Adult cats having issues with using the litter box is oftentimes regarded as the top excuse why they are left at shelters and rescue sites, or otherwise abandoned. There are various causes as to why cats oblige in this behavior of avoidance. The cat perhaps could have reservations with the location of the litter box, the litter type, or with the box design itself. But it may also be a sign of a deeper health problem. While a number of cat owners may think that outside the box urination is a sign of an infection in the urinary tract (UTI), this may not actually be the case, because UTIs are commonly not diagnosed in cats below 8 years old. In most cases, young cats that pee outside of the litter box might be afflicted with a health issue called feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD. A cat owner could assume that it is UTI as the two conditions have similar symptoms, which are: blood in urine, urination frequency increase, and pain. However, with FLUTD, there are no bacteria present in the cat’s urine, therefore infection is absent.
If your cat suddenly changes her litter box habits, you should call your veterinarians Portland OR for an appointment as soon as possible.