Cats can both urinate outside of the box and spray or mark. These two problems need to be treated differently. Spaying is always a behavioral problem while inappropriate urination can be either a behavioral or a medical problem.
Signs Your Cat is Marking
- The urine is on a vertical surface, such as walls or bookcases.
- Your cat is an unneutered male.
- You’ve seen your cat spray.
- Free roaming cats are visible to your indoor cat.
If your cat is marking spay or neuter him/her immediately. While most marking is done by male cats, some females will mark. Eliminating the sexual hormones may completely eliminate the problem. If the problem continues behavioral modification will be necessary. Start by making sure no free roaming, outdoor cats are within visual range.
This can be accomplished with blinds, drapes, or motion detector sprinkler system to keep them away from the house. Cover all the marked areas with heavy plastic or aluminum foil. Use of the pheromone product Feliway may decrease the behavior. Some cats are significantly helped by being placed on buspirone.