My older male cat is upset about our new female kitten

by Lori
(Corryton, TN, United States)

My male neutered cat has used his litter box since the day he walked into my yard about 8-9 years ago. I recently took in a stray 10-week-old female calico kitten. The two play well together, lick and clean each other. However, recently I have noticed my male cat has started peeing, on the clothes, duffle bags, and hard telling where else. They both use the same litter box currently.


Dear Lori,

Even though it may seem like your male cat is urinating outside the box because of a behavioral problem, it is important to first rule out any possible medical causes for your cat urinating around your home. It may seem like a coincidence, but your cat could be suffering from a urinary tract infection or metabolic disease. And, considering that your cat is older, it is especially important to bring your cat to the veterinarian for an exam and urinalysis.

If your veterinarian gives your cat a clean bill of health, he or she can also make suggestions for dealing with behavioral problems, or you can visit my page Cat Elimination Problems for several tips on addressing feline behavioral urination problems.

All the best,
Dr. Neely