House soiling is where a cat urinates or defecates outside of the litter tray around the home
For owners this can be distressing but is important to understand why this is happening and address it effectively, rather than getting frustrated with your cat.
What is a ‘problem behaviour’?
A problem behaviour is any behaviour displayed by a pet that concerns their owners. Causes include:
- Natural behaviours that are not deemed as acceptable by owners in the home e.g. hunting.
- Learned behaviours – emotional factors such as stress, fear, or anxiety.
- Medical conditions.
Cats toileting or marking within our homes can be considered problematic and undesirable.
Medical causes of house soiling
The first thing you should do if your cat starts to toilet indoors is seek veterinary advice to rule out medical causes.
House soiling can indicate conditions such as:
- Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC).
- Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract disease (IFLURD).
- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).
- CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease).
- Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (DDS).
- In older cats it may also be caused by conditions such as, arthritis and dementia.
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Environmental stressors that cause house soiling
Indoor stressors
- Multi-Cat House Holds need sufficient resources. You should have one resource per cat plus one extra, placed in different locations.
- Enrichment – ensure enrichment has been provided (toys, scratch posts, treat games etc) to prevent boredom, physically and mentally stimulate our pets, and allow them to perform their natural behaviours.
- Has anything changed? Such as, new carpets, new furniture.
Outdoor stressors
- Changes to outdoor access.
- Changes in the garden and surrounding area may have impacted their toileting areas or hunting ground.
Social stressors
- Introduction of a new family member e.g. new baby, long stay visitor, cat, or pet. We can help prepare our cats for these changes, seek help and advice prior to the new family members arrival. For example, baby gates, playing sounds of babies crying, adding the new furniture before arrival, and introducing blankets that smell of the new pet.
- Grief – if you have faced a recent bereavement of a pet or family member it can also affect your cat. This may also happen due to a family break down or a teenager leaving for university.
- Neutering – if your cat is not spayed/ castrated this can influence their social behaviour, scent marking etc.
- High cat population or a new cat in the neighbourhood.
- Punishment – punishing a cat for soiling can worsen the issue.
Housing stressors
- Ensure a regular feeding routine, grooming, and cleaning of litter trays.
- Annual vet checks. Cats are very good at hiding when they are in pain so any changes in behaviour or health you should always seek veterinary support.
Urine spraying
If there is a small amount of urine when your cat is soiling, they may be spraying. Spraying is a natural marking behaviour and can be prevented in the home by neutering your cat.
Common places that cats urine mark include:
- Points of entry and exits.
- Curtains.
- Items that may have changing scents such as shoes, bags, coats.
- Items that change temperature such as, electronic equipment and radiators.
Marking can be triggered by change in the home, introduction of new pet or person, or insufficient resources.
Providing the purr-fect litter trays
Consider whether there is anything about your cat’s litter tray that they may find off-putting. Try using different types of litter or trays (covered/uncovered). Improperly placed or unpleasant litter trays can lead to soiling.
- Location: keep trays in a private, quiet area.
- Litter type: stick to one type of litter, avoid scented ones.
- Number: one tray per cat, plus one, placed in different areas.
- Cleanliness: regularly clean the trays.
- Size and depth: trays should be large enough for the cat to move comfortably, stand fully upright, and have a depth of 3cm to allow them to dig.
It is advisory to have a litter tray in the home even if your cat is an outdoor cat. If no indoor trays are provided, it can lead to cats seeking safe, indoor locations to toilet.
Seeking help
If you need behaviour advise, consult a clinical animal behaviourist with experience in feline behaviour. Ensure they use positive reinforcement methods.
Any behaviourist should be an accredited member of an organisation such as, APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), ASAB (Association for Study of Animal Behaviour), and CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist)
To find a behaviourist in the UK visit the ABTC website.
