I don't know what to do about my cat...

    • Gold Top Dog

    I don't know what to do about my cat...

    My 5 year old cat has once again peed in the house.  He is healthy other than being a little overweight, no UTI, crystals, etc.  I feed good foods and they have access to multiple water sources.  He was neutered at 14 weeks.  He's never had any urinary issues or behavioral issues associated with the litter box.  I have three litterboxes and have always used the same sorts of litter.  He still uses the boxes.  I think the problem is that the previous renters had cats and I know their cats must've peed in the house b/c when we moved in, the basement had that cat urine smell, not terribly bad, but the smell left behind even after a thorough cleaning.  So I spent a lot of money soaking the entire basement floor and even some of the walls with Urine Gone.  Since we moved in, this particular cat has peed several times on dirty laundry.  The first few times it was DH's fault because he saved the clothes, didn't wash them right so I'm sure the cat just smelled his smells and peed on them again.  I had an intervention and trashed EVERYTHING he had peed on (I can smell it no matter how many gallons of Nature's Miracle it's soaked in!!).  For a long time we've been good, no pee on the clothes, keeping the boxes cleaner, restricting access to tempting areas, etc.  But then I discovered he peed behind our entertainment center.  I noticed the dogs smelling there and yep, sure enough!  I bought a huge bottle of Nature's Miracle, moved the huge enterainment center, and when I pulled up the corner just to see if it had soaked through, I found a LOT of damage.  It always did smell a bit rank in that corner.  I'm sure this is more damage from the previous tenants.  So on one hand I'm annoyed with my cat, but on the other I can't hardly blame him since he's only peeing where someone else's cat already marked.  I soaked the entire area, it's still drying now and when it does I will deep clean that corner, so it's not a huge deal.  There was a lot of damage under the carpet, no way could've been caused by one cat marking there once or twice in the past 48 hours.

    I'm frustrated because now the cat is locked in the basement (which is not so bad since it's big, the litter and food is down there, and the cats have toys, a huge cat tree, and a bench seat from a van as their bed), but I have no idea how many places in this house the previous cat marked and whether my cat will sense that and mark too.

    *sigh*

    • Gold Top Dog

    When you figure it out, let me know. My oldest will be 7 in a couple of months and he has been through a zillion tests in the last 6 monhts because he has been using the bathroom floor and sometimes the kitchen floor for months now. Each time I find a new batch I swear I'm sending him to the farm. As long as he leaves the carpet alone and sticks to the linoleum he is on borrowed time, he hit's the carpet and I will have no choice, he will have to find somewhere else to live. We rent and that is not something I need to replace, not to mention the smell is god awful.

    My other cat is fine. And they have easy access to their box, and my husband cleans it daily. So it is psychological in nature is my guess, not medical.

    • Gold Top Dog

    this sounds really frustrating. My 2 have always been 100% faithful to their box...and automated LitterMaid...only one. they are what 11ish and 8ish now. 

    I guess once you rule out the medical...and there haven't been any changes in their life to stress them, well you're left with behavioral which seems near impossible to deal with.

    Can cats have Rescue Remedy? Maybe they are nervous and insecure because of other cat smells...I dunno...grabbing at straws...

    • Gold Top Dog

    Your not really far off the mark Gina, my vet said even the smell of a strange cat coming in on a breeze could set him off. We do have alot of stray cats here and there is a male next door.

    My last cat was a male and I never ever had a problem with him. I don't have one with my other cat. It is very frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time. I love this cat, he is my last real connection I have to both pets I moved here with and lost in 2005 and 2006. I don't want to get rid of him, he is certainly not going to be put to sleep, but my gosh I cannot deal with the bathroom issues.

    Ok, frustrated, I think I need cake.chocolate.with lots of chocolate...........

    • Gold Top Dog

    Truley
    When you figure it out, let me know.

    Let me know, too!

