Cats are clean and tidy animals and will not want to soil their home, so if your cat suddenly starts having accidents indoors or starts spraying, it can indicate there’s a problem.  

Weeing or pooping in the house is different from spraying. A cat will squat to wee, but if they want to scent mark their territory, they will spray a small amount of urine backwards onto a vertical surface such as the skirting board or wall.  

What might cause a cat to spray indoors?

 Spraying is used by cats to leave a scent mark to mark their territory. It is common behaviour in entire male cats, but any cat, male or female, can do this. If your cat suddenly starts spraying it is an indication all is not well. Here are some common causes of this behaviour change: 

• Feeling insecure. If you cat feels their position in the house is threatened or they are suddenly feeling frightened or insecure they could start spraying to scent mark their territory. We had a cat who started scent marking indoors and realised it was because a local feral cat was coming in through the cat flap while we were out, eating our cat’s food and terrifying him! We changed the cat flap to one operated by a collar tag and the problem went away.  It might also be because there is somebody new living in the house or a new baby. 
• A new cat or other pet in their house. If you introduced a new cat to the house or another pet, they could feel their position is threatened and spray to re-claim their territory. 
• Left in the house with someone new. If you go away and leave them at home with house sitters they don't know they could feel insecure and feel the need to spray their territory. 
• A new baby. Your new baby will also change the way your home smells, which can be unsettling for some cats.   
• Building works, redecoration or new furniture. Changing the way your house smells by changing furniture, curtains, redecorating or having the builders in, could cause your cat to spray to put back their scent. Your cat will rub their face against furniture, curtains and you to stake their claim. If you remove their scent they may spray to quickly re-establish ownership. Cats have scent glands in their cheeks, which is why they rub their faces against you and your home. You could rub their face along their cheeks and mouths with a soft cloth and then dab this on your new furniture to help them feel secure and replace their familiar scent.

Try and work out why your cat might be feeling insecure and see what you can do to remedy the situation. A pheromone plug in scent diffuser such as Feliway might help them feel more settled. Your vet can advise on the best ones to use. 

If there is lots of disruption in the home for a short space of time, for example, if you are packing to move home or have some building work done, it might be better to put them in a cattery for a little while, to remove them from the stress.  

Why might a cat go to the toilet indoors?  

If there is a one-off accident, it could be caused by illness or because they were trapped in a room or frightened by something, but it is best to investigate the cause so you can prevent it happening again.

Commin causes are:  

• Illness. Diabetes or kidney disease can make your cat drink a lot more than usual and therefore they will need to wee more frequently. If you have a litter tray it could become wet quickly and your cat may then not want to use it. If your cat has to ask to be let out, they may just get caught short. Similarly, urinary infections such as cystitis can make them need to wee frequently or become incontinent. 
• Old age. Your older cat might forget where the litter tray is, or simply not be able to control their bladder function as well as they could. They also might find it difficult to use the cat flap because of stiffness or arthritis. It might be a good idea to provide a litter tray indoors. 
• Being frightened. If they are afraid to go outside, don’t like the look of the weather, or if they are older perhaps feel they cannot escape other cats as quickly as they could, they may resort to soiling in the house. You could go with them when they go outdoors to help them feel more secure. You might also do as we did, and change the cat flap for one that is operated by a collar tag so other cats can’t come in!  
• A problem with their litter tray. Cats are clean animals and if their litter tray is soiled, they may prefer to pick another, cleaner, spot! Equally if you use scented litter or litter tray liners the strange scent can put some cats off. Even changing the type of litter might cause a problem, so if you are planning to use a different type of litter, change gradually to minimise the risk of accidents. Also, think about where the litter tray is. If you’ve recently moved it, or it is a place where your cat will feel vulnerable while using it, try and find a quiet corner, free from other pets or children, so your cat feels more comfortable. You could also try a litter tray with a lid.    

If you are not sure why your cat has had an accident, or is spraying, always take them to the vet for a check up as it might indicate a health problem that needs treatment, and consider providing a litter tray indoors.  

For peace of mind consider insuring your cat. You can use our comparison page to check the policies of lots of pet insurers and read pet insurance reviews to help you choose the right pet insurance for you and your pet.