How to Get Kitty to Stop Peeing in the Hallway!

Updated on December 26, 2009
H.M. asks from Mission Viejo, CA
12 answers

We have a 2 year old cat that was absolutely a dream for the first two years of life. That suddenly changed, possibly my fault. I had been using mostly corn type litters all his life, but one day bought Tidy Cat because it was convenient. It smelled very chemical compared to what he has used to, and sure enough for the first time ever, he peed outside his box. Thankfully it was in the bathtub, easy enough to clean. This went on for a week before I caught on. I changed back to the old litter, but he kept peeing in the tub. So I thought maybe the box should be replaced altogether since it was two years old. So I replaced it, but he kept peeing in the tub and added peeing on the bathroom floor. He's a huge cat, I thought maybe he was feeling too closed in with the cover on the box so I took it off. No change. Pretty soon the peeing made it's way just outside the bathroom door on the hallway carpet. And there it has continued for months!!! Every time it happens I soak up as much as humanly possible and then douse the area with an enzymatic cleaner (I've tried Nature's Miracle as well as other brands). They don't seem to work that well, and it certainly didn't stop him from going back over and over. Finally over time he seemed to be stopping, he was good for a couple weeks. So I got the carpets professionally cleaned to get the rest of the smell out. Didn't really work either, and within a week he had peed in the same spot again!

I'm at my wits end. I can find more ways to get the smell out, the real problem is getting him to stop peeing on the floor! Any suggestions?

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Well, I checked the cat for health issues, and while there were a few minor things to address, there was not UTI specifically, so who knows if any of it was related. Since several people mentioned vinegar for the smell, I used the homemade remedy from catsofaustralia.com. It did help a lot, but I think I may have used too much, either that or my carpet's cheap, or both, because it did bleach the carpet significantly. It's old carpet so I don't care much, but still, beware if you're going to follow their process. I coved the area with bubble wrap for a while. It worked for a little while, but eventually he just peed half on the bubblewrap and half off. I've been off and on sprinkling the area with baking soda, leaving it for a little bit, and vaccuming it up, and the unpredictability of that seems to deter him most of the time, although a couple times he has peed just past the area. I haven't moved the box to the spot because he has shown time and again that he has no problem peeing just outside the box or anywhere in it's vicinity, so I don't think that would help. I also haven't put his food dish there because the spot/area is just outside the doorway of the bathroom where the box it, literall a foot away, so I'm afraid it would deter him from using the box as well. So all in all, the smell is better in the carpet, and while it's not happening as often, I'm still working at breaking his habit. I still might try putting down the puppy pads, or maybe just sprinkling a few pieces of food randomly in that area, or some of the other suggestions you had. Guess it's just going to be a continuing process! Thanks again for all your suggestions and help!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hello H.. I have a similar problem, my cat pees on everything though, especially clothes and the couch, including the cushions. The only thing that works for me is vinegar, regarding the smell. I'm at my wits end with her and don't know how to get her to stop peeing, and unfortunately, she's probably going to have to go. I simply can't keep up with the laundry, and it poses a problem with a toddler :( Best of luck to you, and try spot treating with the vinegar.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I know all too well about cats, i grew up with them, my mom bred and showed Persians. I also worked in a cat only veterinary hospital. Sorry to break it to you, but once this behavior starts, you cant undo it. Sure there could be a bladder issue, they will pee randomly but there is usually blood in the urine, and in the tub you would totally be able to see the pink tinge. Urine crystals are not always a sign of a UTI. Urnie in a tub that is totally dried can be a bit "crystal" like, with no UTI. But once there is pee in flooring, they will be drawn to it. You are right, it probably was the change in liter. They are so finicky and sometimes it can be the littlest thing that throws them. As you have learned even going back to the old liter doesnt stop it. I had an exclusively indoor (Persian) cat and he began this, my only resort was to make him an outdoor cat. As reluctant as I was, it had to be done...i was that fed up. Unfortunately you dont have many options, get rid of him, put him outside or put him down. Sorry, not what you want to hear.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Definitely take him to the vet to be checked out. Often cats will pee inappropriately if there is an underlying medical condition.

