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The litter tray

Cat peeing everywhere

10 replies

ML29 · 26/09/2015 19:11

One of our cats pee's everywhere, on beds, sofas, chairs, carpets. It seems he has now gotten into a neighbours house and peed there too, and they said it's not the first time. Ugh

This cat is never happy, when he is indoors he is meowing nonstop until we put him out, when he is out he is meowing non-stop to get back in.

Just paid to have my sofa and carpet cleaned for the umpteenth time after he peed on them again, and now I have more expenses to clean the poor neighbours rugs. (who have no pets).

At the end of my tether now and really want to get rid of him.

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ML29 · 26/09/2015 19:14

Sorry, really should have added, any ideas what I can do to put a halt to it, he is 4 years old.

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YoungGirlGrowingOld · 26/09/2015 19:17

Sorry to hear this. I have a male cat of a similar age who does this. Posting to pinch any ideas.

Mine does it in one particular spot so I have started putting those puppy training pads down where he does it. (Basically incontinence sheet type things). Still grim but less expensive than new rugs.

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SacredHeart · 26/09/2015 19:18

First port of call is absolutely the vet. Cats are clean and habitual animals so multiple urination sites (especially the bed) usually suggests a UTI. The crying regardless of where he is also suggests this as he may be in pain.

Before you try anything you need a clean bill of health from the vet as soon as possible as untreated toilet issues can form habits after the problem is sorted. The cat can become afraid of their usual toilet spots as they associate the pain with the location.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2015 19:37

Mine did this, it was a uti. I got a sample by using an oral syringe from the pharmacist to suck 3ml of urine off the skirting boards.

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ML29 · 26/09/2015 20:05

Thank you all, I really don't think there are any health issues, I think he is just a delinquent.

He has always done this, I believe that when he is in a comfortable spot, he is too lazy to disturb himself to get up for a pee, so he just pees on the spot.

The Vet has checked him out and nothing untoward showed up, we stopped wet food at her suggestion and now only give dry food.

He is a really smart cat, so he knows he shouldn't be doing it, we always know he has done something because he has such a guilty look on his face and then we have to go searching to find the pee spot.

So mad at him right now.

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ML29 · 26/09/2015 20:07

I will be bringing him back to the Vet on Monday though, I may just do a runner and abandon him there LOL. He is a beautiful looking cat and should be a joy to have around but I can't take any more of this, god knows how many more neighbours homes he has sneaked into.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2015 20:08

Did she dip his urine? the only symptom mine shows is the spraying. No temperature or loss of appetite or sleepyness.

Dry food would make stress cystitis worse.

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SacredHeart · 26/09/2015 20:23

As fluffy said dry food will exacerbate and UTI issues. Cats don't do things to be dicks, if he has no UTI and is doing this it will be because he's learned the habit or something else is wrong with his 'appropriate' toilets.

Cats should have one litter tray pet cat plus one (so two for a one cat household). These should be away from his food and water and sifted at least twice a day (morning and night).

Litter type can also be tricky, personally I use OKO but any clumping, non fragranced litter is a good starting point - but cats are picky. Feel it, if it's sharp (the crystal stuff) how would you like to walk barefoot on it?

Trays should be spread apart and ideally 1.5 length of cat (I have XL Maine coon size) and a choice of covered and open

Full cleaning should be done around once a week.

Any mess outside of the litter trays should be treated with a product specifically for animal waste as it will have enzymes to break down the smell (normal cleaners smell like wee to cats so encourage further use).

I would also suggest a feliway plug in as stress can cause this (also no shouting, tapping etc of the cat as they will not associate it with their behaviour and it will stress them more).

Finally if you have an outdoor cat who uses gardens the simple explanation (and most common) is another cat has come into their territory and they are afraid to use the space (as the other cat is dominant) - in this case I would get some litter trays as there's not much you can do.

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BerylStreep · 26/09/2015 20:32

One or both of mine were peeing behind and beside our sofa.

I bought cheap litter trays and lined them with puppy training pads (I cut them up to the right size. I put the litter trays over the spot they were peeing, and they started using those instead. I then started gradually moving the trays away from the spot, and it seems to have done the trick.

I think they were stressed because our cleaner was bringing her son and his friend when she came to feed them any time we were away, as opposed to it being a medical issue. I've got someone else to feed them if we are away now, so that may have also helped.