by Dr. Yvonne Wikander
You wake up and shuffle into the bathroom, stepping on a urine soaked bath mat. Grumbling to yourself, you start sifting through the freshly folded clothing in the laundry basket for something to wear to work only to find it is soaked with urine also. Irritated you go to work. That evening you come home through the attached garage, open the door into the house and find a puddle of urine right inside the door. "That cat hates me!" you tell your housemate. "She doesn't hate you. She's just mad at you for taking that business trip last week" your housemate responds.
Neither of you are right. Cats just don't think like humans. They don't seek revenge and they don't urinate out of anger. Cats are extremely emotional creatures. They respond to physical and emotional stressors. Negative responses are frequently driven by anxiety, stress and fear.
So why do cats urinate in the house? It's simple and straightforward. The following are the most common causes for ‘inappropriate urination':
Physical conditions. This is most commonly related to urinary tract infections but can also include bladder stones, tumors and nerve damage issues... to name a few.
Behavioral conditions. These ALL relate to anxiety. Territorial anxiety, change of normal schedule anxiety, change of venue anxiety, on and on it goes. You name any change and a cat can have an anxiety attack over it.
How do you know which of the above it is and what do you do about it? First and foremost, see your veterinarian to rule out any physical condition. If none are found, your veterinarian can discuss behavioral issues and how to address them. Some can be addressed with simple changes at home. Others may need anti-anxiety medications. Either way you do not have to live with this inconvenient and messy "habit." Let us help you help your cat return to normal litter box use!
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