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The litter tray

Reaching the end of my tether with cat pee.

41 replies

DowntonTrout · 25/03/2014 19:53

This morning I found the cat had peed in a suitcase with clothes in, again. Hadnt finished unpacking from the weekend. Not only that but DDs freshly washed blanket was dripping wet too.

Last week I was clearing out the bottom of the wardrobe and it's apparent he has been using that as a toilet too. This has been going on for some time now. Nothing is safe. Anything you leave on the floor, any cupboard he can get into, bags, shoes, even the sofa isn't safe.

He is 14. He has always used the cat flap. I recently relented and reinstated a litter tray, which he is using, but he continues to pee elsewhere.

I don't know what to do anymore. He has no health issues, our other cat is 12 and our dogs are 9. Nothing has changed. He has always been sensitive, he came from a feral litter and is very highly strung. Plug ins have not helped. We try and keep doors shut so he can only be in the hall and living room but if he sneaks in and gets shut in, well you can guess what happens. Last time we had guests he peed in their suitcase too.

I have written about him before. I have followed advice. What now? DH is of the mind to have him put to sleep because he is literally ruining the house. What can I do?

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thecatneuterer · 25/03/2014 21:41

Oh dear. I remember your other thread. I would try two litter trays - so there's always a clean one. And then just try to keep him out of the problem rooms.

Did you ask the advice of the vet?

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 08:48

I can try the litter trays but he just seems to pee on stuff anyway.

The vet recommended the hormone plug ins. She said it sounds like it's stress. Well, like I said, he is very highly strung, he will only sit with me, he has never really lost his feral ness (is that a word?) 14 years ago I rescued him and his sister from a farm where the cats were wild, had various litters, lots were deformed from inbreeding and most didn't survive to adulthood. He is what he is, I love him for it but his behaviour is becoming a real problem.

I have friends coming to stay at Easter. They have dogs, they're not bringing them but their stuff will smell of dog and it will be a target for him. Trying to keep doors shut is ok but doesn't work in real life. He will not cope with a cattery, we can't pick him up, catching him to put in a box to take to the vets is a nightmare, it can take us days and many cancelled appointments. If you walk in the room or make a sudden movement he shoots off. Like I said, I love him for his quirks but he is no lap cat and it's very difficult.

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purpleshinyone · 26/03/2014 08:55

I have the same problem. Don't know how to stop it but have discovered that 'Urine Eliminator' from The Rug Doctor, a spray, really does work.

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elliebe13 · 26/03/2014 09:02

My aunt has the same problem, her house stinks. Her cat isn't necessarily ill the vet just says she's old. I would put the cat to sleep. Sorry Hmm

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chemenger · 26/03/2014 09:38

I had a problem with my cat spraying in the house and the only thing that solved it was multiple litter trays (6 at one point, now down to 4). It is unbearable to have a stinking house and expensive (£120 to have curtains cleaned!). Even my vet, who is the most tolerant man in the world said we couldn't put up with it for ever. Is it possible that he is having a problem with another cat outside that is making him stressed?

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FlankShaftMcWap · 26/03/2014 09:52

Oh I empathise! I have 4 cats, a mum and her kittens who are 4 now. We have litter trays everywhere and we live on a farm which they roam but one of them just wees everywhere. She has a favourite corner in the living room and it stinks no matter what I do. We've had shoes weed on, clothes, beds, carpet, toys. It's disgusting. I have no advice, we haven't cracked it yet but I feel your pain!

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 09:54

Don't be sorry for saying put him down. I know it's getting there.

Yes, yes, to the curtains, and the carpets.

It's just that it takes a lot for him to come to me. When he sits with me it's a real privilege. He is really harsh with his claws, has never learnt not to use them. I'm the only person he will come near, and the fact that he trusts me, sometimes, makes it so hard when he is otherwise very healthy. I saved him once and it's such a dilemma to have him put down now.

I have hardly any sense of smell. Hence, unless something is obviously wet, I don't notice it. The dry stains I have found, curtains, carpets, folded clothes in cupboards, bags, shoes, etc. god my house must stink.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 09:59

Flank I threw away a load of DDs soft toys a couple of weeks ago. She had to sniff each one and tell me if it smelt or not.

My elder DD came to stay with her baby a few months ago. I had an inflatable play ring for baby to sit in. I put all his toys in it after they had gone. Lo and behold it was dripping with wee and poo next time I looked at it. That did nearly push me over the edge.

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expatinscotland · 26/03/2014 10:09

I'd have it out to sleep. Sorry.

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expatinscotland · 26/03/2014 10:10

Put, sorry.

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PickledMoomin · 26/03/2014 10:14

I have the same problem. Our cat is now confined to one room with cat flap access to the garden.

Recently, she was weeing on the worktops and hob numerous times a day. I bought a felliway plug in. They're not cheap but it seems to have made a difference.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 10:57

One room isn't possible here. Cats live in one side of the house. The dogs live in the other.

