Pee puddles. End of tether reached

[firstposts]

Several times a week our neutered 8 yr old male cat pees in our carpeted hallway. He has a cat flap, we've had him checked out by vets more than once. Tried feliway. There are stair gates so he can escape the dogs and kids to the top floor. Nothing has made any difference. My whole downstairs smells of cat pee. I get through a lot of pet spray but it still reeks. We borrow a vax periodically but not sure it helps.

We have had him since a kitten and our lives have changed alot and to be honest I think he preferred our lives before they arrived! It's getting me down as I love him but I don't like him much any more. That's a horrible thing to say, I know. He's never been a cuddly cat, and we rescued him from a 'animal hoarder' at about 10 weeks. So I know damage can be done by then

Is he peeing because he's unhappy here? How do we make him happier? Any magic tricks to deal with cat pee smell?

Help!

[cozietoesie]

Does he have a tray or two inside the house?

[chemenger]

How many litter trays do you have?

[Bumpedbonce]

We are in the same boat as you, nothing is working

[cozietoesie]

PS - what kind of cat flap do you have? And have you noticed any new cats on the block recently? (I'm wondering whether you might have a new mean cat around who is causing trouble.)

[firstposts]

Thanks for replies, no litter trays. He uses our garden for poos, although the Labrador eats the evidence Would consider a tray but I have a 16 month old so we couldn't put it by the front door where he pees. Could put one on top floor?

We have a microchip cat flap so only he gets in and out. That said, he does have scuffles with other cats. We are an army family so this is his fourth home, he has had scuffles in every patch we've lived on.

[cozietoesie]

I'd go for a tray directly. (At least one - Seniorboy has two and uses both.) If there's a mean cat or two outside, he could be on guard the minute he leaves the house and not really be getting an opportunity to do his duty out there (cats often feel vulnerable when they're peeing or pooing) so he could be heading back into the house for safety and then peeing anywhere in desperation.

I'm afraid that just because he constantly has scuffles doesn't mean that he's a winner.

It's really worth a try anyway.

[firstposts]

Thank you. Will try a tray, does it matter it won't be in his usual pee spot? I need to get some perspective on this. He is not doing this deliberately or maliciously, even if it feels that way!

[chemenger]

As always I'm with cozietoesie, sometimes the best behaved cat has a problem that they need help with in the shape of a litter tray. It's a pity you cant put it in the room where he usually pees but if you show it to him a few times I bet he gets the hang of it.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

If you can I'd put one tray upstairs and another somewhere downstairs.. do you have a downstairs loo or somewhere relatively secluded? It sounds likely he is scared to pee outside .

I had three children under three (!!) and litter trays and no one came to any harm.. I was just fairly vigilant while they were crawling and toddling and kept the trays very clean. It is doable :)

[firstposts]

Could try downstairs loo, thanks will ponder that one. Have a 3 year old who opens doors, a 16 month old and a Labrador; all of whom are a risk to a downstairs litter tray! I try to be very vigilant but 16 month at that exhausting age of being into everything but zero common sense. Thanks all. Need to try something. 3 pees today and am feeling very worn out with it all.

[firstposts]

Okay .. More pee puddles. One was on our cooker top so got a good view. It had a blood fleck in it. Have syringed the pee in case vets want to see it, will take in it on Monday.

Have spoken to emergency vets too, he was seen in October for having blood flecks in his wee, thoroughly invested and didn't find anything. He is still peeing so they are happy not to see him as an emergency case.

We are in a tricky spot, a new policy started on 20 November so this illness falls within a 14 day exclusion period. I am going to argue that it's an existing condition as he was investigated for this 7 weeks ago. What do you reckon our chances are of being able to claim? I can manage a new excess but literally will have to cancel Xmas if we're not covered. So worried about money, also worried that he should maybe be being seen tonight? Even though emergency vets have said its fine to wait until Monday.

[cozietoesie]

Oh Dear. I assumed when you said that he'd been checked over by the vet more than once that he was physically OK but it does sound rather like FLUTD.

What tests did the vet run for him in October? Did he do full blood and urine workups for example?

[firstposts]

Oh god, what's that? They basically suspected urine infection gave antibiotics injection plus course of bupaq antibiotics? Meanwhile we collected sample of urine when tested it was clear of infection. Meanwhile, it seemed to clear up for a while, less peeing on house. Then here we are .. Is this an emergency situation? I'm watching him closely, he's eating and drinking. We've kept him in since mid afternoon and only one small wee with blood spots. Panicking now

[firstposts]

Just so 50:50 on emergency vets tonight ? Would never forgive myself if he died because I didn't react the right way, equally the £151 to walk in the door at the emergency vets is going to destroy us financially. I know strangers on the Internet can't tell me either. I just wish money was no object, or that I knew for sure how quickly I need to react.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I wouldn't rush to the vets tonight. If they wanted him in they'd have said.

Does he have wet food or dry?.

[firstposts]

Wet food, felix or whiskers. We started out on a Iams but he went on a long hunger strike. He will eat dry treats but not food. Cat flap locked, litter tray in place. If no pee by morning Then guess emergency vets? I think. Does anyone know how long it could take to get critical if he was blocked?

[cozietoesie]

I'd see how he does overnight.

[cozietoesie]

Here's some guidance - sorry it's lengthy.

[firstposts]

Thanks all. This certainly puts the pee puddles in perspective. Just want him well now, he can wee anywhere he likes!

[firstposts]

Thanks for link cosietoesie

[MinimalistMommi]

Can you get him the expensive litter trey, Modcat or something like that which is covered so your toddler can get to it?

[firstposts]

Thanks will look at that. He's done a big wee overnight in the litter tray so that's reassuring. No blood visible. still plan on taking him to vets tomorrow though.

[cozietoesie]

Actually in the litter tray? That's good.

[firstposts]

Yes, it is. He also seems well, so purring, sleeping, eating and drinking. Think well keep him in for now to keep an eye though. We're out of 14 day exemption period on Friday, if all seems well would it be awful to wait until then?

[cozietoesie]

I'm not the best person to advise on this one because I have my boys down to the vet (by hook or by crook) if they so much as look at me cross-eyed.

It's your call, first.