Why is my 10-week-old kitten peeing on the sofa then using the box?

Hello, thank you for your question about Merlin. It is possible that Merlin is exhibiting these behaviors due to the a recent change of environment and new scents. To help further identify and remedy this problem I have provided additional information below. Hope this helps! -Your cat may have an aversion to the litterbox. This can develop due to odors, litter type, other cats or dogs, or an attraction for other substances. Observing your cat using the litterbox can help to determine the cause. Hesitation to enter the box, excessive scratching outside the box, straddling the box, and failure to cover up feces may be indications that your cat has a litterbox aversion. Making your cat’s litterbox more appealing can help. Daily cleaning, as well as changing all the litter out weekly can help. Boxes should be cleaned with a mild, unscented soap. Having the box in a low traffic area of the house may also help to reduce any anxiety surrounding the litterbox. Lastly, finding a litter your cat prefers may be key to making the box more appealing. Using cardboard trays and a few different kinds of litters may aid you in finding your cat’s litter preference. -A multi-pet household is another possible cause of inappropriate elimination. Cats may urinate or defecate outside of the litterbox if there are too few litterboxes present, if the boxes are not cleaned regularly or if inter-pet aggression exists. Owners need to determine if there are an adequate number of litterboxes present in multiple locations; it is recommended that the number of litterboxes total the number of cats plus one. It is very important to clean boxes daily. Non-clumping litter should be completely discarded every day; clumping litter should be scooped daily and completely discarded every 1 to 2 weeks. Owners should observe interactions between cats and other animals in the house to see if any harassment or territorial aggression exists; cats may be aggressive towards one another and dogs may follow cats around in search of a tasty treat. Depending on the case, it may be beneficial to separate cats or place litterboxes in areas where the cat cannot be bothered by canine housemates. Additionally, open litterboxes should be used instead of covered ones, so that the cat can visualize its surroundings and have multiple escape routes. Spraying can be differentiated from the other problems because the cat will still use the litterbox for urination and defecation normally. However they will also target specific areas to spray (usually vertical surfaces though sometimes horizontal), assume a characteristic stance, and stand while urinating. Owners should recognize that spraying is not always an abnormal behavior. Cats spray either due to positive or negative stimuli. Positive stimuli can be normal sexual or predatory behavior. Negative stimuli, which normally results in more frequent and problematic spraying, is usually due to anxiety or inter-cat aggression. Whether positive or negative, the stimuli should be identified and removed. Spay or neuter all intact cats. Clean or remove objects that the cat likes to spray on and make these areas less attractive to the cat. For instance if the cat sprays one spot on a wall, move the cat’s food dishes to that spot. Most cats do not like to soil where they eat. If the cat sprays when it sees another cat outside block the view. If these tactics do not work then room diffusers or spraying with feline pheromones may help reduce spraying. Medication can be prescribed by veterinarians and have been shown to greatly reduce marking behavior. However, since the behavior can return as soon as the drug is withdrawn, drugs should be used only after or in conjunction with the methods mentioned above.

It can sometimes be overwhelming for kittens to go all the way downstairs to find their litter box, especially if the house is fairly large :) I would recommend providing an additional litter box for Jinx upstairs so that there is one available nearby if he has to go to the bathroom while he's up there. Another option would be to confine him to a single room with his food and water bowls and litter box for the next 1-2 weeks to make sure that he is using it every time, then gradually begin to give him more freedom in the house as long as he is not having accidents. Also make sure to thoroughly clean the spots where he has had accidents, ideally using an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle or Urine Off, to make sure that the odor is completely gone - otherwise, it can act as a signpost drawing him back to the same places to use the bathroom in the future.

Since Squirt is only 4 weeks old, my theory is that he may be urinating and defecating on the bed because he has trouble getting down from it. If it is too high for him (or even if he can get down but it might just be a little scary), he is very likely to just use the bed for his business. If you are going to let him on the bed, I would only allow this for short periods of time until he is a little bit larger. The more times you permit him on the bed now and he continues this behavior, the more likely he may begin to thing it is acceptable. I would limit his bed time to no more than 30 minute intervals under direct supervision. After those periods of time have elapsed, place Squirt back into the area closest to the litter pan and see if things work out as they should. Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Causes of urination outside the box can be urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine, stones in the urinary tract, trauma to the area, or difficulty getting into the litterbox due to pain, or other reasons. It is important that you make an appointment to have Jinx seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can to help determine the cause of his behaviour and to start treatment. If you notice his straining to urinate/unable to produce urine, this is a medical emergency and she should be seen by a vet immediately. In an unneutered male cat like Jinx, it may be that he is starting to mark around the house, in which case having him neutered may help. This will also help prevent him from getting your other cat pregnant. It is also possible that Jinx is exhibiting signs of stress in his home environment. You can do the following to help make sure Jinx’s environmental needs are being met: Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 , healthcareforpets.com and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic phisomone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com. Try an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle on the areas where he has accidents to help with the smell and staining. Good luck!

Mercury is so cute! Moving into a new house is stressful for a kitten, and it will take her time to adjust. She is getting some liquid from the soft food, and she may be drinking water at night when you are sleeping. I would take her into a vet in the morning to check out everything is ok health wise. I will put a link below on how to litterbox train a kitten. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/article/litter-box-training-for-your-kitten/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Axel. He has not gone through puberty being only 9 weeks of age. Therefore, this issue is likely related to not being fully potty trained yet as opposed to marking behavior. You can add another litterbox and make sure it has a very low lip to make it easy for the kitten to get in and out. You can try another litter substrate to see if he has a preference. Finally, wash your bedding and do not allow him access to it. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Remus! I recommend, with kittens this young, confining them to one room with their food/water and a shallow litter pan. I keep them in there until they are using the litter pan consistently. Then I let them out only when I am home but do not move the litter pan. Then once the kitten is using the litter pan in his room and the one in the main house he can me let out of the room. Then you can move the litter pan out. As for the crying when he urinating and defecating, be sure his stools aren't too hard. In some way mild vocalizing can be normal and he will out grow it. If it persists mention it to your Vet when you are in for shots. I hope this helps and I wish Remus the bestQ