• Jack has recently been peeing just outside the litter box. We have cleaned it up and put new litter in but he still refuses to use the litter box, instead opting to pee on the litter box or the wall next to it. We have never had any issues with him peeing anywhere but the litter box until now. What could possibly be going on? Some background information: We have another cat who has never had any litter problems before. Jack is on a specialized hydolyzed protein diet. Although he has an open water bowl he is limited to eating twice a day in order for him to avoid eating our other cat's food. Jack was just throwing up 3 days ago (not hairballs).

  Hi Michaela,
  I recommend that you take him into see a veterinarian. Often not using the litter box is secondary to an underlying medical or physical issue. This is often seen with a urinary tract infection, arthritis, bladder stones, or an underlying medical issue like kidney disease or diabetes. Your vet can talk to you more about the cause of this after they have examined him. They may recommend some lab tests and/or x-rays to help diagnose or rule out certain diseases. The treatment that he needs will depend on the underlying cause of the not urinating in the litter box. If there is a behavioral component to this your vet can work with you on a behavior modification plan that is specific to your cat and his environment.

Answered by:

John Smith, DVM
Veterinarian

Dr. John Smith is a graduate of LSU, Class of 1998. He has over 10 years of experience...

Tags

Behavior