Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box?

This is one of the most common and most misread cat problems. The first move is always to rule out a medical cause, since urinary tract issues, crystals and other conditions make a cat link the box with pain and avoid it. Once she’s cleared, the usual culprits are a dirty box, the wrong location, a covered or too-small box, a litter she dislikes or stress from another pet or a change at home. Scoop daily, offer one box per cat plus one and put boxes in quiet, easy-to-reach spots.

When to call a vet: Sudden litter box avoidance, straining or frequent tiny urinations needs a vet first to rule out a urinary problem, which can be an emergency in male cats.