Inappropriate Urination in Cats
 
A cat's failure to urinate appropriately in the litter box may have several causes:

-- A dirty litter box may cause a cat to avoid the box.
Just as no-one likes to use a filthy bathroom in a gas station, so cats don't like to use "dirty bathrooms".

--  A negative experience associated with the litter box could also deter it's use.
Do not scold or startle a cat in the vicinity of its litter box. Try not to put the box next to a washer, dryer, or furnace where noises could startle or scare your kitty. If you do have to move its box for any reason, be sure to move it very gradually.

Inappropriate urination can also be a form of territorial marking. Urine marking outside the box, accomplished either in a crouching or standing position, occurs in sexually intact male or female cats. Neutering may help to control this, although if it is allowed to continue for too long before the surgery, the procedure may not be successful in controlling the behavior.

It is important to remember that the longer inappropriate urination is allowed to continue, the more enduring the pattern may become and the more difficult it may be to resolve. Urine contains odors that identify the individual and it marks a cat's territory.  The location of food, water, and saver places to rest are linked to a sense of security. If  they are disturbed or a sensitive cat is distressed for any reason, it may reaffirm its territorial claim and relieve anxiety by urine marking.  Stress and anxiety are leading causes of elimination problems. Medical problems, such as infection of the urinary tract, kidney stones, or diabetes may cause inappropriate urination.  These problems should be ruled out if inappropriate elimination occurs.

Things to try to correct the problem include:
-- Use one litter box per cat.  Choose a variety of quiet locations within your home to see which attracts the most use.
--  Make sure the litter box is kept clean
--  Place food dishes where inappropriate elimination occurs.  Cats do not like to void where they eat.      
--  Cats are very tactile creatures.  If something is strange to their feet, they may stop going there.  Even changing brand of litter may cause inappropriate urination to occur. Covering the area with aluminum foil or putting a few strips of velcro in the area may help. Moth balls in the area or spraying the area with deodorant may also help.
-- If you catch your kitty in the act, squirting him/her with a squirt gun or water spray may provide a deterrant.

It does take patience, time, and some effort to alleviate inappropriate urination problems.