Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box But Pooping in It? Here's Why

It is not uncommon to hear of a cat using the bathroom outside of the litter box. For some reason or another, your cat has decided that the world is their toilet and now you have to troubleshoot how to stop your cat from peeing everywhere and get them back to their norm.

What is less commonly seen is when a cat pees outside of the litter box, but is still pooping in it. Why would a cat do some of their business in their normal place, but not all of it? Let’s dive into some reasons why a cat may urinate outside of the litter box, but still use it to defecate.

Common reasons cats pee outside the litter box but still poop in it

There are three major categories of reasons why a cat may piddle in the wrong place, but poop in the right one: medical issues, behavioral issues, and litter box issues.

It is important to understand that in many cases, cats may do all of their business in the wrong place, aka outside the litter box, if they are not feeling well, but it is also possible for them to prioritize getting to the litter box for one elimination and not the other.

Additionally, peeing outside of the litter box, but still pooping in it, may progress to not using the litter box at all if the problem is not found and addressed.

Persian cat urinated on couch

1. Medical issues

While cats are resilient and known for their ability to be predominantly self-sufficient, they are not immune to getting sick. These illnesses can contribute to cats peeing anywhere other than the litter box.

The reality is that every cat shows their symptoms and reacts to issues differently. This is why some cats will avoid the litter box altogether with some of these issues, and others will still poop in the box—it has more to do with a cat’s personality and ability to cope than anything else.

If there is not an obvious fixable cause at home for your cat's abnormal bathroom behaviors, it is a great idea to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to determine if there’s a medical cause for your cat’s unwillingness to pee in the litter box.

Urinary system

Urine is made in the kidneys and expelled through the urinary system, so dysfunction in any of the many parts of that process can lead to inappropriate urination. Some examples of abnormalities with the renal system include:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Urinary crystals
Urinary stones in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, etc
Inflammation or failure of the kidneys
Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder

Any irregularities with the renal system can cause pain and discomfort, which can lead to difficulty urinating—both holding that urine in long enough to get into the litter box, and urinating at all.

Gastrointestinal system

Issues with the stomach and intestines can also lead to some abnormal bathroom habits from felines. Some cats may have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This can cause a whole host of symptoms:

Blood in stools
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Urinating outside of the litter box, but still pooping in it

Some cats may avoid the litter box all together why others may spend an excessive amount of time in the litter box. The reality is that cats respond to not feeling well differently and IBD should be considered if another cause is not found.

Another gastrointestinal disease that could present with inappropriate urination, but still pooping in the litter box, is gastrointestinal lymphoma; albeit, the poop in the litter box may be diarrhea. Discomfort would be the main cause of a cat not wanting to use the litter box appropriately depending on the type (small cell vs large cell) and severity of disease.

Disadvantages of advanced age

Often overlooked or underdiagnosed in cats is joint pain that can come with aging. Untreated arthritic pain can discourage a cat from wanting to go to and enter the litter box. As some cats enter their senior years, they may be affected by Feline Cognitive Disorder, which is similar to dementia in humans or even Alzheimer’s.

Urinary incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder, can also be the culprit. In some cases, the incontinence is brought on by another medical issue like those mentioned above. Other possible causes of incontinence involve the neurological system or even a hormonal imbalance.

Potential causes based on gender

While many of the potential causes listed above can be ascribed to any cat, male or female, there are a few causes that are more prominently seen in one gender versus the other.

Male cats tend to be more prone to obstruction of the urinary tract called blockages due to the structure of their genitalia. It is a common misconception that male cats are more prone to UTIs.
Female cats are more prone to UTIs. Older female cats are the most prone to urinary tract infections.

Ruling out medical issues

If the concern is that a medical issue is the root cause of the question “Why is my cat peeing everywhere?”, consulting with a veterinarian and investigating the issue is the fastest way to help your cat feel better and get your house smelling better. Be sure to pay extra attention to your cat to look for other symptoms that something is amiss:

Lethargy
Vomiting
Decreased appetite

Some diagnostics that may be recommended include:

Baseline blood work
Urine testing like a urinalysis or urine culture
Radiographs
Ultrasound

long-haired tabby cat hiding behind pillow on couch

2. Behavioral issues

If a medical issue is not the cause of the cat peeing everywhere, but pooping in the litter box, another likely cause of this change could be behavioral issues. The most common behavioral issues seen in cats are due to changes in the household and general stress.

