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House Soiling

Elimination outside the litter box, one of the most common feline behavioral complaints and a leading reason for shelter surrender. Divided into two categories: inappropriate elimination (toileting) and marking (spraying/middening).

Key Facts

  • Leading reason cats are surrendered to shelters or euthanized
  • Must rule out medical causes first: feline-idiopathic-cystitis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes-mellitus, chronic-kidney-disease, osteoarthritis
  • Toileting: typically on horizontal surfaces, squatting, large volumes
  • Marking: typically on vertical surfaces, standing, small amounts of urine
  • Middening: fecal marking — less common than urine marking
  • Litter box cleanliness is the #1 behavioral cause
  • Box should be scooped daily, litter changed every 1-2 weeks
  • Most cats prefer unscented, clumping litter
  • Box size matters more than covered vs. uncovered — most commercial boxes are too small
  • Rule of thumb: one litter box per cat plus one extra
  • Marking often indicates social tension between household cats
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac) and clomipramine (Clomicalm) can help with marking
  • Clean soiled areas with enzyme-based cleaners
  • osteoarthritis can cause house soiling due to pain entering high-sided boxes

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