Hi everyone! You're my last hope so I'm really hoping you can help me! Here's the story.
I've had my cat, Louboutin, for nearly two years now and here's my problem: she gets into her litter tray but stays right on the edge with her bum facing the opening, so she ends up peeing outside. It's hard to "explain" it to her because she technically IS in her tray, just not quite all the way?
I've already tried quite a few things:
- I swapped the tray for a larger one
- I took off the flap
- I've cleaned the tray with bleach
- keeping the litter completely spotless
And nothing seems to work... what's really odd is that I didn't have any issues for over a month and now it's started up again! I'm having to clean up every single day!
I'm open to any and all suggestions because I'm honestly at my wits' end!
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Hi! I had the same problem and I was wrecking my brain for at least a month trying to figure it out… I took my girl to the vet, and it turns out she had a UTI. Apparently, she’d associated the litter tray with the pain of peeing, which is why she wouldn't go in. So, first of all, we treated the infection.
After that, I raised the litter tray up because she’s a bit of a lazy bones, and it forces her to actually get inside to do her business. It’s been sorted since then! Hope this helps, have a good day.
Just like you, I went online to find a solution, which is how I came across your post. I found this sheet of Perspex at a DIY shop about six days ago; I thought I’d have to cut it down to size, but it turned out to be just what I needed. Thanks for getting back to me.
I sent you a message, but I’m not sure if you got it, so I’ll post it again here. My cat does the exact same thing; like you, I tried taking the lid off, but it was a disaster—she pees standing up and sprays the furniture behind her litter tray. I’ve put up a sheet of Perspex (about 20 inches high and 3 feet wide, 1mm thick) and everything’s been fine since. I’ll try to attach a photo, which will be better than a long explanation.
Hi everyone! I had pretty much the same issue as @Mililou: a cat that’s not exactly the brightest. All four paws go in, and away they go, even if their bum is still sticking out!
I swapped the litter tray for a top-entry one, and it’s been a total game-changer! I was lucky that my two cats took to it really quickly, but I honestly can’t recommend it enough. I won’t mention any specific brands, but if you search for "top-entry litter tray" you’ll find them, and they’re honestly brilliant.
The footprint is pretty much the same as a standard hooded litter box, but the high sides mean that if your cat wants to pee standing up or scratch around as much as they like, they won’t end up making a mess of your flat.
Evening, my cat does exactly the same thing. I have two hooded litter trays but he starts off peeing while sitting down and then ends up peeing upwards against the inside walls (sometimes it even drips on him and the other cats who use them). What should I do, please?
Evening @élodiee, I totally get it, I’ve got the exact same problem. I’ve tried everything and nothing has worked for a year now. I honestly think my kitty just isn’t very bright! lol... I put puppy pads around the litter trays which I change every day. It’s exhausting, but I still love my little clumsy girl regardless! lol... Best of luck, and please let me know if you ever find a solution! 👍
Evening @élodiee, I totally get it, I’ve got the exact same problem. I’ve tried everything and nothing has worked for a year now. I honestly think my kitty just isn’t very bright! lol... I put puppy pads around the litter trays which I change every day. It’s exhausting, but I still love my little clumsy girl regardless! lol... Best of luck, and please let me know if you ever find a solution! 👍
First things first, speak to a vet and, if necessary, take her in for a check-up as she might have urinary issues.
Secondly, I had a similar situation with one of my cats. It was slightly different because he’d do his "big jobs" in the tray but pee outside of it.
He would even stand outside the litter tray, hook the poo out of the litter and drop it on the floor.
After thinking it over and trying a load of different things (I switched litter brands several times to try them all), I noticed a few things:
As soon as the tray smells too much of pee (bear in mind I’ve got two cats sharing the same tray), "His Royal Highness" refuses to go in. It makes sense, cats are very clean animals!!
I also tried crystal litter for a while; it's very practical but costs a fortune!! I don't think he liked the feeling of the crystals on his little paws. He isn't a fan of clumping litter either, which is very fine (usually like sand), so in the end, I just went for basic litter (the cheap supermarket stuff actually...) and he’s been happy ever since.
Obviously, I scoop the poo out every day and do a full change of the litter every 2 to 3 days.
I also took the flap off the front because it scared them. I think I’ll probably take the lid off completely soon too; I get the impression it’s starting to bother them now they’re getting bigger.
I never clean with bleach because it drives one of my cats absolutely mad (apparently cats love the smell of bleach, so avoid cleaning the tray or anywhere else with it as it can actually encourage them to go there).
I just clean it with soap and water, and occasionally use a bit of disinfectant like Sanytol.
When they were younger, they didn't really care about what litter they had. Now I’ve noticed they're getting very picky about the texture; it might be the same with your girl... they get so fussy as they get older!!! :D
I’d recommend seeing a vet as soon as possible. I went through the same thing with my cat, Issis. She wasn’t herself; she was sleeping all the time and was barely urinating, and when she did, it was outside her litter tray. After some tests, we found the cause—she had a urinary tract infection and was actually completely blocked (which is very rare for a female). She stayed at the vet's for five days where she had a catheter put in and was on a drip... It’s been a month since she’s been back home now; she only eats the dry food my vet recommended (Royal Canin Urinary) and she’s doing really well. I hope you find out what’s wrong with your cat soon, and please keep us posted.
Hi Élodie,
Take the lid off. Cats don’t feel safe with that kind of litter tray, especially when it’s tucked away in your toilet. In the wild, when a cat does its business, it stays on its guard and needs to see what’s happening around it. The same goes for indoor cats. A hooded tray in an enclosed room is just too much for him.
Next, if nothing has changed in your cat’s environment—if the tray is cleaned regularly, you're using the same brand of litter, and the atmosphere at home is the same—then it’s a good idea to take him to the vet.
A urinary tract infection could be the cause. Some cats with cystitis, kidney stones, etc., often associate the litter tray with pain. Some will even go as far as urinating in other spots to find relief. Yours is still trying to get near the tray but is doing his business just outside of it.
Most importantly, do not clean the floor area with bleach!
However, try removing that lid first and that should give you a starting point.
Have a good day.
