Previously, my cat had developed a habit of peeing over the edge of its litter box.
For some time, I kept wondering what could be the problem with the cat.
Later I found out the cause of the problem, and I was able to find solutions.
Here are the possible reasons why your cat is peeing over the edge of the litter box:
1. The litter box is very small.
2. The cat does not like the litter box.
3. The litter box is dirty.
4. Your cat is spraying or urine marking.
5. Your cat has developed arthritis.
6. Your cat has developed a urinary condition.
7. Metabolic disease is present in your cat.
8. Your cat has developed paw pad injuries.
Here I will explain further why your cat is peeing over the edge of the litter box and how to fix the issue…
Related Post: Check out my article – 6 Best High Sided Litter Box
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Cat Peeing Over Edge Of Litter Box – Why Is This Happening?
1) The litter box is very small or not the correct size for your car
A small litter box can be a significant issue if your cat breed is large, and it is evident that it will not pee on the right designated place but over the edge of the litter box.
Your cat will pee on the sides of the litter box since it cannot fit inside the box.
So for bigger cats get a large size litter box like these ones…
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Is The Litter Box The Right Size For Your Cat?
The litter box may also be the wrong size for your cat.
Many new cat owners make the mistake of purchasing a smaller sized litter box for a new kitten, but then they forget to upgrade to a bigger size when the cats grows into an adult cat.
If your cat is peeing over the edge of the litter box it could be that he doesn’t have enough space.
You should make sure that there is enough space for your cat to dig and turn around in.
A good tip is not to fill the box too high with litter.
This way you can encourage your cat to center himself better in the box, using the sides as a guide, and therefore avoid peeing too near to the edge of the box.
The other thing to consider when purchasing your litter box is to check that it is not too deep as your cat may be having difficulty in climbing in and out of it, especially if you have an older cat (they can start to suffer from arthritis)
If you are finding pee at the edges or outside of the litter box then your cat might not be actually getting into the litter box, and instead could be standing on the outside, aiming in, but unfortunately missing.
In this case you may prefer to opt for a more shallow litter box.
Here’s the best shallow litter boxes for older cats…
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Does Your LitterBox Have Sides?
It may simply be because you’re using a litter box that is basically a tray with no sides on it.
The cat won’t realise they aren’t supposed to spray over the side and there’s nothing to stop them doing it either considering there’s no sides in place.
Pick a litter box that has high sides or is enclosed.
Here’s a popular enclosed cat litter box…
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Here’s a popular high sided cat litter box…
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he pees over the side by clicking the link below
Best Litter Box for Cat that pees over the side
Or here’s another similar article that will help you
2) The cat does not like the litter used.
Cat litters are of different types: wooden pallets, recycled paper, clumping litter, and silica crystals. The different scents could deter your cat from different cat litters.
There is always a litter box your cat is comfortable using, and you should find the best type of litter that is your cat’s favourite.
Cats have preferences, and your cat may be turning his nose up at the type of litter you have chosen for him or the box itself.
Cat litter comes in a variety of options, and what one cat may find acceptable another may find is uncomfortable under the paw.
If your cat is peeing over the edge of the litter box it may be that he is objecting to the type of litter you are using, because he doesn’t like the way it feels or smells.
If you have switched your cat litter recently, or if you have a new cat and you aren’t using what he is used to, then your solution could be to switch back to the litter your cat prefers.
Try another brand or material, or if you currently use harder litter then try softer lifter.
Here’s some of the most popular options available…
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3) The litter box is dirty.
Cats are clean and utilize most of their time self-glooming. Thus, your cat will have difficulty accessing a clean area for them to pee. Soiled urine can make the litter box dirty.
Nevertheless, they can also refuse to pee in the litter box.
Cats can be very particular about their toilet habits, and an unclean litter box may well be considered simply unacceptable.
Cats’ sense of smell is highly sensitive, and what may seem clean to you isn’t necessarily sanitary in your cat’s opinion.
If you are not keeping on top of scooping out lumps daily or changing the litter regularly, your cat might be on litter box strike, and end up either peeing outside of the litter box on the floor, or over the edge of the box.
This can make cleaning the litter box more difficult, messy and unpleasant.
The simple solution here is to clean your cat’s litter tray thoroughly and replace the litter more regularly.
If there is plenty of clean litter in the box then your cat is less likely to go out of his way to avoid standing near old faeces, which could result in them peeing over the edge of the litter box.
If you’re out all day and can’t clean the box immediately after use then a robotic litter box may be the solution.
Consider A Robotic Litter Box
Cats will not use a dirty litter box, they just refuse to. So if cleaning it regularly isn’t an option because of work or not being at home all day consider a robotic litter box.
With these self cleaning litter boxes your cats box will always be clean and therefore it will increase the chance that they use it, see how these work here…
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Clean The Dirty Litter Box With The Correct Products
Cats have a strong sense of smell and they do not like lemon or different fragrances such as lavender and thyme.
So it may be that your disinfectant, cleaning product, or bleach used to clean the tray and putting them off going near it.
Clean your cats Litter Box with Unscented Enzyme Cleaners, like this popular option instead…
The All Natural Enzymatic Cleaner
4) Your cat is spraying or urine marking.
The urine you find outside the litter box possibly means that your cat is spraying.
Your cat will relieve itself on vertical services in the compound, thus urine marking to communicate.
There is no issue with the litter box in this case rather than a communication problem.
Cats will mark their territory and communicate with others through urine marking.
