Litter box issues

Has your cat been peeing outside the litter box lately?

Cats that stop using the litter box may urinate or defecate on bedding, carpets, or clothing instead; or they may stand and spray urine on walls or vertical surfaces to mark territory — that's a different behavior from simply "peeing in the wrong place."

Possible medical causes

Urinary tract infections, kidney disease, thyroid problems, and diabetes can make urination more frequent and painful — once a cat associates pain with the litter box, it starts avoiding it
Digestive issues can make defecation painful, more frequent, and harder for the cat to control
Cognitive decline or reduced mobility in senior cats may mean they simply can't get to the litter box in time

Possible behavioral causes

Litter box aversion: a box that's too dirty, a sudden litter brand change, a noisy or hard-to-access location, being disturbed by other pets or family members, or a covered box trapping odor
Surface/location preference: after a period of aversion, a cat may "fixate" on preferring soft surfaces like bedding or carpet
Urine spraying: standing posture, a quivering tail, spraying on vertical surfaces — usually seen in unneutered/unspayed cats, or as a territorial response to a new cat or an outside cat

Cats don't have the cognitive ability for "revenge," and they don't find their own waste disgusting — so this is never done on purpose to spite you.

Warning signs — see a vet right away

Frequently going in and out of the litter box, straining for a long time with little or no urine coming out (urinary blockage in male cats is an emergency and can be life-threatening)
Crying out in obvious pain while urinating
Blood in the urine
Symptoms going from occasional to frequent within a short time

Initial at-home suggestions

Rule out medical issues first (take your cat for a urinalysis)
Confirm it's not spraying (spraying = standing, aimed at a vertical surface; regular inappropriate elimination = squatting on a horizontal surface)
Check the litter box: is it clean enough, is the litter type right, is the location quiet and easy to access
Number of litter boxes = number of cats + 1
Use an enzymatic cleaner on soiled areas — avoid products containing ammonia or vinegar
Temporarily block off the area, and place a food bowl or toys there to change what the space means to your cat

Want to track this over time? Try Trucelo

Multi-cat conflict management — log incidents to find the root cause.

Coming soon — app in the works

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center. For reference only — please consult a vet.