A month ago I noticed my cat Vasya started peeing outside the litter box - sometimes in the corner of the room, sometimes under the bed. The litter box is clean, there haven't been any changes in the house. Could it be age-related? He's 7 years old and was neutered when he was young.
First of all, take Vasily to the vet - a sudden change in litter box habits often signals health issues, especially with the urinary system, not just moodiness! At 7 years old this is totally relevant. While you're waiting for the appointment, try adding another litter box to your place (ideally in the corners where he's been going) - sometimes a cat just considers his favorite spots his bathroom and refuses to use the box. Also check if maybe he's afraid of something near the litter box or if it's hard for him to get to it, in case he's become less active. But the main thing is still the vet - don't put it off!
I had a similar situation with my cat - everything seemed fine, the litter box was clean, but he started peeing in different places. Turned out it was a simple urinary tract infection that I didn't notice at first. That's why the advice above about seeing a vet isn't paranoia, it's a real necessity. When an animal suddenly changes its behavior, the first thing you need to do is rule out medical causes.
Along with the vet visit, pay attention to the details: does your cat pee in the litter box at all, or does he avoid it completely? Does he pee while standing or does he try to crouch? This will help the vet figure out the diagnosis. Also check if the smell of his urine has changed - if it smells sharper than usual or has blood in it, that's clearly a sign something's wrong. At 7 years old your cat is still young, age-related problems usually show up later, but urinary tract inflammation at this age is pretty common, especially in neutered males.
If the tests don't reveal anything serious, then start looking at stress or behavioral issues. But without seeing a vet, you're just guessing - you could miss an actual problem.
Log into answer.