If it’s not just a problem related to peeing outside the litter box but in other places too consider whether your cat needs to be trained or re-trained in where it’s acceptable to pee and spray.
One quick way to solve this problem is with the downloadable Cat Spray Stop eBook which you can learn more about by clicking the button below…
5) Your cat has developed arthritis.
Older felines primarily develop this condition where the cat’s joints become inflamed and swollen. It will lead your cat to experience difficulty and pain when making movements.
The pain will make your cat pee outside the litter box. Commonly arthritis is linked to age, and young felines also develop arthritis.
Various litter boxes have raised entry points, and your cat has to climb on the box to pee. Your cat risks bumping the affected joints leading to a lot of pain.
6) Your cat has developed a urinary condition.
Bladder stones, cystitis, and urinary tract infections are some of the urinary issues your cat could have developed. These diseases make your cat urinate frequently.
It means that frequent urination prevents the cat from reaching for its litter box, or the litter box can get dirty, and your cat can decline to use it.
Therefore the cat ends up peeing outside the litter box.
Take your cat to the vet immediately and get it the medical attention it needs because these illnesses can kill your cat.
To keep on track of your cats health consider a littery which tracks it’s health and detects UTI infections such as this one…
Alpha Paw – Color Changing Genius Litter
It’s a natural cat litter that monitors your cats health by containing an indicator that changes colour when abnormalities in your cats urine are detected.
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7) Metabolic disease is present in your cat.
Hyperthyroidism and diabetes increase urine production, indicating that your cat must urinate frequently.
Having this condition, your cat will mostly pee outside the cat litter.
Take your cat to the vet immediately to get this checked.
8) Your cat has developed paw pad injuries.
Paw pad injuries that your cat can develop include bite wounds, burns, and overgrown claws.
When your cat has an injury or an open wound, their litter box can be abrasive or harsh to them.
Therefore the cat will try to find an alternative place to pee.
Look for a softer cat litter for them to use, like these best selling options…
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9) Marking Territory
The other potential reason for your cat peeing over the edge of his litter box is that he is over-indulgently marking his territory.
This may be because of other cats, animals or guests in the house, anxiety due to changes in the environment, or other stresses.
You may be able to solve this by offering your cats with more litter boxes in various areas of the house, to expand potential territories.
10) Your Cat Is Stressed
If your cat is stressed due to any number of reasons (e.g. moving home, move of the litter box, encounters with other animals or humans or any other number of issues) then they will pee everywhere and anywhere.
You can work to calm them back down and relax them using Cat Diffusers that help a cat unwind, this may stop them peeing all over the edges of the litter box…
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How to Stop Your Cat Peeing Over The Edge Of The LitterBox
Take your cat to the vet
Your cat needs a quick check-up by the vet as soon as it develops a health condition. Also, explain the current changes in the cat’s behavior to the vet.
If they have an UTI or other health issue this requires immediate detection.
Remember you can detect these issues immediately in future with the following litter…
Alpha Paw – Color Changing Genius Litter
It’s a natural cat litter that monitors your cats health by containing an indicator that changes colour when abnormalities in your cats urine are detected.
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Fix litter box changes
If you have to change the litter box for your cat, try to get one similar to the previous one, both in size and shape.
Also, if the cat refuses to use the new litter, try replacing it with the old one.
Get your cat a litter box with a bigger interior area
It should be bigger enough for your cat to freely and comfortably move inside when in need of peeing.
Ensure that the litter box is always super clean
You need to clean the litter box more frequently and ensure that there is no foul smell originating from it.
Provide personal litter boxes to your pets if you have more than one
If you have two or more cats that have to share the same litter box, they will try to do urine marking to communicate to the other that’s is their territory, and they should relocate to somewhere else.
A Reminder Of 10 Reasons Why Your Cat Might Pee Over The Side Of The Litter Box
1. The litter box is very small.
2. The cat does not like the litter box.
3. The litter box is dirty.
4. Your cat is spraying or urine marking.
5. Your cat has developed arthritis.
6. Your cat has developed a urinary condition.
7. Metabolic disease is present in your cat.
8. Your cat has developed paw pad injuries.
9. Marking Territory
10. Your Cat Is Stressed
How To Stop Your Cat From Peeing Over The Edge Of The Litter Box
1. Take your cat to the vet
2. Fix litter box changes
3. Get your cat a litter box with a bigger interior area
4. Ensure that the litter box is always super clean
5. Provide personal litter boxes to your pets if you have more than one
Another Permanent Solution To Stop Your Cat Peeing Over The Side Of The Litter Box (Or Anywhere Else)
If you feel you’ve tried everything and / or your cat is peeing not just over edge of litter box but other places too then consider training / re-training them on where they can and cannot spray.
One quick way to solve this problem is with the downloadable Cat Spray Stop eBook which you can learn more about by clicking the button below…
This is something I bought, as you can see from the order form here and I’ve found it surprisingly useful as the techniques it teaches inside really do work…
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I have a 4+year old rag doll cat, given to me, he has settled in very well, and the only cat even gets on with our mature Labrador. I suspect in his previous life he was an outdoor cat as he knows garden grass, won’t look at cat grass. He has a cat run, but it’s on decking not dirt/grass. He does his solids in the tray, happily, but peeing is a different story. He seems to prefer the outside of cardboard boxes, but also does in the stairwell and in other places, not necessarily in quiet secluded spots but also in the middle of the house, usually on a wall or large cardboard box. I also have a large garden pot of garden grass in the cat run, but not seen evidence of use, apart from him chewing on it.