Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box and vomiting each morning?

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Smokey isn't feeling well. Vomiting in cats can be due to many reasons including gastric upset, obstructions (something stuck in the gut where it shouldn't be), constipation, pain and stress. Peeing outside the litter box can be due to a medical condition (urinary tract infection, metabolic disease like diabetes, crystals, or interstitial cystitis). Peeing outside the box can also be behavioral if the box isn't cleaned, if there aren't enough litter boxes (# of cats + 1 = # of litter boxes), or if she isn't feeling well and she is trying to tell you. Also, since your cat is unspayed, she is at risk for pyometra (infected uterus). If she is still bright and happy and wanting to play and eat I would try changing the litter, getting another box, and seeing if this behavior goes away. Alternatively you can bring her to a vet and get her urine checked- this is ideal. If she is not bright, not wanting to eat, and the vomiting continues and she continues to not use the litter I would have her seen right away by a veterinarian as there could be something seriously wrong. Also, since she is unspayed, she could be marking, I would recommend getting her spayed once this illness is cleared up. I hope she feels better soon.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having this problem with Kaivos. There are a large number of reasons that a cat will inappropriately urinate (urinate outside the litter box). I am attaching a handout below which discusses this in detail. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951508 I do think it is important to get a urine sample on him to make sure you are not dealing with a medical problem. Even if this has been going on for a long time, it is possible that it is a medical problem. If that is normal, then we need to look at other possibilities. It sounds like you have an appropriate number of litter boxes. The handout above discusses litter box issues that can play a role. Make sure the boxes are not covered or lined, and are cleaned daily. You may also want to try products like Cat Attract Litter (https://www.drelseys.com/shop/cat-attract/). You should also look at decreasing stress in case that is playing a role. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. You could also consider calming music specifically for cats ( http://throughadogsear.com/tace/through-a-cats-ear-1-music-for-calming/ ). If your veterinarian cannot find a medical reason and all litter box issues have been dealt with, then it may be time to discuss medication with your veterinarian. Medications are also discussed in the handout. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

There can be a couple of reasons why Tiger will not use the litter box. There may not be enough litter boxes in the home. You should have one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. Cats like a very clean box, and the litter should be scooped every day with the litter itself being changed once a week. If the box isn't clean enough for him, he won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, he may not like it and won't want to use it. Don't use scented litters, cats typically don't like the scent and will not use the box if it smells funny to them. I would use an unscented litter only. The litter box itself may be a problem. It could be too small for him to turn around in, or if it has a cover, he may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, he may not like going to the bathroom in the open. Cats also won't use a litter box that is too close to their food and water sources, so if the litter box is close to those, he won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind him not using the litter box, such as feline idiopathic cystitis or bladder stones. If none of the above scenarios apply to Tiger, I would take him into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind him refusing to use the litter box. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Nibbles is very sick and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. If she is vomiting so frequently, she may have an issue with her stomach or intestines. This could be something as simple as a dietary intolerance, or could be as scary as cancer. I recommend contacting your veterinarian and making an appointment for her to be seen. I hope this is helpful.

Inappropriate elimination in cats is often a behavioral problem rather than a medical problem, so the first step is to have him seen by your vet to eliminate any kind of illness or condition as a cause for his defecating outside the box. Once medical issues are ruled out, take a look at other explanations. Has there been a lot of activity that wasn't normal? Were you away and your cat was left at home or boarded? Is the litterbox located in a busy area? Has anything happened recently in this area to make him reluctant to use it again? Is there another cat, pet or person that is preventing him from getting to the box? Have you changed it from a hooded to an open box, or vice versa? Have you changed the brand of litter or kind? Is there something about the spot he has chosen to use that is attracting him in some way? Cats dislike disturbances to their routine and may act out to express their dissatisfaction. The litter box may not be big enough. The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat in the household, plus one. That way each cat can have a place of their own to go in case the box is occupied or another cat has claimed it as territory. They should be scooped daily, if not more often and changed completely weekly washed with soap and water only. You can also offer one kind of litter in one box and another kind in another to see if there is a preference. I don't recommend the crystal kind, it makes a hissing sound when wet that can startle some cats and make them reluctant to use it again. The litter boxes should be located in a quiet, low-traffic area so that the cat can use them in peace. Make sure any other pets or people aren't giving them a hard time around or in the litter box. It may take some investigation and experimentation to find your cat's preference and accommodate him so that everyone is satisfied with the situation. And, when cleaning up pet accidents, don’t use any cleaner containing ammonia. This leaves behind a scent similar to urine

It sounds like you have a few issues going on. First, I would ask if they are spayed and neutered? Cats start to come into heat anywhere from 6 months old and up. Their heat cycle repeats every three weeks. This could be why your female cat is acting strange. Male cats will start to develop testosterone which will cause them to do silly things... like pee in places to mark their territory. And yes, sibling cats will mate. They don't know or care that they are siblings. So it is best to have them both fixed. The second most common reason cats will urinate or defecate outside the box is an illness. Many have urinary tract infections or crystals in their bladders that cause a lot of discomfort. I would definitely have a vet check them out to rule out health issues. Finally, you should always have one more littler box than you have cats. So for you, I would say have three boxes, spread throughout the house. Cats can become territorial about boxes and will chase another cat out of "their box." I hope this helps! Thank You for choosing Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to ask for a consultation!

Hello, and thanks for your question. Poor Boo! It sounds like Boo probably has a urinary tract infection. She should be seen by your vet, where they will examine her and evaluate a sample of her urine to look for evidence of infection. They will set her up with antibiotics if indicated to treat the infection. I also see she is unspayed. Frequent attempts to urinate can also be a symptom of a life threatening uterine infection ("pyometra"), or very rarely a urethral obstruction (though this is much more common in male cats, and quite rare in females). If Boo gets sicker overnight she may need to be taken to the emergency vet. However, these possibilities would be much less likely than a urinary tract infection. I hope this helps and she feels better soon!