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Cats peeing outside of litter box, help :(
I have two cats who I have never had litter box issues with. Three months ago one of them peed on a blanket on the living room floor. I washed the blanket and than forgot about it until 3-4 weeks later when they peed on our leather couch. After that point I brought who I thought was the culprit in and had him tested for UTI. There was *possible* signs of a UTI but they said it could have been contamination as well but we treated him anyways. Three-four weeks later, peed on the couch in the same spot again. They did this one more time in the same spot but than went to the other side of the couch and we had to toss it...a $2400 leather couch- talk about maddening.
In the midst of all that I took my other cat in and had him checked up. We are not sure if he has a UTI but we are treating him anyways just in case. The vet doesn't think it is UTI, though, and is betting on that it is behavioral considering I have seen them using their litterbox and there is such a time span inbetween incidents.
We thought that maybe they kept peeing on the couch because they could smell the urine but we were wrong. They just peed on a blanket that was on the living room floor this afternoon. They used to pee only at night but now they are peeing during the day as well.
This all started around the time my son started becoming more vocal and mobile so I am thinking that maybe it is due to the stress of that BUT they seem to love him so I don't understand. And then I thought maybe it was because they didn't get as much attention anymore so we made a point to play with them more and let them cuddle with us more often as well.
I am at my wits end and have cried so much over this. I do not know what to do anymore. We have no place for another litter box big enough for them to use (they are 15+ lbs cats and throw litter everywhere) to see if that helps because we have very limited space.
I seriously do not want to rehome them. I cry every time I think about it since I am a "forever adopter" but if the antibiotics do not make a difference I am at a loss.
Sorry this got so long but I am hoping someone has been in a similar situation and can help me.
EDD 7/11/13 ??? VBAC, BABY!
Re: Cats peeing outside of litter box, help :(
We have a 17 lb cat who was not using his litter box appropriately. He was cleared of any medical issues, so we had to look into other solutions. I've tried all of the things I'm suggesting, and whether it's one solution or a combo, it worked. He hasn't had a single accident since we made the changes in October.
*Clean every spot thoroughly with Nature's Miracle.
*Purchase some Cat Attract cat litter. It can be expensive, but we mix it with regular cat litter to ease the cost. Here's the new customer rebate form. Each bag comes with a coupon and solutions booklet that has helpful hints. (I have no affiliation with this company - I just absolutely love their product.)
*Get some Feliway plugs. We have one in the room with the litter boxes. Our two boys were getting cranky with each other, and within a few weeks of plugging it in, we noticed a big change in their relationship.
*Pick up anything soft he might consider peeing on.
*Make sure he has a place where he can get away if he needs. Our cats have their own room (for now, because we still haven't purchased office furniture.) Even a dedicated space like a cat tower can help. Napoleon goes under our bed if he needs a break.
*This has nothing to do with your issue, but you might consider getting a large, flat tray, similar to one you might keep by the door for shoes, to help contain crazy litter. My MIL uses one, and she says it keeps the problem contained. We're looking for one.
Thanks for the links.
So you plug the plug in where the litter box is or in the room that is causing an issue?
I do have a pad that allows cat litter to fall down around it but unless it is a covered cat box they kick the litter over the edges. I mean, they go crazy. I hear cat litter flying across the room and hitting the opposite wall that is 4 feet away sometimes.
ETA: Also what ratio do you mix the litter with? I am going to be blunt and say we are pretty damn broke right now. I am still paying off my son's delivery which is sucking us dry.
EDD 7/11/13 ??? VBAC, BABY!
Napoleon was peeing in our guest bedroom, but we put the plug in their room with the litter boxes.
Try uncovering the boxes. Napoleon is a big guy too, and he's far more comfortable with an uncovered box. We have two boxes in one room, but there's no odor because we clean the boxes daily. Try a box with high sides since you have big kitties. Sweeping up the room just became part of our daily routine.
Honestly, we're broke too; DH just lost his job. I hear you there. We can make that one little bag of cat litter last 2+ months by filling with regular litter and just putting a thin layer of the cat attract on top. We used a full box of CA early to re-train Napoleon and gradually decreased the amount we used. That first bag being reimbursed helped tremendously. I don't remember if I told you, but we get ours at Petsmart.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Buy the Feliway online. It's 50% cheaper than a pet store. I buy 6 at a time and it costs $12ish a bottle, compared to almost $30 at Pet Smart.
Dr. Elsey's also makes a litter additive you could try using with your regular litter. It looks like oregano and is sold in most pet stores. I have used it with foster kittens before. Cat Attract litter really does work, but I hear you on the cost thing.
In addition to everything else others have suggested, I want to add that we had to retrain one of my cats on the litter box. She had a UTI and even after it was cleared up, she kept going outside the box. We put her in a dog crate with her food, litter, water and a blanket to sleep on for a couple of days. Then, we let her out when we were home so we could supervise her. After about 10 days, she was allowed out again, and all has been well.
We also use the Feliway spray. Again, I'd order that on Amazon. You have to use it a couple of times a day, but it has helped us when our 2 newest boys were peeing on our bedding. You can imagine how wonderful that smells to a pregnant nose! Also, when using NM, DRENCH the area. I always dump on more than I think I need to, just to make sure.
You may also want to look into the book Cat vs. Cat. It's written by a feline behaviorist and is full of good information on cat behavior. For example, one of our cats has suddenly become really cuddly and vocal, and constantly wants our attention. I realized it's actually stress related, and I think she's picking up on the fact that I'm pregnant and we're moving things around.
5 cats. 1 baby.
I have 2 female cats and one has been peeing outside the litterbox for a while now. When I moved in with my huband it got worse. We put her on prozac, then she peed all over our guest bed. She's in 100% perfect health, so I got back in touch with the vet and had to double her dosage of meds. Now she takes a 1/4 pill in the morning and a 1/4 pill at night. She didn't like me forcing them down her throat, but I found pill pockets in salmon flavor and her meds are no problem and at this point (only 4 months) have no problems with her. I also picked up Cat Attract litter and put a small scoopful in the boxes when I change them as well. It seems to help.
Good luck!!!
Make a pregnancy ticker
Thanks! I was hesitant for the Feliway because of the price but if it is cheaper online than in stores where it was like $60 than I will be able to swallow that a bit better.
I will take a look at the book too.
EDD 7/11/13 ??? VBAC, BABY!