House soiling problems are one of the most common complaints from cat owners. Given the characteristics and strong preferences of cats, it can be a relatively simple problem to correct and often results are seen almost immediately.

There are, however, a number of factors that contribute to and cause cat house soiling problems.

Firstly, ensure you have the correct number of litter trays: one per cat plus one more. For 3 cats, that’s 4 litter trays. Ensure they are kept clean (at least once a day they should be emptied); are situated on each floor of your house (a house with 3 floors will need a litter tray on each); are easily accessible (no tall sides that the cat has to climb over); don’t have a hood that covers them (this keeps the odour trapped inside and becomes aversive) and have a litter substance as close to sand as possible.

Cats are very particular about the substances they toilet in. Litter trays should also be posi-tioned somewhere quieter and not near en-trances and exit points – just like humans, they like a bit of privacy. Cats are sensitive to chang-es and new smells, for example. a new cat or a recent move or changes within your household can cause distress, which can lead to house soiling.
Ensure you thoroughly clean the areas that the cat has eliminated in – use an ultra violet light to check for unseen urine patches and a good odour neutraliser. If your cat is regularly eliminat-ing in the same place, you have a new animal in your house or the elimination is happening on vertical surfaces and is largely urine and not defecating, it is likely to be a urine marking problem and not a house soiling issue. Although they may seem similar, the treatment for them is different.
It is also important to note that a medical issue may also be at play, so it is always best to seek the advice of your vet.