Why Is My Domestic Shorthair Urinating Outside The Litter Box And Yowlin... (Vet Answered)
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Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
I have two neutered male cats, aged 6 and 2. About six months ago, my 6-year-old suddenly started urinating on the sofa and yowling frequently, especially at night. He had never done either before. He has had blood tests and a urinalysis, and everything was normal. We have two clean litter boxes and food is always available. Could the nighttime yowling and inappropriate urination be related? What medical or behavioral causes should we investigate next?
Quick Info about Mike
Hi Yifat,
Thanks so much for writing in.
What you're describing sounds very much like feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is quite common in cats. It's not actually a specific disease, but a syndrome that can be caused by a number of issues, including:
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)
Bacterial cystitis (urine/bladder infection)
Urolithiasis (bladder stones caused by crystals in the urine)
The signs of FLUTD usually include some or all of the following signs:
Straining to urinate
Urinating small amounts, frequently
Blood in urine
Urinating outside the litter box
Pain/vocalizing before, during, or after urination
Decreased urine output or blockage
Excessive grooming of genitals
Because of the shape of their urethra, male cats are at a higher risk of urethral obstruction (aka blocked bladder), so signs of FLUTD with little or no urine should always be treated as an emergency.
It's always essential to rule out infection, stones, or crystals, but one of the most common causes of FLUTD is actually stress. The trouble is, a stressed cat doesn't necessarily look or seem stressed, but that's because they're extremely good at masking this, and also why it tends to emerge with physical symptoms like overgrooming or cystitis.
If his urinalysis has come back as normal, there are a few things you can try.
Cats that live together, even if they get along, can still have a certain level of friction, which can be a huge trigger for FLUTD. Additionally, any changes in the home or routine, other pets, noisy people, building work, or animals outside the house can also contribute.
It's great that there are two clean litter boxes, but I would actually recommend adding a third. If the litter boxes are enclosed, make sure you provide one that has an open top. Cats love to chase and play, and will sometimes ambush each other as they leave the litter box. This can lead to anxiety about using the box, making FLUTD worse, and sometimes results in toileting elsewhere. Provide an open-topped box in a quiet corner where he won't be disturbed, but can see his surroundings. Cats are at their most vulnerable when they are on the toilet, and while an enclosed box might seem like privacy to us, it can feel like hidden danger to a cat.
I would also recommend introducing some calming aids. Personally, I think a combination of pheromone diffusers plus oral supplements is more effective than just using a single approach.
One final aspect is hydration. Cats that eat a lot of dry kibble are more likely to develop urinary crystals and cystitis, so increasing the amount of wet food in their diet and encouraging them to drink more water by providing several bowls at different locations or even a water fountain is a great idea.
If things still aren't improving, you may want to talk to your vet about having some imaging (eg. ultrasound, x-rays) performed.
I hope this helps!
Dr Karyn