Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?
Finding a wet spot on the rug or a strong-smelling patch on the bed is frustrating. It’s also information. A cat that stops using the litter box is usually dealing with one of four things: pain or illness, a litter box problem, stress or conflict, or urine marking. It isn’t revenge, and it doesn’t mean your cat has forgotten their training. A sudden change deserves a call to your veterinarian, even when your cat seems fine in every other way. Cats often hide pain. Urinary trouble may show up in the litter box before you notice changes in appetite, energy, or mood. There is one exception to the “make an appointment” approach: a cat that keeps trying to urinate but produces little or no urine may have a blocked urethra. That is an emergency, especially in male cats. Check for a urinary emergency before anything else Go to an emergency veterinary clinic now if your cat: Call your regular veterinarian promptly for blood in the urine, crying during urination, frequent small amounts, or repeated genital licking. If you cannot tell whether urine is coming out—or those signs worsen—treat it as an emergency. Don’t wait until morning to see if a









