urination out of litter box

Question
Hi Jessica, I have 2 tiger cats, one I raised from a kitten, the other came to me from the wild (feral), they both are now 12 years old, (the feral was guessed by a Vet to be about a year old when she came to me..); they are both very lovable and smart, but are competing for who can urinate and spray out of the litter box and are becoming a real problem. We keep the box especially clean and have tried numerous different types of litter, even just newspaper (as someone suggested..), but even though they use the box, they go outside of it just as often. Both cats have access to an outdoor, fenced yard, and are healthy and up to date on all care and shots. We are at our wits end, and getting real tired of cleaning up sprays and urinations; is there something that will deter this behavior? they get along fine, but will not stand close proximity to each other, but this has been constant for 12 years, and other then that, they are very happy and affectionate...any suggestions will be happily accepted..thanks!..Nick

Answer
Hi Nick,

It sounds like you are having some territorial issues between the two of them.  There may be some anxiety involved, as well.  I recommend that you start out trying a product called Feliway.  This is a synthetic pheromone.  Pheromones are hormones that cats release through their cheeks, and also through their paw pads and in urine.  They are used to mark territorially and also promote a sense of calm.  Using Feliway reduces the need for cats to mark things with urine and also helps reduce anxiety levels.  I recommend using the plug-in diffusers to reduce anxiety overall.  You can use the spray bottle in addition if there are certain problem areas where the cats are spraying or urinating excessively.  Be sure to clean these spots only with rubbing alcohol, allow to dry, and then apply the spray, since other cleaners will negate the effects.  To learn more about Feliway, visit www.feliway.com.

I also would suggest trying a training litter called Cat Attract, which was formulated by a vet just for problems like this.  Hopefully, it will help with the inappropriate urination, but if not, it's money-back guaranteed.  It contains an herbal attractant to encourage cats to use the litter box 100% of the time.  To find a retailer near you, visit www.preciouscat.com.  If you're unable to find one, there is also a Cat Attract herbal additive that you can mix into your own unscented clumping litter, which you can order through many websites (the litter itself tends to be prohibitively expensive to ship).  Many vets also carry or will order the products.

Another measure that may seem unrelated is to be sure that the cats have plenty of their own furniture and lots of vertical space.  Cat trees and tall scratching posts, preferably available in several different rooms, can provide territory for the cats to claim as their own.  By allowing the cats to have their own turf, we can reduce the urge for them to constantly assert their dominance through spraying or urinating inappropriately.

Remember that sometimes some areas become so soiled, a cat will continue to use them, even after the root problem has been resolved.  Be sure to use an enzymatic pet stain remover (except in areas where you are using Feliway spray) to get rid of pet stains.  Carpeting and even wood or vinyl flooring might need to be replaced if it is badly damaged.

If these methods don't work, I would strongly suggest talking to your vet about using antidepressant medications for a while.  These work to reduce anxiety and correct spraying/inappropriate urination behavior in nearly all cases.  The good news is that most cats only require treatment temporarily until the anxiety issues are resolved, and the behavior has been corrected.  A few of my cats have needed medication over the years, and none have required treatment for longer than 6 months.  Some do need treatment for longer, or even permanently, but this is uncommon.  If either of the cats are difficult to pill, the medications can be compounded into a transdermal gel, which is a cream that gets rubbed into the skin at the tip of the ear.  I have found my cats will eagerly take their pills if I use a syringe to wash the pill down with a shot of chicken baby food.

Best of luck!

Jessica