One cat isn't bothered by the dogs and struts about taunting them. They cower in fear of her. Troublesome cat has never accepted the dogs, after 9 years, and stays firmly away. The dogs could be the issue I suppose but after all this time I can't do anymore than keep them in their respective areas.

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chemenger · 26/03/2014 11:03

You could try Zyclene (I'm not sure that is the right name and I don't have time to google, sorry). Its a mild sedative type thing that is meant to calm cats down. I used it with nastycat when we first go new kittens - mixed it into food - its comes as powder in a capsule. I think it did help a bit, she sounds quite like your cat in terms of handling and friendliness ie you can't handle her and she's not friendly. You can get it on the internet, I don't think there are any side effects to worry about, doesn't cost a fortune.

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 11:04

I'm feeling pessimistic about this one, unusual for me. You sound to have a busy household with lots of animal and visitors and an ageing ex-feral cat who would likely prefer complete peace and quiet (and being a singleton) when he comes in but is used to going out. I don't know that Feliway would make enough difference in this case.

If he was younger, I would suggest that you perhaps try to find him a 'position' as a farm cat, maybe subsidising his care in case he didn't mouse well enough, but at 14.....?

You could try the Feliway as a last attempt?

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 11:06

Zylkene.

Worth a try.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 11:35

cosietoezie you are correct.

Not that it hasn't always been this way, our other cat (his niece) is 12, the dogs are 9. It used to be much busier but 2 eldest DCs have left home and youngest is away at school and only home at weekends. During the week I keep upstairs doors closed. DD and visitors are not as vigilant and DD sleeps with her bedroom door open at night. The litter box is outside her door so there is no excuse for him to pee in her room, but he does.

Maybe he is just older and can't cope with disruption. I say disruption, but it's just normal life.

Have tried feliway. It made no difference. I can't rehome him at 14. Who wants a 14 yo cat that pees everywhere. My poor little man would never settle, he would run off. Sad

I am relieved no one is judging.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 11:49

Just to say, he loves his niece. They snuggle together and wash each other.

Troublesome cat is on the left.

Reaching the end of my tether with cat pee.
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Fluffycloudland77 · 26/03/2014 12:06

Try the zylkene, it really is worth a try. It calms ASBO cat down.

Try a different litter, mine will use wood pellets or ultra clumping but wees on walls/beds/tables/bannister spindles if we try normal clumping litters. Also his tray has to be extra clean & he likes to see me put a fresh layer of litter on top when it's getting close to litter tray change time.

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 12:12

All the cats I've had have loved routine - disruption doesn't sit well with them especially as they age (in my experience.) And you have visitors/strangers in the house?

(I actually calmed Seniorboy down after his little suspected stroke by rigid adherence not only to existing routine but by gently re-introducing some things he'd known as a kit eg telly. It worked very well.)

I don't know, Downton. You say you've used Feliway - maybe try the Zylkene and an extra tray as a last ditch attempt? Other than that, and assuming that no-one else in your circle of family or friends is prepared to take him on.......I'm sorry.

Maybe another poster will have some good ideas.

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 12:13

or some different litter as Fluffy suggested.

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 12:14

I know what you mean, Fluffy. I have to tell Seniorboy that I've cleaned his tray (with the special phrase) before he'll relax after doing is duty.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 12:24

Ok. Last ditch. I will try another tray, different litter and the zylkene.

I can see that our lifestyle probably doesn't suit him anymore. I am home most of the time, including during the day. Last year though, I had to live away for 7 months, which is about when this started. DH travels abroad for work a lot and with DD being away, but home at weekends there are always suitcases coming and going, which seem to be his primary target.

Plus he got his tail stuck in the cat flap a few months ago. He's scared of that too now.

We can't change our live style unfortunately. I feel very sad but I think it's all too much for him.

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cozietoesie · 26/03/2014 12:31

Good luck.

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DowntonTrout · 26/03/2014 12:45

I've just been into the second living room, which we rarely use.

There are two lots of poo on the sofa and the cushions are wet. I just can't do this anymore.

He is desperately unhappy or ill isn't he? I feel sure a failure.

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wellmoisturised · 26/03/2014 12:52

I had this situation, when I first moved in with my DH he had a cat, a very lively torti, and I had my 3, now sadly 2 as I had to have my lovely tabby boy pts last November, anyway when I moved in torti was so obviously stressed and started to pee everywhere, she would often have bouts of cystitis to, was forever at the vets so often the cat pee would be blood stained, just awful, I can remember not long after I had our first baby coming downstairs in the morning and having to clear up lakes of pee before I could get on, I just couldn't leave it.
We persisted with this for 3 years, we loved her so much and really didn't want to have her re-homed via a shelter, purely because we wanted to know where she would be going eventually, but as luck would have it DH brother said he would have her, where she is happily residing, and lo and behold she doesn't pee anywhere or get cystitis, she just couldn't tolerate not being an 'only' cat.
I never thought I would ever give a cat away but the pee everywhere was just intolerable, and we tried everything! So I know how you are feeling op.

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