Help! My Cat is Always Rubbing! (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
"We have a 2-year-old, neutered male cat, Cosmo, that we adopted from a local shelter when he was about 12 weeks old. We have never had any issues with him using the litter box until recently, when I went on a 2-month vacation, and my husband took on the responsibilities of taking care of Cosmo. While I was gone, he started urinating on a small concrete pad in our laundry room instead of using the litter box. I was (and still am, I hope) Cosmos’s “human,” so we had a routine every day which included playing, cuddles, and brushing him each evening before bed. I also took care of the day-to-day things that are required when you have a cat. When I was away, although my husband was taking care of the litter box and food/water, Cosmo wouldn’t allow my husband to play with him or brush him.When I got home from my trip, I cleaned the concrete as best I could and put pee pads down. I’ve sprayed the area with an enzymatic spray, placed aluminum foil on the area, and sprayed vinegar on the area. And although he does urinate in the litter box now, he continues to urinate on the concrete. When using the pee pads, I checked to see if there was any sign of blood in his urine, but it looked normal. I am at my wits’ end with this. Any suggestions as to how we can stop this behavior?" - Jeannie
Quick Info about Cosmo
Hi Jeannie,
Thank you for sharing Cosmo’s story in such detail; it really helps to understand the situation. Cats are very sensitive to changes in their environment and routine, and what you describe sounds like a stress-related response that became a new habit while you were away. Even though his urine looks normal to the eye, it is still important to rule out medical causes such as a urinary tract infection or bladder inflammation, since these conditions can cause discomfort and lead cats to associate the litter box with pain, making them choose alternative spots. A veterinary visit to check his urine and overall health would be the first step.
If medical issues are ruled out, the focus shifts to behavior and environment. Since Cosmo clearly formed a strong bond with you, the disruption of his daily routine may have created stress and reinforced this new urination spot. Concrete is particularly tricky because it is porous, so urine soaks deep into it and lingers even after surface cleaning. The best way to address this is to saturate the area with an enzymatic cleaner designed for pet urine, letting it soak for several hours or overnight so the enzymes can reach deep into the pores. This may need to be repeated, and if odor persists, sealing the concrete with a pet-safe product is often the only way to truly block residual scent. Along with this, try blocking his access to the laundry room for a few weeks and reinforcing his bond with you through play, brushing, and routine. Synthetic Pheromone diffusers can also help reduce stress and encourage consistent litter box use. With time, consistency, and reassurance, most cats do return fully to their boxes once both health and environment are addressed.
Good luck!
Dr. Paola