If Your Cat Pees Outside the Box, You’ve Come to the Right Place

When a cat pees outside the box—on the bed, your clothes, or other unexpected places—knowing what’s triggering the behavior is the key to achieving litter box success.

Written by Cat Behaviorist Rita Reimers
Updated for 2025

At the end of a long, hard day, there are two things most of us look forward to: a good meal and a good night’s sleep in our comfy beds while our feline purry ones slumber beside us.

But wait—what is that smell?! And what is this in my bed?!

Few things are more frustrating (and yes, embarrassing!) than discovering your cat has peed in your bed or on your favorite sweater. Especially if your kitty seems otherwise happy and well-adjusted, this can leave you wondering what’s going on—and how to fix it when your cat pees outside the box.

Don’t worry—it’s not about revenge or spite. Let’s dig into the real reasons behind this puzzling behavior.

The Case of the Bed Pee’er

Such was the case with a couple who contacted me for help because their cat was peeing everywhere. They sent me photos and videos of two very happy ragdoll siblings, playing and grooming each other as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

Except, suddenly, one of the cats decided to pee on the humans’ bed! It wasn’t happening every day, but often enough to cause stress in the household.

After meeting the family and asking a lot of probing questions, I began to understand what was going on. Below are some reasons your cat may decide your bed—or anything else—makes an acceptable litter box.

Why Your Cat Pees Outside the Box

Knowing what is triggering your cat to pee outside the box is the key to correcting this conduct. Why does my cat pee on everything? Here are a few reasons:

Illness

A clean bill of health from your veterinarian is the very first step on the road to behavior correction. Illnesses such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, or intestinal parasites can cause a cat to find a new place to eliminate.

Often the pain associated with these illnesses makes cats associate the litter box with discomfort, so they avoid it. Also, when a cat has an illness, he may instinctively eliminate elsewhere to keep the illness away from other members of his cat clowder.

🚩 Medical Red Flags for Peeing Outside the Box

Before assuming the cause is behavioral, be alert for these urgent warning signs that call for a vet visit:

• Straining to urinate or crying while in the box

• Going to the box frequently but producing only small amounts of urine

• Licking the genital area excessively

• Blood in the urine or a strong ammonia smell

These symptoms may indicate FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), urinary crystals, or blockage—conditions that can be life-threatening if untreated. 👉 Learn more in my full article: What You Need to Know About FLUTD in Cats.

Situational Unhappiness

Cats are very sensitive to environmental changes and sometimes act out their unhappiness in odd and unpleasant ways.

In questioning the couple, it was discovered that when their cat peed on the bed, it often happened after one of them returned from a business trip. The cat was letting them know that the absence was keenly felt and caused emotional stress.

Stress or Insecurity

This can overlap with situational unhappiness but often stems from deeper emotional unease. In this case, the cats had only recently joined their new household—about two months earlier.

They’d been removed from their breeder, cat mom, and kitty siblings to whom they were emotionally attached. The separation anxiety, stress, and insecurity they were already feeling were further fueled when one of their humans was away.

Cats thrive on predictability, and when that’s disrupted, their stress sometimes surfaces through elimination issues—such as when a cat pees outside the box.

And the big reason cats pees outside the box and on everything else – Litter Box Dislike

This is the #1 cause of inappropriate peeing and pooping. Litter and litter boxes can be a topic unto themselves! Cats can be very finicky about where they “go,” so it often takes trial and error to find what appeals to your cat.

Let’s look at some ways to stop your cat from peeing outside the litter box.

The Litter and Litter Box Setup

Litter box unhappiness is one of the most common reasons why a cat avoids the litter box. Here are some possible causes for their box dislike:

• • Type of Litter: Soft, sandy litter is usually preferred over big, chunky pieces that can hurt tender toes. (See my Cat Litter Types Review)

  • Type of Litter Box: Some cats like a lidded box, while others prefer the wide-open spaces of a non-lidded one. Make sure the box fits your cat’s size—a Rag Doll or Bengal needs more room than a petite Singapura.

  • Box Placement: Placement is almost as important as the box itself. High-traffic, noisy areas create problems. Choose a quiet corner that’s easily accessible and offers privacy and an easy escape route.

  • Cleanliness: Perhaps most important of all, a cat box must be scooped daily—twice if possible. Letting debris build up makes for a smelly, uninviting box. Think of it this way: how would you feel using an outhouse? Enough said!

Litter Box Bullying

If you have multiple cats, one might be guarding the litter box. The bullied cat may feel safer going on your bed—it smells like you, it’s elevated, and it has multiple escape paths.

Make sure you have one box per cat, plus one extra to reduce territorial tension.

Stress from Outside Cats

Outdoor cats (strays or ferals) can trigger indoor elimination issues. Even if your cat doesn’t see them, he can smell them—especially during mating season. Use a safe deterrent such as Cat Mace to discourage outdoor visitors without harming them.

Correcting the Cat Who Won’t Use the Litter Box

Now you have (hopefully) pinpointed your cat’s specific issue, and you know why he avoids the litter box.

The next step is not only to correct the problem, but to also break your cat’s habit of not using his box. Even when the initial reason he started doing this is corrected, he may have a habit now of going in odd places.

🐾 5 Simple Steps to Stop Your Cat from Peeing Outside the Box

1. Vet Visit: Get that clean bill of health from your veterinarian. Rule out any underlying medical reason for his behavior.

2. Resolve the Anxiety Issue: If there’s no medical problem, address the emotional one. Add more playtime, vertical space, and one-on-one bonding. If he’s new to your household, give him extra time to adjust.

3. Fix the Litter Box Setup: Adjust type, size, placement, and cleanliness until your cat finds it appealing.

4. Make “No-No” Spots Unappealing: Use scents such as peppermint or orange peels. If scents don’t help, try a gentle deterrent like a Soft Scram Mat or SSCAT Air Blaster.

5. Reward Good Behavior: Whenever you see your cat using his litter box, give him praise and a tasty treat. He’ll soon understand that using the box pleases you—and earns rewards!

Litter Box Success — No More Cat Peeing Outside the Box!

Follow these simple steps, and it won’t be long before you and your cat are snuggling peacefully again—without any unpleasant surprises under the covers.

If your cat pees outside the box or on your bed, remember: it’s not spite; it’s communication. Understanding why helps you solve the problem with compassion and patience.

👉 Also read my sister post: My Cat Pooped on My Bed – Is My Cat Spiteful?

👉 Book a Cat Behavior Session with Rita Reimers or explore the Cat Behavior Learning Library for more expert advice.

Bonus Video 🎥

When Kitty Won’t Use the Litter Box
A video I made with my own cats for Catster and Petcha (now Chewy). It’s from way back when—but the advice is still 100% relevant today. Try not to laugh at my old hairstyle! 😹

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