Parenting

That would be a fair point to make if it applied.

I can only really speak with any confidence on the parenting side of things, and I can tell you that peeing on the ground is a perfectly normal occurrence for a kid who's undergoing potty training. As for cats, what I've gathered through osmosis from other cat owners is that the moment something happens to their litter box, they'll stop using it. There's probably other problems that would have earlier warning signs, but I would expect many to have no earlier signs than peeing in random places.