On average, cats can be fussy and picky. One day, everything’s peachy, and they’re showering you with kitty kisses. The next day, they can’t be in the same room with you!
Despite all their moodiness, the one convenient part of owning a cat is they’re immaculate. As your cat matures, they’ll train themselves to use the litter box.
It makes life a bit easier until things suddenly change for the worse! One common scenario is you come home to discover your cat has peed outside their box! Not only that, but they’ve chosen your sink to do it in.
Before you run to your vet, screaming: why is my cat peeing in the sink? Read this post first. We’ll walk you through the possible reasons, as well as some tactics to nip this odd behavior in the bud.
Let’s dive in.
Why Your Cat is Peeing in the Sink
Has your cat suddenly decided to switch it up and start peeing in the sink? Then, it’s time to take action.
Thankfully, there are several things you can do to stop your kitty’s behavior. Yet, before you can do that, you have to determine why your cat is peeing in the sink in the first place.
1 – Litter Box Avoidance
If you notice your cat peeing in the sink, the first thing you should check on is the litter box. Litter box avoidance is common in cats and usually signals an underlying problem.
Cleanliness
Cats are clean, and they like their surroundings to be just as clean. So, if you want your cat to be happy and pee in the litter box, it’s up to you to make sure it’s sparkling clean every single day.
You can get away with cleaning it once a day with most cats. However, other cats prefer it if you clean their boxes once in the morning and again in the evening.
Litter
Another problem could be the type of litter you’re using. Maybe you switched brands, and the new litter is causing your cat to ditch the box and pee somewhere else.
There are several options to choose from when it comes to kitty litter. Take the time to find which one is right for your cat.
Here are a few popular choices:
- Silica
- Paper
- Clay
- Pine
- Coconut husk
Location
Make sure the litter box is situated in a comfy, clean corner of your home. As we said, felines are extremely clean animals, and they like their surroundings to be clean.
If the box is in a messy or unclean area, either move it or tidy it up. Otherwise, your cat will keep peeing in your sink.
Privacy and safety are also two significant issues that are pretty high on your cat’s list of priorities. Avoid placing their box in an area where there’s a lot of traffic or a draft. It could make them nervous and refuse to use the box.
Size
Another problem many cat owners overlook is the size of the litter box. Sometimes it’s too small, which makes using it uncomfortable, or worse, your cat is too big to access it.
It could that your cat will feel like it’s putting in too much effort going in and out of the box. If that’s the case, it’ll start looking for a more spacious alternative.
2 – Behavioral Issues
Despite the cool indifference they seem to exude, cats can be extremely sensitive. Even small things can cause them to get anxious and stressed out.
A change in their routine, for example, could be one trigger. Moving to a new home, getting a new pet, or a visit to the vet: any of these can be a stressful situation for your cat.
So, what do they do when they’re anxious? First, they’ll start exhibiting changes in their eating or sleeping habits. Peeing in the sink is another unusual behavior signaling that your cat is anxious.
3 – Health Problems
The reason causing your cat to pee in the sink could be any number of medical conditions. It could also be that your cat is peeing in the sink to alert you that something’s not right and they need you to fix it.
One common one is an inflammation of the urinary tract. A urinary tract infection (UTI) can make it painful to urinate.
Being in a constant state of pain and distress, they may associate their litter box with pain. Consequently, they’ll avoid using the box and look for another place to relieve themselves.
Other health problems that could be affecting their urination may be bladder stones, cystitis, and, in some cases, even arthritis.
4 – Age Factor
Peeing in the sink is usually done by young kittens or aging cats. Here’s a brief overview of each group to give you a better idea of how age could be causing them to pee in the sink.
Young Cats
As for kittens, they’re still too young to know any better. Plus, they use it as a chance to check out their surroundings and test their limits a bit.
Be patient with them during this stage. Every time they go near the sink, gently carry them towards the litter box.
Another option is to put the box somewhere near the bathroom to get to it quicker. Soon enough, they’ll outgrow this phase and get the hang of relieving themselves in the right place.
Elderly Cats
Growing old is no easy feat, even in cats. Like us, their physical and mental abilities dwindle with time, causing them to become weaker and less reactive.
Cats are also at risk of suffering from feline dementia. If you have an elderly cat, you may start to notice a lack of activity and responsiveness.
They may even forget what a litter box is and how it’s used. So, when the time comes, they’ll find the closest and most suitable place to pee: the sink.
Urinary incontinence is another symptom of growing old. In other words, it’s not that they’ve forgotten how to use a litter box. It’s just that they can’t get to it in time.
5 – Litter Box Bullying
Do you have multiple cats at home? It could be that the other felines aren’t giving the sink-peeing cat access to the litter box.
That poor, helpless cat will have no choice but to find another place to relieve itself.
To see if this is actually what’s going on, keep an eye on all your felines. Monitor their behavior and if you do notice bullying, talk to your vet about ways to stop it from getting any worse.
The next step is to get the sink-peeing cat feeling comfortable again with using the litter box. Some cat owners who have multiple felines invest in several boxes.
Vets recommend no more than two cats to a box. It may mean extra cleaning for you, but it’ll save you—and the cats—a ton of hassle and distress.
Final Thoughts
We hope we fully answered the question: why is my cat peeing in the sink. Now, you can stop wondering why and start finding ways to prevent this behavior.
The first step is to rule out any physical or mental health issues. Talk with your vet about various ways to keep your kitty happy and healthy.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard. I also like photographing wild birds, especially birds of prey.