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What causes cats to urinate or defecate outside the litter box?
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When a cat urinates or defecates outside the litter box, it is often a sign of underlying behavioral or medical issues. Because cats instinctively bury their waste to avoid detection by predators, a dirty litter box may cause them anxiety, leading them to seek other locations.12
Common causes for house-soiling include:
- Litter Box Issues: Cats may avoid the box if it is not cleaned frequently enough or if they dislike the type of litter used.12
- Medical Conditions: Inappropriate elimination can be a symptom of health problems, such as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), digestive issues, or arthritis.1
- Behavioral Factors: Urination may be a form of marking territory, especially in dominant cats. It can also be triggered by stress, anxiety, or depression resulting from changes in the home, loss of a companion, or conflict with another animal.12
Because these symptoms can overlap with serious illnesses, a veterinary checkup is essential to determine the specific cause and appropriate treatment.1