my kitten is peeing on the floor

Question
we have had our kitten for 3 months now, he is 5 months old and was desexed at 3 months. he has always used his litter and has only had one accident since we got him as we moved his litter so he went where it previously was. the past month he has urinated on the couch in the same spot within 2 days, he then stopped that for about 2 weeks and is now on rare occasions doing it in the corner of our loungeroom. he can clearly tell this behavior is wrong but continues to do it. his litter is quite clean, we dont think this could be a urinary tract infection but more of a behavior problem.
kind regards,
beci

Answer
You are right that urinary tract infections and stones/crystals are less common in kittens, but still, I have seen several cases.  Just make sure to monitor his habits closely.  Because of their potential to be life-threatening - infections left unattended can cause irreparable kidney damage, and stones and crystals can cause deadly blockages - you want to catch any urinary tract problems immediately.  If you see him urinating frequently, or in small amounts, or it takes him a while to go, definitely get him off to the vet.

Usually the best way to try to correct litter box issues with kittens is to confine them to a smaller area until they are having zero accidents.  In extreme cases, a kitten may need to be limited to a large dog crate for a short time until he learns.  Short of this, it would be wise to put a litter box on top of the spot where he has chosen to go.  I realize this is rarely convenient, but it may be better than cleaning up frequent accidents.

I'd also recommend adding another litter box.  It's pretty common for cats to desire one box for urination and another for defecation.  Also, you can try using a different litter in this box to see if it's the litter he's not so crazy about.  There are lots of different textures to choose from.  In general, it's best to go with something unscented.  You may also want to give a litter called Cat Attract a shot.  It's money-back guaranteed to solve litter box problems.  You can learn more and order at www.preciouscat.com.  Litter should be completely discarded once every week or two.  Even clumping litter will begin to cause odor problems if kept for longer than this.

Also, you should clean the areas with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of stains completely.  Otherwise, he's likely to keep having accidents in the same spot.  The cleaner I recommend is Nature's Miracle, available at pet stores.

Although he is young to be suffering anxiety problems, yet, it's still a possibility, and in this case, a product called Feliway may help.  You can learn more at www.feliway.com.  It's available on the internet and at pet stores.  Beyond that, considering an anti-depressant may be worthwhile.  Most times, they can be discontinued after the behavior is corrected.