn around a few times before releasing their bowels. You could even use a shallow Rubbermaid-type plastic bin.
• Do not place your kitty box at the far end of the basement, in a dark place or close to the washing machine which starts at unpredictable times for your cat. The litter box should be easily accessible and in a quiet spot.
• Finally, do not put your cat’s food next to the litter box. Who wants to eat next to the toilet?

You must keep in mind that urine is only dirty to the human mind. What’s the first thing dogs do when they meet? They sniff each other’s butts. Cats spend 2 hours licking themselves every day, including the genital area. Plenty of dogs eat feces they find outside (though that’s a separate issue!).

So, your cat is not getting even with you by urinating in inappropriate places. This is more likely a way to communicate messages such as “Peeing hurts” or “My litter box just doesn’t work for me”.

It’s important to note that if this behaviour stems from a medical issue, cats will associate the litter box with pain because every time they go there to relieve themselves, they hurt. Instinctively, they will decide to avoid it and find other places to urinate.

If you catch your cat in the act, you will notice a specific posture: the cat is turning his back to the vertical surface with the front legs stretched, the tail is wiggling and there is a spay of urine. This is mostly a urine marking. It is a normal communication behaviour in cats. Nevertheless, urine marking in a house is usually a sign of anxiety and/or conflict between cats. It happens more often in a multi-cat house. While such behaviour happens more often in tom cats (unsterilized), it is still seen in 10% of the neutered males and in 5% of the females.

It is important to visit a veterinary right away because urinary issues can lead to marking.

It is important to identify clearly what triggers marking and to reduce exposition to such stimuli as much as possible. Limit access to the spots where marking occurred initially. If there are tensions in the household, improving the situation will be key to prevent marking.

It is also helpful to manage stress and anxiety. In other words, your cat should be able to go on with his feline daily activities such as climb, scratch, rest and hunt for his meals (e.g., food dispensing toys). Also, your cat should be able to go to a safe space when he doesn’t feel like having interactions. This means having access to high-hiding place.

Finally, it is not recommended to punish the cat (scream, slap, spray water, etc.) because it will enhance the anxiety.

Even with a good management of the surroundings, some cats will keep on marking the house. Visit your veterinary to find out if medications can help with the issue.

Male cats use their urine to mark their territory and often choose vertical surfaces such as walls. This is their way of sending messages to other cats. It’s also a good reason to get male cats neutered, since only 10% of neutered cats will continue to mark their territory. Additionally, since hormones are responsible for the foul smell of urine, having your cat neutered should definitely help.

Read more about urinary problems