How To Stop Your Bengal Cat from Peeing On The Floor

Bengal Cats are notoriously clever kitties, but there are numerous reasons why they might stop using the litter box and start urinating on the floor.

This bad habit is incredibly frustrating for pet owners, and rightly so: cat urine contains high amounts of ammonia and forms crystals as it dries, so it is hard to eliminate the evidence of your cat not using the litter box.

In this article you are going to learn how to stop your bengal cat from peeing on the floor.

Reasons Why Cats Urinate Outside of the Litter Box

Medical

One of the primary reasons for Bengal Cats to stop using the litter box are health issues. Kidney or bladder infections can cause your cat to be uncomfortable when they have to urinate, and bladder stones are also painful.

Some cats develop idiopathic cystitis, which is basically an inflammation of the bladder, which also leads to them urinating outside of the litter box.

As your cat ages, kidney disease or even arthritis can make it hard for your Bengal to use the litter box. If your cat starts to pee on the floor, your first step should be taking them to the vet to see if there is a health reason for their accidents.

Stress

Different things can stress your Bengal Cat out and cause him or her to urinate in inappropriate locations. Often this source of stress is another cat, but it could be a person in the house or even changing up the furniture. Your cat could be marking its territory or be avoiding the litter box, where it could be “jumped” by the other cat.

A Dirty Litter Box

Cats are fastidious about their litter boxes, and Bengals are no exception. If the litter box is dirty, your cat may be avoiding using the box. It may also dislike the type of kitty litter you have in the litter box. Many cats don’t like the fragrances used by many cat litter companies, and some don’t like the feel of the litter on their paws, making them avoid using the litter box.

Other Reasons

Cats may pee on the floor for other reasons. One is simply that they can smell the old urine odor left over by many cleaners if they’ve urinated for another reason outside of the box. They’re returning to the “scene of the crime” because of the evidence there.

Cats may also need more choices in their litter boxes. If you have multiple cats, there may be too few boxes, or they may be territorial over their boxes. Some cats prefer to use a covered box, while many others dislike having a covered box and refuse to use it.

How to Stop Your Bengal Cat From Peeing on the Floor

The first step in stopping your Bengal Cat from peeing on the floor is having them evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure there isn’t a medical reason for them urinating inappropriately. Kidney disease, diabetes, and even joint disease can all make your cat urinate outside of the litter box.

You’ll also want to clean up the area where they have urinated outside of the box. Using a black light can illuminate areas around the house where you kitty has gone. Use a specific urine eliminating chemical product, such as Nature’s

Miracle, to ensure that the urine is broken down, as many regular household cleaners don’t break down the urine and it will still attract your cat. Wash any clothing or bedding your cat has urinated on and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the cleaning product to maximize its effectiveness.

If you have multiple cats, monitor your kitties for any changes in behavior. Is one cat acting as the aggressor and attacking if your Bengal gets near the litter box? Set up a variety of areas to ensure your cats all have safe spaces to get away from each other: covered spaces and walkways are particularly effective. You also need to have at least one additional litter box per cat in the household.

If your cat is peeing on the floor due to stress, there are a variety of products you can use to reduce their stress level. Feliway is a pheromone spray that many cats respond well to, while Zylkene is a product derived from milk casein protein that can reduce your Bengal Cat’s stress levels. If you cat isn’t responding to those, your veterinarian may put them on a prescription product, such as fluoxetine.

You also need to take stock of where the litter boxes are located. If you live in a multi-level house or apartment, make sure you litter boxes on each floor. You Bengal might not want to use the litter box in a tucked away area like the laundry room. If they’re going in the same spot, put a litter box over it and gradually move it to an area that might be more convenient for you (or leave it there, if it’s not in the way).

Allow your Bengal to pick their litter box and cat litter. Offer them a variety of options and see which box and litter they tend to prefer. There are special litters designed to attract your cat, aptly named “cat attract” litters, which often contain pheromones. In addition, cats need to have a large enough box, usually 1.5 times their body length to comfortably use the litter box. Senior kitties may have trouble getting into the litter box, so use one with a low lip to make it easier for them to get in and out of the box.

Make sure you’re cleaning the litter box often. Some cats want it cleaned almost as soon as they go. You’ll want to ensure you’re scooping the box out at least daily, and you need to wash the boxes and put fresh litter in them at a minimum of once per month.

In Summary

There are many reasons why your Bengal Cat might be peeing on the floor. Work with your veterinarian to ensure there are no health issues with your Bengal and evaluate their litter box habits. Keep the boxes cleaned and make sure that there are enough options for each of the kitties in your household to help reduce conflict.