What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing Outside Litter Box?

Cats are lovely, but their pee is far less pleasant, especially when you find it outside a litterbox. Inappropriate urination is a nightmare for all kitty owners across the globe. As a result, humans have been on the hunt for items that prevent cats from urinating in unwanted places throughout our history, keeping cats as pets.

Cat urine can ruin a good rug, but it doesn’t have to ruin relationships with our feline friends. Once you understand why your pet is urinating inappropriately and get some deterrents on hand, you can retire your pet stain cleaners, and here’s how.

Reasons Why Cats Urinate Away from the Litter Box

To solve a problem, you must first determine where it started. For pet owners, this means the solution to your pet’s peeing problem is partly solved by discovering their motive for peeing outside of the litter box. Once you check these possibilities off the list, you can move on to methods that discourage cats from inappropriate urination with greater success.

Territory Marking

CatsCats can be very territorial animals, and they mark their territory with a personal scent that can be found in their urine. The act of territory marking in pets is called spraying since they will stand with their back end facing the item they intend to mark while spraying the object with urine. You can identify spraying behavior by a stiff, sometimes vibrating vertical tail and trending back paws. ^[1]

This form of territory marking makes it possible for pet urine to cover vertical and horizontal surfaces with an individual’s scent. Cats may continue peeing in these areas to keep their scent fresh, and a pet deterrent may not be strong enough to fight this natural urge. This behavior is most common in unneutered male cats, but territorial cat peeing can be seen in any individual. ^[1] If you believe your cat pee problem is due to territory marking, especially in an unneutered male, it is best to seek veterinary guidance. 

Health Issues

Your pet peeing in odd places may be a cry for help. When cats become sick, especially if they are having complications with their urinary tract, it can become more difficult for them to make it to the litterbox on time. If an underlying medical condition is causing your pet pee problem, then no deterrents will solve this issue. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Urinary infections, or even arthritis, can stop pets from using their litterbox normally and decrease their quality of life. 

Veterinary advice is the best way to resolve medical issues, and they may even require a sample of cat pee to determine the best course of care. Once your pet’s medical condition is treated, and they are up to date on their vaccines, it may be much easier to resolve their pee problem.

RELATED: Cat Peeing On Bed

Insufficient Litter Boxes

Cats are very particular creatures when it comes to where they do their business. The litter box is intended to be a safe space for your pet to relieve themselves, so if they don’t feel safe or comfortable with their litterbox location, they may choose to go elsewhere. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Cats prefer a clean litterbox in a quiet area. If their litter box is too soiled, they may refuse to set foot in it. If your pet prefers urinating in a certain area, try putting a litter box there. Always ensure your cat can easily enter and exit their litter box; otherwise, they may find it easier to urinate elsewhere. ^{[2] [3]}

Cats hate being crowded or unsafe when trying to use the bathroom. If you have more than one pet, you will have to identify the culprit behind any inappropriate urination, but you will also have to provide ample litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is to have as many litter boxes as cats and then add one more litter box for safe measure. ^[1]

READ MORE: Where to Put Cat Litter Box?

Stress

Some pets spray due to stress, and changes in routine or their environment may cause them to feel the need to surround themselves with a familiar scent. Take note of any significant changes before your cat starts having accidents. If you can remove those stressors and notice the accidents stop, you have found your trigger.^{[2] [3]}

It isn’t always possible to undo stressful changes, like new pets or a move. In these cases, you can help your pet relax by adding a scent. Feliway is a feline pheromone that helps cats feel safe. ^[2] This cool smell may give your feline friend the comfort they need without making your house smell odd.

Behavioral Problems

Since cats are creatures of habit, urination in inappropriate places can become a behavioral problem. The more times your pet is able to pee or spray in a location, the more likely they are to form a habit of peeing in that same spot. That is a good start if you can permanently remove the urine smell from an area. ^[1] Baking soda or an enzymatic cleaner is best, especially on fabrics.  

If your pet pees in this location despite their smell not being recognizable, you can either embrace a cat deterrent or try to reframe their behavior. Deterrents will be covered soon, and reframing requires finding what your pet finds attractive about urinating in that location and applying it to their litter box. If your cat likes to pee on the carpet, add a shred of fabric to their litter box, the same can go for tile. ^[1] It may take some trial and error, but when done correctly you may be able to redirect their bad habits. 

READ MORE: How Often do Cats Pee? 

What smells deter cats from peeing?

Most animals have a strong smell that they avoid, and pets are no exception. Cats hate any harsh smell. This generally includes coffee grounds, citrus fruits, and some essential oils. ^[4] The strong scent of peppermint essential oil or homemade citrus spray may be enough to deter cats in most cases.

Suppose your cat is particularly fond of urinating in a specific area. In that case, you may need to experiment and mix one essential oil with another before you find which essential oils deter pets best. These oils are very concentrated, so they are best used when mixed with some water in a spray bottle and are intended to deter cats, not spraying on pets. Such deterrents are not backed by much veterinary research, so it is crucial to be aware of any potentially toxic items.

Are any smells potentially harmful or toxic to cats?

Deterring cats from peeing can be accomplished with a pungent odor, but not all pungent smelling items are safe. Essential oils deter pets from peeing, but they can also harm cats. ^[5] Lemon verbena is one such oil that can make your cat sick if consumed. Even if they attempt to avoid the oil because of its scent, they may get some on themselves and groom it off later, so it is a spray that is not worth the risk.

 Many people also know that a majority of animals hate spice. This information may make it seem reasonable to use cayenne pepper as a pet pee deterrent, but that is not a good idea. Spices like cayenne can hurt a cat’s stomach, skin, and eyes, even if liquid like an essential oil.

Coffee beans and citrus fruit peels also tend to deter cats. These may seem reasonable to use in garden beds that you don’t want cats to use as litter boxes, but they can be more problematic indoors. If your pets aren’t deterred by these items they may become choking hazards. If they are left out for too long, orange peels can also grow mold, providing a new health risk. ^[4]

Most options to deter pets are not supported by the latest veterinary research, so it is best to have a professional provide veterinary advice before you expose your pet to any new substances.  

There are many cases where resolving the route of your pet’s peeing problem and implementing barriers where they choose to urinate inappropriately may be the safest solution. ^{[1] [4]}

READ MORE: Are Orchids Poisonous to Cats? 

FAQ’s

Article Sources:

1. “Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling.” Cornell Feline Health Center, vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling.
2. “5 Reasons Why Your Cat Might Be Urinating in the House.” FELIWAY blog.feliway.com/us/5-reasons-why-your-cat-might-be-urinating-in-the-house.
3. “Why Is My Cat Urinating Inappropriately?” RSPCA Knowledgebase. 9 Nov. 2018, kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/why-is-my-cat-urinating-inappropriately/.
4. “How Do I Stop a Neighbour’s Cat from Urinating in My Yard?” RSPCA Knowledgebase. 9 Nov. 2018, kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-do-i-stop-a-neighbours-cat-from-urinating-in-my-yard/.
5. Schmid, Renee, and Ahna Brutlag. “Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Cats.” VCA Animal Hospital, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/essential-oil-and-liquid-potpourri-poisoning-in-cats.