Only looking for things that *actually worked* in stopping cat wee

[Coffeetree]

I've turned the Internet upside down and have found loads of suggestions but no actual stories of "I did X and it stopped my cat from stress-weeing outside her box" .

My indoor cat had been absolutely fine with using her box, and then after lockdown I went from being home all day to working outside the house for 12 hours a day. I had her before lockdown but she was fine with my long hours then.

I've got a new remote-only job beginning in Jan, but she now has the bad habits. She pees on my bed and bathmat and when discouraged from that she started on the couch. She's now confined to spare room with litter box and I sleep in there with her (with foil on bed to keep her off).

Checked at vet, no med issues. I'm not even going to list all the things I've tried because I've tried everything possible that can be found on the Internet. So please don't ask have I tried x, the answer is yes.

I'm beginning to suspect that nothing really works and that people just end up living in urine-soaked homes or giving away their cats, and that's why in the hundreds of blogs and threads all over the Internet you never have the OP returning to say, "Thanks for the advice, problem solved!"

Anyone actually resolve the issue?

Great to hear, yes it looks like confining for a while is they key to a fresh start.

@Santaischeckinglists

When we first moved to our current home dcats hated it. Pissed everywhere.. They were banished to the utility room and kitchen( when we were around).. New routine for 6 months then new huge housed tray and wood pellet litter and allowed the run of downstairs but in one bedroom over night where the tray was. No mishaps for 5 years + New routine /change of circumstances is more than some can cope with. New dkitten and dcat bonded within a fortnight.. House is big enough they could have lived apart here if they hadn't got on.

Do you mean they're confined to one room at night?

Yes.. They sleep in dd's room with a litter tray and their supper.. They sleep under the covers I am told! Then it's breakfast in the utility room with access to outside (and a bed on the tumble drier and a huge dcat tree) until tea time ish. Dkitten is currently practising passing the ddogs unnoticed!

Non premium brands of cat food can cause bladder irritation in a sensitive cat. It always happens with our cat so he has Royal Canin now. The vet said some of the cheaper cat foods can cause their urine to be acidic and painful

Thanks.

The pattern started after I returned to work after lockdown. Before that, there was maybe one accident per year--once because I tried new litter, and two times because I took a short trip.

After I returned to work after lockdown, she got into a pattern of peeing on me in bed, and on bath mat. She also happily pees in litter box. I thought I'd sorted it by keeping her out of the bedrooms and hanging up bath mat, but she's started peeing near the couch where I spend a lot of time, and on cushions I'd been on.

I'll soon start working at home, so she'll be happier, but we really need to break the habit.

My friend had this issue. The only thing that worked was fitting a cat flap.

I appreciate the specific experiences people shared. Really helpful. Hopefully we'll sort it.

If you find a solution, let me know 😒

For years our cat has done it. Not a regular occurance anymore. Thankfully he has taken to doing his wees in our bathtub (not great, but I'd rather that as a compromise for anywhere else!). Just the other day though he'd managed to get into our spare room which we are preparing as a nursery for our baby due January (door doesn't close properly so they can open it) and decided to pee on the floorboards (waiting to get new carpet laid). For him it started when he suffered a UTI as a kitten and the behaviour never quite went away.

@Coffeetree

Bland copy-pastes about "reducing stressors" are all over the Internet, and useless.

So what about the very specific evidenced based bulletin pointed reply I gave earlier?

What's the rationale for ignoring that?

@Coffeetree

I will have to rehome her if I can't resolve the issue and if my new work-from-home regime doesn't take away her stress. She can't live the rest of her life in one room. Hence my asking for actual real specific solutions and my frustration with the non-answers.

I'm startling to think this is a wind up

'Give me anecdotes or I'll rehome my cat'

Why not seek advice from an actual behaviourist?

That's dreadful. If I find anything that works ill let you know. It sucks having to keep various doors closed all the time.

@Trinacham

If you find a solution, let me know 😒

For years our cat has done it. Not a regular occurance anymore. Thankfully he has taken to doing his wees in our bathtub (not great, but I'd rather that as a compromise for anywhere else!). Just the other day though he'd managed to get into our spare room which we are preparing as a nursery for our baby due January (door doesn't close properly so they can open it) and decided to pee on the floorboards (waiting to get new carpet laid). For him it started when he suffered a UTI as a kitten and the behaviour never quite went away.

It sounds like a classic stress/scent profile response. Feliway in rooms/areas where scent profiles change due to redecoration/visitors etc will likely help.

Less so in the OP's case though as her cat seems to be demonstrating separation related behaviour.

But she doesn't want evidence-based approaches tailored to her individual cat. Only generic anecdotes that will likely result in failure after 'trying everything' and then rehoming to pass the problem on

Feliway is the only thing that has worked for mine. If I forget and it runs out they start being little shits and before too long the weeing starts...I now have it on a repeat order so I don't forget.

Which type of Feliway do you use?

You've got some great responses considering you've been so rude to a lot of posters.

Peppermint or citrus essential oils are toxic to cats, along with a lot of other essential oils.

Don't think it's anything to do with redecorating. This behaviour has literally been going on for years. His favourite spots have been any mat - front door, back door, bath mat. Then he's also done it on the stairs (we have a quarter staircase). The nursery one was just the most recent example. As I said, the behaviour started when he was a kitten suffering from a urinary infection, so I believe it all stemmed from there. Most the time now though, he fortunately does it in the bath tub. Most the time he uses his litter tray. He always poops in his tray. He is a Ragdoll and they are known to pee outside the box, from what I've read from other owners!

Forgot to tag you @Veterinari

Can you have a litter ox in the bathroom?

Hi OP, I'm a vet nurse. First thing I would suggest is a consult with a feline clinical behaviourist. Your vet should be able to recommend one. Ultimately you need to remove the source of stress and sometimes if that's not possible (rambunctious toddlers for example) then rehoming can be in the pets best interests. Meanwhile I would speak to your vet about anti anxiety medication. I have tons of patients on drugs like prozac. Anxiety in pets is extremely common these days. Your pet is likely reacting to the changes in her life but likewise a new cat nearby can cause these stress signals so a bit of detective work is often required.

Thank you. I'm certain that my sudden long hours at work are the stressor as there's been nothing else different. I have already introduced catnip into the nighttime play regime and I ordered beaphor calming treats. My vet recommended Feliway too, but in a "maybe this will work" kind of way.

Already the confinement regime is working! Consistent use of box. She gets the run of the place when I'm home, and I've noticed no more sniffing round pillows when she gets the urge--she just trots to the box.

Next step-- put 2nd box in main bedroom.

Next week is my last week at long-hour job.

If she reverts then yes I'll consider a behaviourist!

For our cat who has urinary issues...
Feliway plug in- multiple around the house
Multiple litter trays with different litter in (variety) placed around the house
One fleece blanket in one of the litter trays... just needs washing when used and makes it more comfortable/warm for peeing.
Urinary diet (just in case)
Get vet to check for urinary crystals (struvites)
Toys with catnip

Thank you!

I used Feliway way back when I first got her (and she cowered in a corner all day).but it didn't work at all and I was mad at myself for the waste of money. Maybe I'll try the new formula?