Wondering after training so much. Is your cat peeing over the edge of the litter box?
What can be the issue behind her poor behavior? How to solve and get rid of this problem? Well, you landed on the right page, to overcome your problem.
We have done some surveys and listed out the theories behind your cat peeing over the edge of the box, as well as also included some solutions that might help you to handle the situation smartly.
Theories Behind Your Cat Pee Over the Edge of Litter Box
Generally, if you train your feline pal or give her toiletry training, she will follow that routine effectively.
If you observe that she is not following the routine and just peeing on the floor or over the edge of the litter box.
Then you need to keep a check on her and observe her because normally they won’t do this type of poor behavior.
In the following paragraphs, we have covered the common reasons, why your cat is peeing over the edge of the litter box.
Scroll down to know better and get the solutions.
1. Litter Box Is Dirty
Cats are naturally clean animals, they groom themselves and prefer to stay in a clear surrounding. As you know, felines hate bad odor, and they won’t stay there for a longer period.
So, yes my friend, if your kitty’s litter box is dirty then there is a higher tendency she will pee over the edge of the litter box.
Even if you haven’t changed the litter and soiled clumps are there, she will not prefer going inside the box for doing her business.
Here’s a piece of advice for you, change your kitty’s litter regularly. As felines don’t like urinating on top of her pee, so she needs a clean surface to do her business.
2. Medical Issue
Your cat peeing over the edge of the litter box because she might be facing any health issues. Such as she might be having joint pain or difficulty in sitting and doing her business.
Arthritis can be one of the reasons for your kitty’s joint pain, it doesn’t allow her to sit down in the litter box. It is advisable to visit the vet and start her medication the soonest.
Urinary infection can also be one of the reasons behind her health issue, the sudden need to go to the bathroom or litter box. Sometimes they might not make it on time to perfectly settle and pee, so they just pee over the edge of the litter box.
3. Litter Box Is Too Small
The litter box which you’re using for your feline pal might be small for her, so that can be the reason behind your cat peeing over the edge of a litter box.
If you are using the wrong size litter boxes for her, then it’s not your kitty’s fault. As she is not comfortable in it, and cannot fit properly to do her business.
So might be unknowingly she is peeing over the edge of the box and spoiling your floor.
Felines are very particular regarding her stuff or anything. And if you have a larger breed, then it’s not possible for her to fit in the small box, as she requires larger space to do her business.
4. Kitty Don’t Like the Litter Box
The litter box can also be one of the issues your kitty is spoiling the floor.
As we know, the feline has a very strong smelling sense, so if your cat’s litter box is not clean properly, then she will avoid doing her business in the box.
It could also be that she is not comfortable in that box, or the box design is not acceptable to her, or else you have replaced her box, and now she is missing her old litter box.
Furthermore, if you have replaced the litter she might not be liking the odor or texture, so it is a high possibility she will refuse to use the box.
5. Spraying
From now onwards, observe your kitty whenever she repeats this behavior of peeing over the edge of the litter box.
As there are high possibilities, that she might not be urinating but just spraying.
Feline pal urinates by squatting. If she’s just standing still and doing this action, that means spraying, not urinating.
This generally happens, when they want to communicate with you, or they want to protect their territory.
So, by marking, they are indicating that zone particularly belong to her.
Litter box comes in various type, so if your feline has a spraying habit, will suggest you go for large sidewall litter boxes. Check out our article on the best cheap self-cleaning litter box for your future reference.
6. Out of Anxiety/Stress
Due to change in surrounding, shifting to a new place or replacement of her favorite furniture/object, etc.
These can be the reason behind your kitty’s stress or anxiety.
Generally, these things give her stress.
If you have shifted to a new place, then she will take time to adjust to the new place, bathroom.
So, this can be one of the reasons behind her peeing over the edge of the litter box.
Out of insecurities also your kitty might be peeing over the edge of the litter box to mark her territory.
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How to Prevent Your Cat Peeing Over the Edge of Litter Box?
Here, are some solutions for you that might help you to get rid of the issue of your cat peeing over the edge of the litter box.
Scroll down to know better.
1. Get them correct size of litter box
The litter box is one of the personal and essential daycare stuff for your kitty, so it has to be perfect. As we know, felines are too obsessive regarding their stuff.
Make sure the litter tray which you are using for your feline friend should be perfect and comfortable for her. If you provide her with a small box, then she will simply avoid it and never use it.
Providing the correct size of the cat litter tray might help you, and prevent your cat from peeing over the edge of the litter box.
2. Consult the vet
If you observe, your mischievous cat isn’t using her litter box and peeing over the edge of the box frequently.
Then it’s better to once take her to the vet for a full checkup because there might be chances that she is facing some health issues.
If your feline pal is already diagnosed with any health problem like arthritis, diabetes, urinary tract infection, then it’s better to take care of her and regularly follow her medication routine.
These diseases create problems for your kitty, it leads to joint pain because of which she is not able to squat down and do her business.
So, she just prefers standing and peeing on the floor or over the edge of the litter box.
3. Clean litter box
Felines prefer clean surroundings, so provide them with a clean litter box that will help in preventing your cat from peeing over the edge of the litter box.
Always try to dump her feces and clean the soiled clump litter on a regular basis because your feline pal needs clean space and odor-free surroundings to carry out her business.
A tip for you try to clean the box every alternate day and refill the litter once a week this will make your cleaning procedure easy and if you observe that too much urine or feces are there then try to clean it more effectively it will help to reduce the bad odor.
4. Use floor mats
If you don’t want to try too many options, then you can do one thing, simply put a floor mat around your feline’s litter box.
It is one of the best, and easy solutions to get rid of her this poor behavior.
It will protect your floor from getting soiled.
The only snag is that your cleaning procedure will increase, a bit of stinky smell will be there, but it’s manageable.
5. Fix the litter issue
Felines have obsessive-compulsive disorder, they are particular regarding their stuff, they can sense even the slight changes also.
For instance, recently, if you have replaced your feline’s litter with the new one, all you need to do is use some old litter with the new one.
Until she gets the habit of the new litter.
Still, if your cat peeing over the edge of the litter box then the only option left, replace the litter of her choice or switch to the older one.
Conclusion
Great, you landed on the last paragraph.
Confidently, we were able to serve the appropriate content to the table.
Now, you have in-depth knowledge behind why is your cat peeing over the edge of the litter box?
Along with the reasons, you are aware of the solutions.
They may be doing it due to litter box issues, health issues might be under any stress, or unhygienic surrounding, etc.
Next time, if you observe your mischievous feline doing this kind of behavior, you know what you have to do and how to get rid of it.
References
- Cat goes right next to the litter box — Cattle Dog Publishing
- Cat peeing everywhere all of a sudden — Arm & Hammer
- Feline inappropriate elimination — VCA Hospitals
Go checkout the same article Reasons Why Your Cat is Peeing Over the Edge of the Litter Box from CatNeedsBest.