Litter Box Peeing

[CatDad]

My little Joey girl has a usual habbit of peeing on the side of the litter box, rather than in the bottom. She has done it ever since we adopted her.

Before I continue, I know what you are thinking. I took her to the vet 1 week after I got her and had her checked. They ran all sorts of test and she does not have any urinary tract type problems. I had her check again earlier this year and she is still fine. Just thought I would throw that in, because that is what I would think after reading the first paragraph.

Back to the story.

I am really glad that I use covered litter boxes. Even then it was leaking through the joint between the top and the bottom, but I figured a way around that. I just use a strip that is used to seal doors to create a seal and I just replace it whenever I washout the litter boxes.

I tried changing the litter in one of the boxes to another type and she kept peeing on the sides. I switched back after a couple of days because Bob let me know in no uncertain terms that the new stuff was totally unaceptable. It was the only time that he has went outside of the litter box. One night I was watching TV and he walked out looked at me walked over to my coat and peed all over it. I got the hint really fast.

Anyway, the vet thinks that it is just behavioral and she may just be marking her territory. I tend to agree.

I have adjusted to what she does and it doesn't bother me. However, I really would like to know why and she isn't talking. I just thought that I would ask for all of your esteemed opinions. It is always good to have fresh thoughts.

Thanks for any ideas.

[jenluckenbach]

I have and have had cats that do that, and I too use the hooded boxes to control it, but so far they have always been males. And I used to think that it was a marking type of behavior until my young foster did it even before any hormones would have kicked it. So I figure it is just personal preference.

[PayItForward]

Good grieve, you have figured out a great way of dealing with her.

I haven't had this problem and honestly could not come up with such an inventive idea

[RedHedd]

I always thought it was just the cat's personal preference as to where they do their business. My RB Goldie would always pee in a corner of the box and Mitzi does that too; Mishi like the middle for peeing and the edge for pooing .... I just accept it as their own little quirks. Sealing the covered box thing you're doing sounds like you've found a solution -- congratulations.

[catcrazylady]

Sorry...no suggestions and no ideas...just wanted to say Thanks for loving her anyway!!!

[CatDad]

Thanks for your ideas.

After reading the replies I think that it is just personal preferences also. I know nothing is wrong with her, but I am glad to hear that my girl is not the only one. Just nice to get confirmation. Thank you!!!

PayItForward, thank you. However it more out of deperation that I came up with the idea. I had her in a room with carpeting and the carpet machine that I had to use to clean the carpet was scaring her and that was unaceptable. I started out using paper towels and that worked, but was messy. Anyway, some of the best ideas come out of the greatest need.

catcrazylady, I really appreciate you saying so. My kitties are my kids and sometimes they do not understand that what they are doing is having other effects. I still love them.

[AvaJoy]

I am all too familiar with this quirk, as my Debra (blk/wht) pees down the sides of the covered litter boxes frequently . . . sometimes she positions herself more in the middle of the box and then her pee is elongated. I rescued her and had her spayed but she has always been a sprayer; once I caught her peeing against a baseboard, and another time a door. That behaviour seems to have passed, thankfully, and she now uses the boxes. I can always distinguish HER pee, because it is either down the side of the box or L-O-N-G, and she NEVER covers it! She is also the only one of my six cats that scratches inappropriately on my wood door and a particular windowsill. She seems to have a preference for wood, so I wish she would just use the wood posts on one of the many cat trees I provide for my felines! Despite her quirks, she is a darling.

[neko1]

Neko pees in the corner, but he removes all the litter from the corner first, and then pees, then covers it. It's very hard to scoop! But it's just how he goes, so we all deal with it. (I have the covered litter boxes too, they are wonderful!)

[gini]

I have two litter boxes for three cats.

Rascal will dig to China and then finally do his business and covers it well. Usually in the middle of the box.

Annie is fairly delicate too - however, Emma is a side of the box pee - er. I agree, it is really hard to get the stuff out of the corners because it doesn't clump as well there. And she doesn't want to get her delicate paws messed up so she just pees and jumps out of the box.

I clean the boxes several times a day - or at least twice.

Rascal is the only one that will tell me immediately to clean the box. He stands there patiently while I clean it and then jumps in the box as soon as I am done.

Wouldn't it be nice to train them all to use the toilet?

[MeowKlauz]

osker will sit in there for hours and scrape the side over and over then he goes and covers it up.

[RP Cathouse]

Well, your girl is not alone, I have several who do that! They back up to the sides and let go. It is not spraying. I have seen 4 of the Maine Coons and the Ocicat do that. And I have one who, when she is in heat pees in the bath tub, that would be Ele` who's kittens are due in about 3 weeks so the bath tub has been dry.

Stella

Miss Ele`

[jaqi]

My cat does it too. Checkers used to have his box in the basement where he would frequently hit the wall behind the uncovered box, but we didn't worry much 'cause it was just plywood and in the basement. He peed in the box sometimes, sometimes not.

Then I moved the box upstairs into my room. Same deal, sometimes in, sometimes out. Couldn't have that, so I put it in a big cardboard box--then he never peed down into the box. I think he was thrilled to have a close-by surface to spray. He liked it so much he sprayed OVER the box.

That's when the covered box came on the scene, and it works great although he never ever pees into the litter or covers it anymore. But hey--he's apparently happier spraying

Usually he wants to look out while he's doing it so it all winds up on the back wall, once or twice he's sprayed out and then it's Carpet Fresh fo Pets to the rescue--works great, i just clean up with a wet/soapy paper towel then spray it with that for the odor. It seems to get the stain out too.

[CatDad]

At least Joey is not that enthusiastic about peeing on the side of the box.

It is nice to know that she is not alone.