So Cute, Yet So Foul.
We are having cat issues. Gus is peeing in places other than the litter box and it has got to stop. We’ve tried everything it seems. The cat box is clean, there is one for each cat, we’ve tried a few different litters, Gus is perfectly healthy. We’ve tried the Feliway system, and it works perfectly for acclimating the two cats, but did nothing for the urine issue. Gus is fixed. I’ve gotten rid of a few of his more frequent targets (a potted tree, laundry left on the floor, and his cat bed). He just finds new places. Yesterday and today it was the kids’ beds. GROSS.
We got Gus from a rescue, and this rescue makes it a point to let people know if the cat has a spraying issue. No one ever mentioned it about Gus, but he had just been returned to the rescue for the second time. The previous owners just said he needed too much attention. I wonder if maybe they weren’t covering up a nasty little problem.
Now, I am re-training him, based on the suggestion of a friend who has quite a few cats. Gus is now living in the bathroom. He’s going to be in there for at least a week with his litter box, food and basket. He will try to escape every single time we open the door, so I know I’m going to be catching the cat a lot this week. If it were just Chris and I, it wouldn’t be so bad, but we’ve got one bathroom and Jonas and Maggie are in and out all day. At least Gus won’t get lonely.
I feel badly about all of this because Gus is a total sweetheart. He is cuddly and cute and gentle, but man, the cat pee issue can really trump all of these wonderful personality traits. If this doesn’t work, the only thing left to try is daily anxiety medication that may or may not work. After that, he has to go back to rescue, and then- oh the guilt! Not to mention I would really miss him and his catnip addiction.
Anyone have any advice?
Oh, I hope he learns what you want him to.
Comment by Sanisi — September 5, 2007 @ 10:06 am
I had the same problem over Christmas. We adopted two cats, both fixed males, from a shelter where they’d been living in a room with other cats. The little one took to peeing everywhere as a sign of dominance over the bigger, older cat. The final straw was when I woke up on Christmas Eve to find the big cat asleep at the foot of the bed and the little one on top of me, peeing on my comforter.
unfortunately, I ended up taking the little one back to the shelter. It broke my heart to give him back and to watch his plaintive little face watching me as I walked away. The good news is that he was adopted two days later to a home with no other cats, and he was fine.
Comment by Savannah Brentnall — September 5, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
I have two friends who had a similar problem, and both of them were multi-cat families. One friend gave the cat valium and it worked wonders. The other friend sent the peeing cat to live with her ex-husband. He was the only cat in the house, and he didn’t feel the need to pee outside the box anymore. Good luck!
Comment by Suzi — September 5, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
You might get him checked for a bladder infection just in case…
Comment by Obsessedscrapbooker — September 6, 2007 @ 4:08 am
Sigh, sounds pretty frustrating, but I bet after this week he will be good. The bathroom it is!
Comment by Creole Wisdom — September 6, 2007 @ 5:04 am
Cat’s usually don’t like to go anywhere that it won’t absorb. Great advice to put them in the bathroom. Also, put foil anywhere that is a problem spot, such as corners, baskets, rugs. Cats refuse to go on foil.
Comment by CB — September 6, 2007 @ 8:26 am
He may have a UTI. Take him to the vet. When a cat has a UTI they pee outside the box. Kinda like a way to let you know.
Comment by shelly — September 6, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Naughty Gus, but he is adorable and smooshy.
Comment by Mymsie — September 7, 2007 @ 10:31 am
I echo what the others have said about a possible bladder infection. If it isn’t a dominance or behavorial problem, an infection could be the troublemaker. When the litter box is associated with urination pain, the cat will try someplace else in the hopes it doesn’t hurt.
Comment by jayne d'Arcy — September 7, 2007 @ 10:54 am
I feel your pain Lou with the pee. My cat broke her leg and we have had to take her to the Vet several times and EVERY TIME she pees in my car. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get the smell of cat urine out of your car? In the summer? Ugghh!
Comment by soapbox.SUPERSTAR — September 8, 2007 @ 4:37 am
Take it from someone who worked at a pet store for 6 years, it is indicative of a bladder infection. My cat has been having the same problem over the last little while, it stopped for a little while and now it is back, so I will be taking her in this week. It is so frustrating, but before getting rid of him try the vet…Just in case.
Comment by Nina D — September 9, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
hi hi! can i chuck my vet-nurse two-cents in?
first, everyone’s right, gather up a little sample of the urine and take it down to your vet to test for a UTI or similar. if he has a UTI, a course of antibiotics will clear it all up.
also, have you used a specific urine-cleanser for the spots he’s peed on?? cats leave behind scent-markers when they pee which is ammonia-based, so even if you clean it, the ammonia scent is still there, so they can find their ‘toilet’ again. using an ammonia-free cleaner and a specific urine cleanser like ‘urine-off’ or similar, will remove the markers that indicate to him that there are toilets available for him to use on your bed, on the carpet, on your pot-plants, etc. speak to your vet about it, they should have information regarding such products.
a little extra litter-training wouldn’t hurt him either, especially if he has a UTI and you get it cleared up - if you find him using the litter tray, give him lots of praise and a little treat as soon as he’s finished.
hope he gets better soon!
Comment by erin — September 11, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Letting your cats live a normal live with access to the outside will solve many soiling and behavior problems. Don’t live in a place where you can do that? Don’t own a cat, you would not force a horse to dwell in your house either…
Comment by Cinnamon — June 18, 2008 @ 3:33 am