    DH's cat- he had the cat before we moved in together- is 5 year old Manx, neutered, and a tad overweight. He's had the cat since he was 8 weeks old, and he was neutered at 5 months old. He does this maybe 3-4 times a year. It drives me nuts! The first few times we brought him to the vet thinking it might be a UTI. But, after all the tests, nothing. The cat has a clean bill of health. He will usually go in the bathtub or on the bathmat (I just throw it out). His cat is also a pooper! If he's started by a loud noise (like a a book falling on the tile floor) or if he's playing rough with our other cat a little poop nugget will pop out! This damn cat is so gross, but DH LOVES him. He is a very friendly cat, but gross, lol.

    • Gold Top Dog

    BlackLabbie
    If he's started by a loud noise (like a a book falling on the tile floor) or if he's playing rough with our other cat a little poop nugget will pop out!

     

    LOL...poop nugget! Plenty of Manx cats have that problem...goes with the tailess gene I think. Grody.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Poop nugget!  Popping out!  Eww, that cat wouldn't last long at our house.  My dogs would never leave it alone if they thought scaring it would bring treats. LOL

    Seriously on the cat not using the litter box, I have a ten year old cat who did this years ago and he did have crystals in the urine and is eating a prescription diet with no further problems.   Sorry for the lack of advice but I do know how frustrating it can be and I feel lucky that my cat was "cured" with the right diet.

    • Gold Top Dog

    JackieG

    Poop nugget!  Popping out!  Eww, that cat wouldn't last long at our house.  My dogs would never leave it alone if they thought scaring it would bring treats. LOL

    OMG...lmbo! Like those little animal shaped toys that dispense M & M's out the back hatch when you push on their heads!

    • Gold Top Dog

    rwbeagles

    JackieG

    Poop nugget!  Popping out!  Eww, that cat wouldn't last long at our house.  My dogs would never leave it alone if they thought scaring it would bring treats. LOL

    OMG...lmbo! Like those little animal shaped toys that dispense M & M's out the back hatch when you push on their heads!

    That's what he looks like!! HAHA!

    • Gold Top Dog

    No crystals, at least not that the vet saw in his last visit.

    I am thinking this is a hard headed thing, also he is a rescue and we did have issues when he was a kitten but those we worked out. He has been doing this alot in the last year, more so in the last 6 months. I am at wits end.

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Have you tried a different litter box? Maybe he's finding the one slightly offensive...try an uncovered one, maybe?

    Also - maybe try a different litter. Sometmes, they will switch up the formula just a tad to where it's enough to upset the kitty....

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm sure its the scent of the other cats.  Your cat feels the need to be top cat and cover the scent with his own.  I'm afraid the solution will be to move out of the house.  Which hopefully is in your near future plans.  I'd bet a nickel that if you lived elsewhere, you wouldn't have the problem.

    PS...Please pass the Pez kitty.  Bruder would like some poop nuggets.  Big Smile

    • Gold Top Dog

    CoBuHe
    I'm afraid the solution will be to move out of the house.

    Not nessecarily. Have you tried cleaning with a different solution? I had better luck using vinigar/water, over NM.

    ETA: Also - you can try moving the food to where he is marking, generally - cats are very clean animals and DO NOT want to potty where their food is. When I was having a marking problem with one of my cats - changing the location of the litter boxes eliminated our problem.

    • Gold Top Dog

    CoBuHe

    PS...Please pass the Pez kitty.  Bruder would like some poop nuggets.  Big Smile

    LOL! Ew....haha!

    Here's Nemo aka: "Pez Cat" in his glory:
    001-21.jpg picture by missstephanied21

    • Gold Top Dog

    Cute kitty. I have pictures of the boys at home, will show them later.

    I want to thank everyone for the answers that pertain to my situation, it was very kind. But I have done just about all of those suggestions, even up to using puppy pads to spare the floor. I think we are going to see Dr. Sarah one more time and talk a bit more.

    thanks again.