Cat keeps urinating in places other than litter box?

my cat was doing the same thing and when i took her to get spayed it stopped and the vet told me that was the problem that sometimes that will happen if they need to get fix that is a sign that they are going into heat so after you get her spayed it should stop GOOD LUCK

I would take her to the vet! She could have some type of urinary infection in which she correlates the litter box with pain. If that isn't it, I would make sure the little box is kept clean, because they like to pee in clean places :)

The behavior you describe is usually a statement by the cat. For example, one of our cats (very well litter-trained for years) peed on our bed regularly while we were on vacation and left her with a regular cat-sitting visitor. She was basically telling us she didn't like being left. Is it possible your cat is stressed by the attention you are having to give your ill dog and is letting you know that? You are right, punishment is never helpful with cats. You might try confining the cat in a room with the litter box until she uses it, then praise her and spend some quality time with her. If you do that two or three times, she might start associating using the litter box with getting attention. If that's what she's missing, it should work.

I just read an article in the local paper about how stress can also affect a cats propensity to wee wherever. Has there been any recent changes in the cats environment? Does it have a stupid boxer chasing it like mine does? A little humor for your stress there. There is actually something called feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) which is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the bladder which is the UTI mentioned previously. Your mood can affect your cat's mood. Here is a link to help you find some common denominators. Take care. http://www.vetinfo.com/feline-interstitial-cystitis.html

Inappropriate urination is very rarely behavioral. It usually is a result of a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection, crystal formation, etc...Unfortunately she should probably get a urinalysis and urine culture done at the vet's to rule these things out. If she has crystals, she will likely need to switch onto a special diet to help break down the plug that is forming in her urethra. If she ends up having a bacterial infection (UTI), she will require antibiotics for a period of time and then a repeat urine culture to make sure she is "cleared" of infection. Both of these conditions will prevent her from undergoing surgery until they are dealt with as they can put her at more risk while under GA as well as during recovery and healing. If they rule out any medical issue, good news is she can be spayed on schedule! Bad news is that this type of behavior requires a lot of dedication to deter. You can try things like Feliway Spray, spraying it onto the areas that she pees on. This is an artificial feline pheromone and quite safe to use even in a household with other pets (your dog will not be affected by it). You can also try changing her litter. Cats sometimes become very picky about they type of litter and actual box that they will use. The stuff that works best is litter that is closest to "dirt" as cats tend to bury their waste. Clay-based litter that is unscented is a good place to start. You can also try something like a corn/oat based litter if you prefer. Try getting a bigger box or one with a cover, make it more appealing to her. Also, she may not feel safe going where the box is located anymore. Somewhere dark and secluded is a good option and you can try adding in another box as well which sometimes helps if they have the option of here or there. Good luck!