Why Male Cats Urinate in the Wrong Places

1 Overview

1. The cat is in heat

This is the most common reason.

But inappropriate urination is not always heat – remember that.

An adult male cat’s ancient genes tell it: spray freely, let the whole earth smell like you, so females everywhere follow your scent to find you for a shame-free life.

Ahem, the above is the author’s free association; back to the point.

An intact male cat communicates with surrounding peers by spraying urine.

For example: marking territory, warning other males, ‘Hey kid, this is my turf, get out!’

Likewise it tells nearby females it is ready to mate: ‘Hey girl, my blade is already thirsty!’

So the seeming ‘wrong urination’ is actually the cat’s social behavior.

Other cats read these messages through keen smell to communicate.

Punishing it for this is something the cat cannot understand.

This needs our patient guidance toward the lifestyle we want.

So how do we solve this?

1) Find it a girlfriend to pair with – but this treats the symptom, not the cause.

Know that once leads to next; the more often, the harder to satisfy.

2) Neuter it – this is direct and permanent.

It basically removes the root of heat-season spraying, and is good for the cat too.

3) Limit the cat’s space, give it a cage.

Simple, direct, crude, time-saving, but you must clean often.

4) Some friends do not want their cat neutered or caged, so it takes the owner’s tolerance and effort. Because heat-season ‘wrong urination’ is instinct; what we can do is understand and accept.

Can we change anything in this phase? Of course!

Owners can use their diligent hands: clean right after the cat urinates and spray a pet odor remover on the spot. Great.

Emmm, back to the point.

We can interact and play more with the cat to divert its attention and wear it out, leaving no spare time to think of the neighbor’s female.

When it urinates where you don’t want, interrupt in time – use a favorite toy or food to draw attention; cats generally do not hold urine, so it will then head to the litter box. After a few times it quickly gives up urinating outside the box. (After all, in the box the annoying owner won’t disturb its business.)

2. Revenge or fear urination

Cats do hold grudges and may feel revenge or fear toward certain people or animals.

If you hit or scared it, the cat may urinate frequently when stimulated.

For this cause, we can only dissolve it with love and justice.

Since you decided to make it family, give more care and tolerance; it decides how to treat you based on the feeling it gets.

3. Litter box not clean enough, or multiple cats sharing one box

As known, cats are clean.

If you do not clean its box in time and it reeks, or little clean litter remains and the cat has nowhere to step, it can only go elsewhere.

And some cats refuse to share a box with others.

So generally prepare an extra box and clean litter promptly.

This cause is relatively easy to solve.

4. New environment

This is also genetic instinct, but not much trouble. Limit the cat’s space, e.g. a cage, or if there is a spare empty room let it live alone for a while.

Once familiar, when it needs to go it will follow the scent to the box.

5. Disease factors

The most common is a urinary tract problem: not only wrong urination, but also difficulty urinating, dribbling, frequent posturing – possibly infection or stones.

The author is not a professional vet, so not much more; if the cat is abnormal, take it to the vet promptly rather than asking relatives, friends or Baidu. Remember, prompt medical care is the right path.

Also a reminder: keep the cat’s drinking water clean, change it often. For kibble, choose a regular brand within your budget, but if it is too cheap and poor, plain food is better than spending big later on vet bills.

Stay diligent usually, and you can help the cat avoid disease.