Weeing outside litter tray

[smokeandglitter]

I live in a house-share with friends atm (wedding 2013, waiting to ttc until then) and my friend and I both have cats. I have a Ragdoll who's been really good, hasn't had an accident so far and is pretty obedient and compliant, just as her breed's supposed to be (not to mention hairy haha). However, my friend's moggy has just started weeing outside the tray, mainly on laundry if folded in a pile on the floor/in basket or on the fluffy base of the scratching post. She does do it on the floor as well, but less often. She hasn't been showing any other signs of UTI, no dripping, no pain, no less wee when she goes and no smell.

I asked my raggie's breeders advice, who said it could be stress. My friend does have Borderline Personality and her moods are very volatile atm so I did think perhaps this could have affected the cat, as they do have a strong bond. Breeder suggested one of those plugs that releases hormones/smell to calm the cat. Only other info I can think to give is that she has just got over worms (long story), we got a new littertray (a lidded one) which she was fine using, but I suppose she could find it awkward, and she's not allowed outside due to main road and she is 7 months now so perhaps her hormones are causing trouble and she wants the freedom. She is a generally naughty cat (though loved to pieces by us) so we have had a few issues with her learning the rules.

Sorry this is so long! I do babble! Do you suggest taking her to the vet straight away or trying the plug first? I'm not too experienced at owning a cat (my first) though did voluntary work for a few years at a Vets so know a bit about them. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks ever so Mnetters! :D

[Lizcat]

Do you only have one litter tray for the two cats? Feline behaviourists recommend that in multi cat households (more than one) you one of each facility per cat plus a spare, facilities are litter trays, water bowls and food bowls. I am afraid it is much much more likely that you and your cat moving in are the cause of the other cat's anxiety that any mental health issues your friend may have. There is a lot more info here here.

[smokeandglitter]

No, sorry, I didn't make it clear. I didn't just move in. My friend and I have been sharing the house a while. The cats have lived happily together for 5 months, they were introduced at about 15 weeks old and we had been living together in the same house previously. They both have their own spaces to escape to all day and are in our bedrooms at night.

We have a litter tray for each cat (one upstairs and one down) plus an extra in the lounge. All three are available for use all day. They are fed separately in separate rooms, without access to each others' food, but they have a communal water-bowl plus their own. I clean out the whole thing once a day, but if they go for a poo then that's cleared straight away.

Thanks for the input and the link. :)

[smokeandglitter]

bump :)

[issey6cats]

if shes not neutered it could be hormones and it sounds like she just likes weeing on soft surfaces so maybe she dosent like the litter you have in the tray, which litter do you use, i use the wood pellets ones and my four happily share one big litter tray between them (small house no room for multi trays), it might be worth taking her to the vates just to rule out auti

[issey6cats]

thats vets for check on uti dammed keyboard lol

[smokeandglitter]

Thanks issey - just got my friend to take her to the Vet, they said the same as you about hormones. They also said it sounded like stress, which makes sense I think. We're going to get a feliway and keep an eye out, if this doesn't work, we'll see if a change of litter does. :)

Thanks so much for your help!

[FruitShootsChocolateEggcitedly]

My cat has recently started doing this. She is 11 and she got really stressed out by the snow in January.

I have cured it by feeding her where she is weeing. I have also had to put a rubber mat there to protect the carpet.

she is now much better but when i went back to feeding her in her usual place she started weeing outside the tray again so i think it may have to feed her there long term.

So you could try feeding her in the places she is using. It might make her return to her litter tray.

[smokeandglitter]

Brilliant! Thanks fruitshoots! :)