Cat peeing on the floor.

Question
Hello, I have a female cat that is about 9 months old, I have had her for about 5 and a half months. When I first got her she immediately learned to use the litter box. However sometimes she would poop right next to the litter box. I always kept it clean and fresh, and most of the time she would use it but sometimes she would go right next to it. We moved into a new apartment and have been here 2 months. She recently started to go into heat every couple weeks, this week is the 3rd time she has gone into heat. I plan on getting her spayed within a couple weeks once I get payed again. But lately she has been peeing on the floor, and sometimes pooping on the floor. I keep the litter box clean, and I keep it in one of those doggy house type things, to keep litter from getting kicked on the floor and so you don't smell it. She was using it just fine until recently, which like I said she has been peeing and sometimes pooping on the floor a lot. She still uses the litter box most of the time. But she has been going on the floor several times a week now. Is this because of being in heat and spaying will fix it? Or could this be something else? Thanks in advance!

Answer
As far as her urinating on the floor, depending on if it's behavioral or medical, getting her spayed may or may not have an effect. It does sound behavioral as defecating on the floor is almost always behavioral.

Are there neigborhood cats that she can smell or come into contact with? That's the big one to trigger behavior issues. Other than that, there are several different things that can play a part. Including the location of the litter box, type of litter or litter box, size of it...I repeat, several possibilities.

The other side of this is eliminating the chance of her having an infection and that is why she is using the floor as a litter pan. If you are dealing with an infection, than trying to solve it with behavior solutions will make no difference and can only lead to more health issues.

It's great that you're planning on having her spayed, so I would also have her current health checked out as well.