You may understand why your cat has decided to urinate outside of the litter box, but that is only the first step in solving this cat behavior problem. The next step you are faced with is how to reduce and eventually stop this behavior once and for all.
Clean, and Then Clean Some More
Sometimes a cat will continue to use an area for urination or defecation if it still has their scent on or around it. A cat may even begin urinating in an area of the home that has the scent of another cat or animal on it. For this reason it is best to ensure that you clean the target area in your home thoroughly to completely eliminate the smell of urine. Use an enzyme cleaner and a citrus based cleaner to not only clean the area, but to also deter the cat from using the area in the future. You may want to stay away from using bleach or ammonia-based cleaners as these products have a scent that mimics cat urine, meaning that kitty may be even more enticed to use the area as a toilet.
Tidy Litter
Keeping the litter spick and span is a must if you want to solve this cat behavior problem. Scooping the litter at least once a day, and thoroughly cleaning and washing the litter tray every two weeks will keep your feline happy and healthy. Make sure you do not use strongly scented detergent, especially citrus detergent to clean the tray as this may completely deter your cat from using the litter box.
A Quiet Location
Your feline friend does not want to be startled during his or her bathroom time, so make sure the tray is in a quiet, secluded area. Placing the tray in an easily accessible location is another plus, because this ensures that kitty does not always have to walk past strangers to get to the litter tray.
Lid or No Lid
Take note of your cat’s preferred style of litter tray. Some felines do not want to use a litter tray that has a lid, while other cats will not use a litter tray that is open to the public eye. Purchasing the desired style of tray will help to make your cat feel more comfortable using the tray, and will save your home from unwanted surprises.
The use of one or more of these tips will help to make your feline more comfortable when using the litter tray. These tips will not only help you to resolve this cat behavior problem in the future, but will also give you more spare time to enjoy the company of your healthy and happy cat.