My cat keeps peeing by the front door

[msrisotto]

She's about a year old and is an indoor cat due to her being half ragdoll, we were told they were not to go outside. We used to have a doormat on the inside but have taken it (and subsequent replacements) away until we fix this as she keeps peeing on them and they're hard to get absolutely clean.

She has 1 hooded litter tray in a quiet, private place. I have given her 2 trays before which she used but it didn't change the unwanted behaviour so I took the second one away.

I'm pretty sure there is a cat taunting her from the other side as I see it stalking around and I think i've heard her 'talking' to it through the door (then peeing there). I have put some of her poo outside the front door and tin foil both sides (neighbours must think i'm nuts!) hoping to deter both cats but she will happily pee on the tin foil. I clean it with urine off (have a black light on its way through the post to check i'm completely eliminating the urine), have used a feliway diffuser in the past (no difference) and occasionally use the feliway spray once i've cleaned the area but tbh I think that makes her pee there quicker!

I am running out of ideas. Please help!

[nappyaddict]

We put pepper and curry powder in places we don't want our cat to pooh. It seems to work.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

What is her other half? I would let her out with a collar with your phone number on. The problem with ragdoll genes is that they often have no sense of direction and frequently get lost. I have a friend who is always getting calls to collect her cat from the other end of town!

[msrisotto]

Moggy. I live near a busy road with 3 schools on, i'd be really really worried to let her out tbh.

I've put pepper down before and she bloody licked it off her paw! This clearly aint a normal cat.

[Rosa]

I had cats who would pee on my step ... I bleached every inch of it so there was no smell of any previous wee / poo. Up the walls you name it. Then sprinkled vinegar over teh entire area for a few days and also put plastic water botles filled up ( as heard it was an old wives tale. Continued for 2 weeks to bleach and vinegar and it worked..... ( Either that or the bottles). It was an outside step however...........

[msrisotto]

Bleach contains ammonia - same as cat urine so you're not supposed to clean up using bleach! Gah. Anyway, I might do a similar blitz on the outside of the door in case this other cat is marking it.

[purplepidjbauble]

It sounds to me like she's feeling insecure about her territory. Is there a catflap in the door that she can see through? Or a window of some sort?

[msrisotto]

Yeah it seems that way to me. There is no cat flap and it's a solid door with no windows. There is a small gap at the bottom right of the door, I have no idea how to fix it though, it's just the door and the frame not fitting very well.

[purplepidjbauble]

How about a draught excluder? One of them old fashioned velveteen weighted jobbies??

[whomovedmychocolate]

Try putting her food there for a week. Cats will not pee where they have to eat.

[msrisotto]

She'll pee on it I reckon purple.

I will try putting her food there, bit of an inconvenient spot though. little PIA.

[Catsmamma]

one of my precious catbabies (said with a good dose of self mocking) is really fussy about cat litter, have you tried changing what you use?


She will use the woodstuff, but if that is all we have she will also protest pee in corners, or in the bath, or hand basin or laundry baskets...ick

She only likes the pink gravelly non clumping stuff, so we use that and have no bother.

[msrisotto]

She still uses her tray but changing her litter is doable. I buy this stuff, clumping very fine wood pellets.

So, are you suggesting clay type non clumping litter from the supermarket?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Oh they hate the clumpy stuff, it sticks to their paw pads. :(

Apparently they also hate the reflection of 2 litre plastic bottles filled with water. Gardeners do this to keep them off areas. Personally I reckon my cat would just whizz all over the bottle and then bat it around for good measure but perhaps if you are getting desperate anything is worth a try.

Or cat nappies

[msrisotto]

lol, cat nappies - are you my DP?
Thanks for the bottled water tip (god this is sad, I am geting desperate obviously!)

Shame they hate the clumpy stuff, it's really convenient! Never mind, I would bloody LOVE it if that solved the problem. I remain sceptical though because I really think it's a territory war with the other cat outside.

I bought a blacklight to make sure I have cleaned up properly and either it doesn't work, i'm hallucinating or I really have cleaned up spectacularly well because there is only tiny bits on the wall, none on the floor but the corridor smells i'm sure of it! I think i'm hallucinating it.....

[whomovedmychocolate]

Hmm, try dissolving bio washing powder in boiling water, cooling it, then sponging the area when it's hand hot. This will kill the pheremones. And remember to do it outside of the door in case invader cat is pissing through the letterbox etc.

[whomovedmychocolate]

You could also buy some catmint in a pot and put it by the door, the cat will like that smell and not want to wee near it.

[msrisotto]

Thanks for your help so far!

Ok, I've nuked the doorstep both sides of the door with warm bio washing solution, rinsed with cold water, dried then sprayed with surgical spirit.

She couldn't have cared less about the 2 litre bottle of water - nice try! I think she enjoyed the distorted view while she pee'd in her regular spot!

I have put a litter tray with a non clumping litter there for the last couple of weeks or so and she has been peeing in that box as it is in the same spot. Still no.2's in the old box with the clumping litter so I don't think she's bothered about the type of litter.

Until the surgical spirit dries, i've shut her in the living room. Haven't got her catmint as I can't find any that is part grown, only seeds and i've tried to grow catmint (and other plants ) before and I can't (I kill grown healthy plants too - too much love, too little love, I just can't get the balance right!)

Any other tips appreciated! I will try almost anything (the cat stays though!)!

[Babybio1]

Hi
Did you get any further with this issue?
My 19 yr old lady has started peeing in front of the doors as well as her litter tray!!@msrisotto