There are a whole host of changes in the home that can cause a cat to be stressed and lead to abnormal bathroom behaviors:

Moving to a new house
Having a new baby or pet in the home
Changing the type of litter or litter box location

The first step in troubleshooting this is focusing on what was happening in the home when the cat peeing outside of the litter box, but still pooping in it started.

Some cats may be peeing in abnormal places because they are anxious and need some help managing that anxiety. It may be worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to determine if your cat needs medications to address the issue.

Marking behavior

Marking behavior, or cat spraying, is prevalent in both male and female cats.

Intact male cats tend to mark the most. Neutering tends to decrease this behavior in most males, but some may continue to spray and need more assistance discouraging this behavior.
Some intact female cats spray or mark territory when they are in heat. Ensuring that female cats are spayed can help discourage or prevent this behavior.
Pregnant cats may spray or mark their territory with the intention of protecting their unborn kittens.

In very rare cases, some cats may experience urine leakage as a side effect after being spayed; this is called spay incontinence and not only is it extremely uncommon in cats, it is not well understood.

3. Litter box issues

For some cats, abnormal urination may be due to a change or inconvenience regarding their litter box.

It is important to ensure that you have the appropriate amount of litter boxes for the number of cats you have. The formula that is used to determine this is “n + 1”. This means that for every cat that you have you should have a litter box for that cat plus one—so if you have 2 cats, you should have 2+1, or 3 litter boxes. The exception is if you’re using an automatic litter box like Litter-Robot 4, which can accommodate up to 4 cats.

Not having the appropriate amount of litter boxes for the number of cats in the home can absolutely lead to one or more cats peeing in places that they should not.

Another set of factors to consider all have to do with the litter box. Consider these questions:

Have you recently moved the litter box?
Did you switch to a different litter?
Did your cat decide that they hate the smell of the litter?
Is the litter box being kept clean enough to encourage your cats to use it?

Some cats prefer clumping litter while others don’t. Most cats prefer unscented litter. All of these factors and more should be considered when trying to evaluate if the litter box is the cause of the inappropriate urination.

Whisker enzymatic cleaner spray cleaning litter box

Solutions checklist

So what should you do if your cat is peeing outside the litter box but pooping in it? Here is a checklist of solutions to try to get your feline family member back on track:

Rule out medical conditions with a trip to the veterinarian.
Keep the litter box spotless (especially with multiple cats) and clean at least once a day.
Use an unscented, clay-clumping litter.
Check that the litter clumps properly.
Ensure the litter box is accessible with a ramp or low sides (especially for older kitties).
Keep multiple litter boxes (Apply the rule “n+1” unless you have Litter-Robot).
Minimize stress: try cat pheromones to soothe stressed cats like Feliway.
Spay/neuter intact cats.
Allow some time to adapt to recent changes (litter box, litter, new house, etc.).

Cleaning tips

Equally as important as addressing the cause of the bathroom change is ensuring that soiled areas are appropriately cleaned to prevent repeated accidents.

Lay down potty pads near the litter box to prevent urine soiling on the floor beneath.
When cleaning up the urine, make sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the stain and remove the odor completely.
Be sure to avoid ammonia-based cleaners; not only can they be very irritating to you and your cat, but they can encourage your cat to urinate in that spot again.
When washing laundry with cat urine in it, be sure to wash them with high temperatures.

When in doubt, consult with your veterinarian if you are trying to figure out why your cat is peeing everywhere and you can’t solve it at home. Be empathetic with your cat because cats rarely use the bathroom in the wrong place out of spite. They are going through something and need help; so just be willing to keep trying things until the problem is resolved. Your cat will thank you for your understanding and care.

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