My 12 year old neutered male,indoor cat, Mr. Whittens, has suddenly(last two weeks) started peeing outside his box...instead using either the hallway welcome mat(3 feet from his box) or the bathmat beside the tub...he seems to be doing this about half the time he pees...I have not changed his diet or his brand of litter in the past 3 months,I clean his box daily and he is still using the box for all of his "solid" business, it is only liquid assets being deposited elswhere....any ideas about why he's doing it, or (more to the point) how to stop him from keeping it up?

My mom's cat did this. The vet attributed it to a urinary tract infection. Why he preferred to use everything but his litter box for urinating is besides me.

The vet gave him an antibiotic to clear his infection and life went back to normal. Urinary tract infections are much more common in males and he may not be showing any other symptons.

I'd suggest a quick look-over by the vet.

Oceangurl is right - a change in litterbox habits like this is often indicative of a urinary tract issue. Oftentimes is's not anything serious, but it's usually the first way a cat will let you know something's not quite right. I'd suggest a quick trip to the vets as well.

Thank you both...I'll call his doc in the morning!

Yes - definately get him into the vet to be checked for a urinary infection. Male cats are very susceptible to them... that's why it's so important to have them on a low magnesium and ash cat food.

Thanks everyone...we went to the vet today, and he thanks you as well for having given such accurate advice...Mr. Whittens does seem to have an infection so we started antibiotics. Additionally, I might have to start buying him bottled water...the water here is extremely hard and that may be a contributing factor...his doctor wants to see him again in a week to do a urine test after the infection is under control.

Good! I'm glad Mr. Whittens is going to be feeling better soon. Urinary tract infections suck for people so I can only imagine how miserable it must be for cats!

I have a lot of minerals in my water too. People laugh at me, but I give my pets water from my refrigerator door water dispenser because it has a really good filtration system.

Another problem solved!