Not the parlor carpet! I’m so sorry to hear that.

Inappropriate elimination can be caused by medical conditions such as urinary infections or by behavioral problems.  Sometimes, it can even be associated with a more serious medical problem such as a urinary obstruction, which is an emergency situation that requires immediate attention.

But cats also may go outside the box when they dislike their litter or if the box is dirty. They can even develop this problem due to stress from changes in their household, such as a new pet, or moving to a new home.

Obviously, if your kitty is urinating outside the box for a medical reason, he or she can (and should) be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The “outside the box” behavior could soon cease if the cause is a medical condition.

However, if your cat has changed his or her behavior due to changes or stressful situations, he or she will likely need behavior modification, which is a time-consuming and often frustrating process. It will require lots of love on your part, patience and determination. Your vet can guide you through the process and suggest helpful outside resources.  Sometimes, behavior modification coupled with appropriate drug therapy, under supervision of your vet, can be successful.

I’m sure you’re anxious to clean up the parlor carpet, once the problem is resolved. Hopefully, that will be soon! When that time comes, here’s some advice:

If the urine stain is limited to an isolated spot, you can use the BISSELL SpotBot Pet , a compact deep cleaner that works wonders on pet stains. You simply set the SpotBot Pet on top of the stain, and press a button and walk away. After 3 minutes (6 minutes for the longer cycle) your spot is clean.

For a larger soiled area, or to clean an entire room or rooms, use the Pro Heat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner. It has a build in heater for maximum cleaning power and has tools designed to clean pet messes.