Sometimes you can have a cat for years that always uses the litter box, but then suddenly one day they decide to urinate on your bed or in the laundry basket. Figuring out the exact reason that your cat has decided to stop using the litter box is the quickest way to help them to use it again.
Remember litter box problems are one of the most common behavior problems that cats have so many pet owners have experienced this problem before you have, so there are a lot of resources out there to help you.
One of the first things you should do if you catch your cat urinating outside of the litter pan is to have a physical examination done by your veterinarian. This helps to rule out potential causes like urinary tract infections or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
While a medical cause might be the reason for your cat’s new behavior, one of the main reasons is stress. Cats are much more susceptible to stress that we might think because it’s hard to tell if a cat is feeling stressed out or not.
Refusing to use the litter box is a very common sign that your cat might be stressed out either by a new pet in the house, a new baby, or a change in the household routine.
Even something as minor as changing the type of litter pan, or the location of the litter pan to a noisy area can cause them to urinate elsewhere.