In the meantime, put a litter box in the hallway. Incrementally, each day, move it down the hall, towards his original box until they meet. Conversely, if the new box solves the problem, you could consider leaving it there. You could also add additional boxes in a couple locations. Maybe even have a 'pretty box cover' made for it, if it is out in the open, in the hallway.

For the smell, try sprinkling baking soda on it, as a quick fix, when you can and leave for a few hours. Vacuum up later. That should help as it absorbs odors.

Here is a good website you could try. It has a homemade solution for removing cat urine.
http://www.catsofaustralia.com/urinestainremoval.htm

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

If he's always going in the same place, I'd put the litter box there so he gets it that he's supposed to go in the box. If he hasn't had a check up in a while, I'd go for that, too, in case he has a urinary track infection (more common in male cats). You could also put something in the hallway, like bubble wrap, because they hate to walk on that! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Grand Forks on

I have a cat who did the same thing!!!! he would poo in the litterbox but not pee and i couldnt figure out why!! I ended up ripping out some carpet and redoing the hardwoods underneath. I also took the cover off the litterbox, which made him go in there much better. (he is also a large cat) My cat has also peed and pooed in the bathtub! What a nice surprise in the morning huh!? I dont know how to get the smell out but to get rid of the carpet. Cat urine is sooo strong and never goes away! I dont use cat litter so I dont know which kinds is better. I have a catgenie (electric cat toilet) so i never have to clean it.

I also have had a prevous cat pee in random places, but he was showing me his urethra was plugged, I brought him to the vet, but it was too late. he had to be put down. My current cat started showing the same signs so i knew what to do right away. I switched him to canned food (more water, less clogging) and after a week or so he got better and stopped peeing everywhere.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

You've probably got tons of suggestions already but I would get him to the vet and have them check his urine for crystals. I had a cat that did that every couple years and he would pee on things to how me that there was something wrong with him. Urinary tract infections are big in male cats fixed or not. They will put him on medication and a special food. Also I would suggest filtered water and not just tap. Just go get the generic gallon size jugs and dedicate those for him. Good luck and get him to the vet soon because if this is the problem and you don't catch it, it will create a blockage and a very expensive surgery!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

We had a similar problem with our cat. First we got another litter box so she had more places to go. Then we had her tested for UTI - which she didn't have. So we put her on anti-anxiety medicine and that helped stop the problem.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.T.

answers from Las Vegas on

Sometimes it can be as simple as a UTI. I would suggest taking him to the vet and if you can collect an urine sample that would be ideal for them to analyze. Good luck and realize if your cat didn't do it in the past then he probably has something medically wrong. My mom's female cat started defecating on their bed and it was just a UTI. After meds the cat is back to normal.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Could he have a UTI? I'd call the vet, it's normal for cats to do this... good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have liner in a plastic contaner and cean out stuff out ever night ther is a spray that remove the smell if pee so she dont smell it in the tup good luck A. have a 13 yr old cat ad no hills

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had a cat with an attitude problem, I loved her to death but man she was really hard to love sometimes with her peeing and pooping. She would pee & poop on my bed... everyday I had to cover my bed with painters tarp and if I forgot...ohhh how i paid the cleaners loved it. She would pee on the side of the litter box on rugs everywhere but where she was suppose to.. Someone told me about puppy pads. they are training pads for puppies that have some kind of smell that draws them to it. Well apparently it worked for cats too. She was almost fixed overnight. There is an occasional target issue but for the most part.. she only peed on those. They are expensive at the major pet stores but I found them at Walmart.. for 8 bucks for 32. If you are willing to try anything before putting her out and killing her try puppy training pads..
Also I figured out that alot of her issue was because my lack of attention and when that changed her attitude changed as well.
Good luck.. I know how fustrating it can be.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

one other thought i've heard people do is that they put the cats food there since they won't pee where they eat. now i would make sure the smell is gone, at least to your nose, cause it doesn't seem very nice to me! but if it's just that one spot maybe it would help.
also moving the litter box to that general area so it's not too far from where he is used to going...
good luck! i totally understand the frustration of a difficult cat...we have had plenty of issues with ours!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions