Expert: Jessica - 7/11/2009

Question
i have a 1 year old cat or i think younger she just became in heat this year and she has sprayed or peed everywhere on the couch....the bed.....our clothes...etc...The litter box is always clean nothing wrong with it and she just does it....even when she is not in heat....how can I stop her from doing that...PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

Answer
Hi Krystie.  I think you should definitely start with a vet visit to rule out a urinary tract infection, and while there, schedule an appointment to have her spayed.  I'm about 90% sure that her not being spayed is the problem, even though the behavior is also happening when she's not in heat.  Having had cats that weren't spayed, I know they can be just as bad as males with urine marking.  They can be worse during heat, but some just spray or pee everywhere all the time until they're spayed.

If she doesn't have a urinary tract infection, and she continues to urinate outside the box after she's spayed, you may want to experiment with her litter box a little.  There's a litter called Cat Attract that's formulated with a blend of herbs to encourage 100% litter box usage.  It's money back guaranteed.  You can locate a retailer at www.preciouscat.com  You could also add a second box that's of a different style (hooded if your box is open, or vice versa, or try an extra large box), or add another box in a different location.

If none of that works, she might be suffering some anxiety, another reason why cats may not use the litter box.  In this case, try to keep any changes, visitors in the home and disruptive noises to a minimum.  A good product to use to reduce anxiety is Feliway.  I use the plug-in diffuser in my home.  You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com  It's available online, at pet stores and through some veterinarians.  In the worst cases of anxiety, antidepressants can help.  There are a number of successful medications to choose from, and most cats only need to be treated for a matter of months.

Good luck!

Jessica