My s/o and I adopted a 2 year old Siamese cat from a shelter about a month ago.
About a week later, we noticed she’s been peeing in the same spot on the carpet in our hallway.
She pees and poops in her litter box most of the time – this just occurs every couple of days.
So far we’ve tried cleaning the carpet, spraying a cat deterrent in that area, switching her cat litter, and even squirting her with water from a spray bottle if we catch her in the act.
I’d love to hear from anyone who may know the reason behind this behavior or who has tips to make it stop.
Brief Answer:
The key to resolving your two-year-old Siamese cat’s inappropriate elimination, which appears to be a mix of full urination and possible spraying/marking, lies in understanding that this is driven by insecurity and stress, not spite.
The fact that she mostly uses the litter box but marks a specific spot in the hallway every couple of days suggests a partial litter box aversion or territorial stress in that high-traffic area.
You must immediately stop squirting her with water and using the deterrent spray.
These punitive measures only increase her anxiety, teaching her to fear you and eliminate when you are not present, which will worsen the behavior and make her fear the litter box more.
The first step must be an urgent veterinary checkup to rule out a stress-induced medical issue like a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), which is common in newly adopted, sensitive cats and must be treated medically.
Second, use a UV blacklight to find and thoroughly clean all traces of urine from the carpet with an enzyme cleaner, as any lingering scent is attracting her back.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation is incredibly common with newly adopted cats, especially highly social and often sensitive breeds like the Siamese.
They take time to adjust, and the one-month mark is often when initial stress begins to manifest as behavioral issues.
Since she is eliminating full volumes in addition to potential spraying, this is likely a signal of a profound feeling of insecurity.
The reason your current methods are failing is that they are increasing her stress.
Squirting a cat with water from a spray bottle or using a repellent spray creates fear and anxiety.
She is not associating the punishment with the act of urination, but rather with you or the spot, which teaches her that the environment is unsafe, thereby increasing the underlying stress that caused the marking in the first place.
You must immediately stop all forms of punishment.
The two critical interventions you need to implement now are:
First, Mandatory Veterinary Visit.
Before you try any behavioral modifications, the specific nature of her problem (peeing and pooping successfully but also having accidents) necessitates a medical rule-out.
Stress is the number one cause of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) in cats, which causes an intense, painful urge to urinate that they then associate with their litter box, leading to elimination in new, often soft, spots like carpet.
A vet can diagnose and treat this, which is a required, cost-effective step to prevent chronic health issues.
Second, Litter Box and Environment Optimization.
The hallway is a high-traffic area, which feels vulnerable.
Your cleaning must be total: purchase a UV blacklight to confirm you have removed all urine residue from the carpet and surrounding walls.
Then, use a high-quality, non-toxic enzyme cleaner (such as Nature’s Miracle) that penetrates the carpet fibers to completely break down the urine’s odor and pheromones.
If you use a regular detergent, she will smell the residue and be drawn back to remark that area.
As a temporary measure, you can place a second, different style of litter box (uncovered, different litter depth) directly over the soiled spot in the hallway.
If she uses it, you can gradually move it a few inches each day back toward a more suitable, quiet location.
Finally, consider installing a Feliway Classic Diffuser near the hallway to create a continuous signal of safety and security, which is far more effective and less stressful than the spray deterrent.
If you are still at a loss, a systematic guide like Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse can help you identify subtle environmental triggers that a shelter cat may be reacting to.
About The Author
