My cat keeps peeing outside the litter box. What's wrong?
My 3-year-old tabby has always used her litter box perfectly. But for the past week she's been peeing on my bed and on the bathroom floor. She's still using the litter box for poop though. The litter box is clean, I scoop it daily. She's not showing any other symptoms. I'm frustrated and I don't want to keep buying new bedding. What could be causing this?
1 Answer(s)
This is actually really common and there are a few likely causes. The fact that she's still pooping in the box but peeing outside is a huge clue.
Most likely: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This is the #1 reason cats start peeing outside the box. Female cats are especially prone. The litter box might hurt when they pee, so they associate the box with pain and find a softer spot (your bed). Even if she seems fine otherwise, a UTI can be silent except for the litter box avoidance.
Other possibilities:
- Stress: Did anything change? New furniture, new pet, moved to a new place?
- Dirty litter box (even if you scoop daily, the box itself might need a full wash)
- She doesn't like the litter type (try switching to unscented)
What to do: Take her to the vet ASAP. A urinalysis costs about $50 and will tell you if there's an infection. UTIs in cats can become life-threatening if untreated (especially males, but females get them too). Don't wait more than a few days.