Medical Causes and Problems
• Medical issues can cause a cat to exhibit behavior changes such as house-soiling.Your
veterinarian will be able to diagnose or rule out any medical conditions that could be a
factor in the house-soiling behavior.
• Every cat that starts to house-soil requires a thorough physical examination and
urinalysis to check for medical problems such as infections, cystitis, arthritis, kidney
problems, diabetes, and other medical issues.
• If your veterinarian believes the house-soiling behavior is caused by a medical reason,
he or she may perform additional tests such as a urine culture, abdominal radiographs,
abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, and biochemical profile. Digital rectal
exams or fecal testing may be needed for cases of house-soiling with feces.
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis
• Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is a frequent medical cause of house-soiling. Cats suffering
from FIC have increased frequency of urination, difficulty and pain when urinating, and
can have blood in their urine. This inflammatory condition can increase and decrease in
severity over time and is aggravated by stress, changes in diet, and other issues.
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