Why Is My Cat Peeing on the Carpet? Causes and How to Stop It

If you’ve noticed your cat is peeing on the carpet or elsewhere in the house, it’s important to note that it’s not a cleanliness issue. Cats are naturally clean creatures and spend around half of their time grooming to make sure they’re as clean as can be! 

Instead, when they urinate somewhere undesired, this is usually a sign that something has changed in their daily routine, territory, and toilet facilities. 

Generally, cats urinate around 3-5 times a day. You may notice them squatting in their litter tray, followed by a bit of digging and burying. This is normal urination behavior and is different from cat spraying, which has a communication reasoning behind it.

In this article, we’ll explain the most common reasons why your cat is peeing on the carpet and how to help stop it.

Why is my Cat Peeing on the Carpet?

As well as peeing on carpets, urinating outside the litter tray may happen on any other item, such as your bed or sofa or hardwood floors. There are several causes for changes in cats’ toilet behavior, such as:

Underlying medical conditions

If your cat is peeing on the bed or carpet, it’s important to look at their health first. Some common medical issues that could be causing your cat to urinate more than usual or choose a different place to urinate include: 

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disease

• Urinary tract issues, such as bladder problems or kidney disease

• Arthritis 

If the litter tray is getting too soiled, they may be urinating outside the tray, or they may be finding it difficult to get to the tray before they pee. If you notice a change in your cat’s toilet habits, always get them checked by a vet, and if your cat is not peeing at all get them checked urgently.

Stress and anxious feelings

Disruptions to a cat’s routine can cause stress and make them feel insecure which can be a common reason why your cat is peeing on the bed or carpet. 

Introducing a new cat

If you have introduced a new cat to your home, or if there’s a new neighborhood cat, your resident cat may be feeling stressed or uncertain about how this new addition will affect their daily routine and their use of resources and territory. Therefore, they may be marking their territory by spraying or urinating outside their litter tray. 

Redecorating the home

Cats are sensitive to change and may become upset by the packing or moving of furniture, new furniture in general and different smells. Peeing on the carpet or in different areas of the house is their way of showing their discomfort. 

If you are planning any major changes around the home, make sure it’s gradual and you provide a safe area for your cat. 

Loud noises

Unexpected loud noises like fireworks can scare a cat and cause stress, so if you’re expecting loud noises, make sure they have a quiet place to retreat. 

Competition for resources

Cats don't like to share their resources, particularly their toilet facilities, so if you have a multi-cat household, make sure each cat has easy access to their own resources such as, their own food and water bowls, beds, and litter tray in a separate place so there’s no competition.

We also recommend making sure there is enough of these resources for each cat, plus one more to avoid any conflict.

Being left alone

Some cats will pee on the bed or carpet when their routine changes because of their pet parent being away. 

If you’re going away for an extended period of time, for example on a holiday, you’ll want to make sure that your cat is familiar with anyone visiting the home to make sure they are well looked after as well as making sure they are fed and that they have enough water. Your cat may become distressed if a stranger enters their territory, which can cause undesired behaviors, such as peeing outside the litter tray.

Territorial marking and cat spraying

A cat typically starts marking its territory when it reaches maturity. This is done by 'spraying' which is often confused with urination. 

Spraying is used to leave scent signals in the environment to let other cats know that this space is part of their territory. In some cases, visual cues such as scratch marks and scent marks from paws may also be present.

Cats can spray for a number of reasons, including territory marking, social communication, reproductive behavior, or stress. There are many effective steps you can take to stop cat spraying. 

Litter tray problems 

Litter tray problems are a common cause for cats peeing where they’re not supposed to. These problems are usually related to issues such as tray size, cleanliness, location or litter preferences. Some litter tray tips include: 

Tray size

You may have bought a litter tray for a kitten, but once your cat is fully grown, make sure it is still large enough. Cats like to have room to move around and 'dig' when they go to the toilet, so make sure their tray is at least 1.5 times the length of your cat.

Depth 

If your kitty likes to dig around when they use their litter tray and cover up after themselves, make sure your litter is deep enough. For most cats, 3-4cm is an ideal depth, but every cat is different so be sure to work to your kitty's preference.

Cleanliness and substrate

Cats don't like using a litter tray where the substrate has not been changed regularly, or they may simply not like the substrate you are using. Often, cats like the substrate they were using as a kitten, so it may be worth finding out what they used previously. 

If you decide to switch up the litter used, make sure to do so gradually so that your feline friend has a chance to get used to it. There are many cat litter options such as:

• Clumping substrates – Most cats prefer a non-scented substrate with a fine consistency, such as clay, as these are very similar to what your cat's ancestors would have chosen in their territories.
  
  

• Non-clumping substrates - Recycled newspaper, coconut husks, sawdust pellets can work well in your cat’s litter tray. Harder substances such as wood pellets or silica gel beads might be more uncomfortable for your cat to use, especially for older cats.

Location

Cats like their toileting to be private, so make sure their litter box is in a discreet place, away from high traffic areas and definitely away from noisy household items, like a washing machine.