started to pee in the house....help!

[bugsyburge]

one of our cats is 4 years old. she is an outdoorsy cat and during the summer months it isn't unusual to obky see her briefly at meal times because she's off out playing again.

on Saturday we came back from a two week holiday (never left the cats for this long but one of our neighbours was feeding them so they were still in their own home). since returning yhis particular cat seems very reluctant to go outside. I put this down to the rain to be honest but now two nights on the trot she has squatted in the lounge and peed on the rug.

I have two questions really....

why is she doing this? is it because she is unsettled?

how on earth do I get rid of the smell out of a deep piled rug????

thank you

[cozietoesie]

Sounds like she's frightened to go out so something bad could have happened while you were away - or coincidentally a new cat, say, has just arrived on the block and they don't get on.

I'd get a tray for her to use inside now if she wants to. Do they have a microchip cat flap so that she has a safe place to come into if feeling threatened?

Just how big is the rug ? (And how deep piled?)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Have you had her checked by the vet? Our chinchillas got so ill the first time we went on holiday that my parents bought a holiday home and we took them with us.

She could have an infection. That would be my first thought, followed by upset, then new cat in the area bothering her/fighting.

Bio powder in hot water works on the rug but not on wool or silk. Pets at home do specialist cleaners.

[thecatneuterer]

I agree with Cosie and Fluffy. I would get a tray for her for the time being and probably get her checked for cysitis. And yes, Pets at Home 'Simple Solution' products get rid of the smell of cat wee completely.

[lovetheweekends]

Our cat had a similar thing - we took him to the vet who gave him a clean bill of health - they said he was stressed about something (most likely another cat outside) and we reintroduced the cat litter and got some Feliway (the plug in one) as recommended by the vet.
He has been using the cat litter fine since and has gradually started to go out for longer periods of time.
I hope to stop the Feliway when it runs out (expensive!) and move the cat litter to outside porch, with a view to getting rid of cat litter eventually.
I would try the cat litter 1st and if your cat uses that fine, its the outside that is the problem and if not would get her checked out by the vet.

[deliasmithy]

Bicarb of soda?
1001?
Lemons on plates to stop it repeating the accident?

Mine weed on the sofa and bed when she was trying to tell me she had a wee infection. Apparently they can get them when stressed - I moved their water bowl 4 feet and this had upset her. Bloody highly strung cat!

[bugsyburge]

thanks everyone.... I think it's a fellow cat issue now I've thought about it.... next door got a tom about 5months ago & he has had several fights with our other cat & a cat further up the road so I think he has spooked her.

luckily with the good weather I have had the rug out on the line but I'll be off to pets at home tomorrow for sone special cleaner
thanks again

[cozietoesie]

Good luck - and consider getting a chip flap if you haven't already and there's a mean tom around.

[PickledMoomin]

We have a similar problem with a Tom and frequently find urine and sick in the house. It drives me crazy!

We got a cat flap with magnetic collars which he broke in two. He must have been desperate to get in and scare my two. He's attacked them so many times.

I've been reading about these chip cat flaps but I don't know anyone who uses one. Are they any good?

[cozietoesie]

Nearly all the posters who have them swear by them. (More expensive but well worth it.) Sureflap seems to be the one most used.

[mikkii]

Apparently vodka gets rid of the lingering aroma of dog wee, might work on cat wee too?

[bugsyburge]

managed to tempt her out of the house now but for love nor money, I can't get rid of the smell from the rug...it's been hanging on the line outside since Friday!!!!

[cozietoesie]

That's why I asked how big and deep the rug was. A second question - is it valuable?

[bugsyburge]

well I'm clueless now, the cat has being going outside now like normal but then yday sge decided to pee in one of the bedrooms.... luckily I was there so I was able to clean irbup straight away &then lift the carpet. later on the same day she peed in the underlay!!!!

why is this happening?!

the rug was pretty expensive at is about 6ft by 5ft

[Elenkalubleton]

Once a cat starts spraying its very difficult to stop it,the vet told me that the more you clean it up the more they will keep weeing. I had four at one time and two of them were always doing it.you can get something from the vets which neutrilises the smell .
It was around ten pound when I used to get it.my dd has two cats and one will do it if she gets upset,even something new coming in the house will set her off.

[ceara]

We have a rescue cat with similar wee issues. Sympathies.

On the cleaning front, your vet will stock enzymatic cleaners which should break down the stain and odour. You do need to clean the area well or it will become the cat's habitual loo, which you don't want at all.

As for the underlying problem, it is worth getting her checked out by a vet to rule out a physical cause. Cystitis makes cats lose their toilet training - this is what our little chap gets and when suffering, he tries to find soft things to wee on, I guess maybe thinking the pain is associated with the litter tray and won't get him if he sees on the rug/cushion/bean bag. With cystitis you would usually see straining, weeing little and often, and possibly blood in the urine though this often isn't visible. Cystitis in cats can be caused by infection, or a urinary tract blockage which can become a medical emergency if untreated (most typical in neutered males, though). Or in a good number of cases it has no organic cause and is idiopathic - possibly stress related or just one of those things. There is special food you can get for cats which are prone, and supplements which help keep the urinary tract calmed down ("cat cranberry juice" we call them). It's more expensive than regular food but cheaper than cleaning and replacing our soft furnishings.

If no physical cause is found, then the change in toilet habits must be behavioural. This is usually a response to something which has changed in the cat's little world eg bullying by another cat or even as simple as a new cat litter they don't like. I would start by providing a litter tray indoors somewhere you can live with and the cat is likely to feel safe if she wants to go when inside. Try different textures of litter and try a lidded and unlidded box if at first you don't succeed.

Spraying is a different behaviour issue from urinating in odd places, and can be trickier to crack. But what you describe sounds like urinating ie she is squatting to wee.

Good luck!

[bugsyburge]

thanks all....

i have recently(saturday) found out I'm pregnant & I've just read online that that could be the root cause of it....apparently she can sense the hormones & it's making her stressed......

not really sure how to tackle this one- I've been trying to sit near her and fuss her in the way she likes to try & help her relax so hopefully this will work

if anyone has any other suggestions then it would be greatly appreciated