Why Does My Cat Pee In The Sink and How to Stop It?
Most cats are expected to eliminate from litter boxes, but why does my cat pee in the sink? I’ve been asked this question many times and the answers are pretty simple. It can be anything from dirty litter boxes, urinary tract infections, behavioral issues, and aging. Below, I discussed these possible reasons and what you can do about them.
Why do some cats pee in the sink?
Cats are known to be clean animals. The groom themselves and they hide their fecal or urine matter by covering it with dirt(Please read here how to groom a cat that hates it). But if your kitty is starting to pee on the sink, something is wrong. Here are some of the possible scenarios.
1. The litter box is dirty
Cats are very particular about the cleanliness of their den. If it smells bad, they will vacate and look for a cleaner and comfier spot. This applies to their litter box as well.
You probably forgot to scoop out used litter yesterday, which prompted your cat to seek other urinal options. Putting off litter box cleaning will lead to a bigger mess on your sink that you’ll have to clean up.
But I scoop the litter box daily! If that’s the case, think about the last time you cleaned the box. In general, you should empty and clean the litter box once a month. This is to remove any streaks on the walls that will develop a bad smell(please read here why is my cat licking the wall). Also, my cat’s vet suggested that replacing the litter box once every year is ideal to prevent the kitty from seeking other potty spots.
Aside from that, make sure that you replace the old litter with fresh ones. This will keep the litter box appealing for your cat.
2. Your cat has UTI
A cat with a urinary tract infection (UTI) will have an uncontrollable bladder. It’s possible that the kitty is lounging on the sink when it suddenly feels the strong urge to urinate.
Aside from incontinence, UTI will also cause a burning sensation on your cat’s bladder. If your kitty is crying or meowing loudly while peeing, you should consider this possibility.
It’s important to bring the cat to the vet’s clinic for proper diagnosis. From there, the veterinarian will administer medications to cure the infection. Depending on the severity of your cat’s condition, it may or may not be confined at the vet’s clinic.
3. Your cat is old
Another possible cause of peeing in the sink is old age. Like cats with UTI, old kitties have poor bladder control. Also, older felines tend to be slower, which means their pee may come out even before they got out of the sink. (please read here how often should my cat pee)
Aside from that, older cats may suffer from dementia. This condition will affect their cognition, therefore, making them unable to use the litter box properly. Others will just urinate everywhere, including the sink.
You can always bring the cat to the vet to check for potential health problems. If the vet didn’t find anything, it will help to limit your cat’s access to the sink. Also, place multiple litter boxes around the house so your old feline will not find it hard to urinate in the right spot.
4. Your cat just likes the sink
Cats tend to grow a penchant for various things. In your case, that could be the sink. When this happens, the cat will be lounging and staying on the sink whenever it likes. Sometimes, the kitty would even prefer the sink over its own bed.
There are many theories as to why this happens. First, it’s because most sinks are made of ceramic, which is cold and comfortable during a hot day. Another is that some kitties love drinking on faucets.
Sometimes, your cat may love the sink too much that it will mark the spot by spraying its urine on it. This isn’t actual urination but marking. Felines are territorial beings so they attach their scent on surfaces to let other felines know that it’s already taken.
5. Your cat isn’t properly litter-trained
If your kitty is using the sink for all its potty business, you may need to brush up with litter training. Whenever you notice that your cat is about to go, bring it close to the litter box. Let the kitty sniff and discover the litter box so it can eliminate. please learn here how to litter train a stary cat
I suggest doing this in the bathroom as some cats may miss the litter box on the first few tries. If the feline used the litter box successfully, give it a treat the moment it exits the box. This will teach your cat that using the litter box is rewarded behavior.
6. Litter box bullying is happening
If you have multiple cats at home, it’s possible that your sink-peeing kitty is being bullied by the other felines. The poor cat might be attacked whenever it tries to use the litter box. In turn, the helpless kitty will resort to the sink to relieve itself.
It’s important to check the behavior of your cats. Try bringing the feline near the litter box and see how the other reacts. If one of the cats tries to attack or bully the other, intervene by saying a firm no. You can also put the bully cat in time out inside a room for five minutes.
How do I stop my cat from peeing in the sink?
If your cat keeps on peeing on the sink, the following tips may help correct the behavior.
Rule out health problems
If you suspect that your cat has urinary problems, the best solution is to bring it to the vet. The veterinarian will examine the cat for potential infections and other causes of incontinence.
Take note that when it comes to urinary problems, early detection is important. It will minimize the discomfort, as well as vet bills, that you and your cat may suffer.
Add more litter boxes
Another thing you should do is set up multiple litter boxes at home. On average, a cat needs around two litter boxes at home. The larger the house, the more litter boxes you need. If you have other felines, you need to set up additional litter boxes to prevent bullying.
Also, you should place the litter boxes in different areas of the house that your cat can access.
Make the sink unappealing
Cats have a strong dislike of citrus scents. You can use this to keep them from peeing on the sink. Simply squeeze a lemon slice on your sink before you leave. Aside from driving the cat away, the lemon scent will deodorize your home and disinfect your sink. You can also try diluted mint oils, but make sure that it will not cause any irritation on your cat.
For cats that keep marking the sink with their pee, an artificial pheromone spray might do the trick. This mimics the odor that cats release from their scent glands. It results in a calming effect that will reduce a cat’s spraying habits.
Clean up
The first time your cat pees on the sink, make sure that you clean it well. Use an enzymatic cleaner to ensure that there’s no smell left behind that your pet can track. This will reduce the likelihood of your cat peeing on the sink again.
If an enzymatic cleaner isn’t available, you can use equal parts of water and white vinegar. You can mix it with a small amount of baking soda for an added cleaning effect.
Aside from that, make it a habit to clean the cat’s litter boxes. Scoop it out daily so your pet will not use the sink as its urinal.
Do cats pee out of spite?
No, cats don’t pee out of spite. If you did something to upset your cat and it pees on the sink, it doesn’t mean that it’s angry at you. The kitty might be too stressed to the point of incontinence.
Also, cats will normally spray urine on your furniture and belongings as a way of marking or claiming it. This happens when you brought a new cat home. Other kitties will keep doing it when they feel threatened that someone will steal their territory.
Why did my cat pee on my bed in front of me?
If your cat often pees on your bed, you should take it to the vet. This is a sign of incontinence, which can point to a bigger health problem. However, you should also consider the possibility that the kitty isn’t properly litter trained yet. (please read here how to find cat pee)For healthy cats, peeing on their owner’s bed is a form of marking. It’s your cat’s way of claiming the spot. Unfortunately, you’ll suffer from the stinky consequence.
Why is my cat peeing in the bathroom?
The reasons behind peeing in the bathroom are no different than peeing in the sink. Your cat does this because its litter box is either dirty, too far away, or occupied by other felines. Also, this might mean that you need to set up more litter boxes. learn here why is my cat pooping in tub
However, if your cat is peeing right into the toilet bowl, you may not have a problem. A friend of mine trained his cat to eliminate into the toilet bowl by putting a trail filled with litter on top of it. Over time, the kitty will then pee and poo in the toilet like everyone else in the house.
Conclusion
Why does my cat pee in the sink? A dirty litter box is a leading culprit here, but you should also get health problems ruled out. Setting up more litter boxes will also correct this behavior. You should also brush up with litter training to encourage the cat to pee on the litter box instead.
