cat gone insane and peeing everywhere

[Jimjams]

2 years ago we inherited the cat when we moved into this house (previous owners moved to spain). She is a lovely cat- very gentle and quite beautiful. Previous owners had no kids and were a bit cat mad so she had loads of attention now she has none- except from ds2 who loves her. DS1 ignores her.

Anyway when we returned from holiday she started peeing everywhere (not sure if it was the stress of us going or returning ) This week we ave an electrician in the house - floorboards up, drilling holes- absolute chaos- has been in 6 days - should finish tomorrow. And now she is marking territory all over the place.

help! Any advice for an insane cat. The vet has given us some calming cat pheremones and some smell digester stuff. My attitude is a bit "it's a cat FFS what the hell does she have to be stressed about". I really cannot have her marking the house. I don't have the time for an insane cat.

Did you read "A Day in the life of..." in the Sunday Times yesterday. Featured Vicky Halls who is a cat behaviourist and most of her clients call her in as there is a urination prob. I called her in too and she sorted out my situation by suggesting another litter tray so that when there are 2 cats and one is dominant, the less dominant one has an alternative tray to use. BTW cats use blocking a litter tray as a form of power!
LOL at "it's a cat FFS so what the hell does she have to be stressed about." I am sure she leads a charmed life!
How long since you returned from your holiday? She probably isn't marking as such, just telling you she is "stressed" (!) and by her peeing, she is giving something you really can't ignore.
I am sure it's a relief that electrician finishes tomorrow. Can you keep her in one room if poss until he leaves and things are back in order and let her re-explore the rooms slowly. 1-2 rooms a day? The cat pheromones work but depends on the size of the area too. One plug will do a smallish room. You could try playing with her - toy on string, shoving folded newspaper through crack of door or underneath when she is at other end to cheer her up. Cat's instinct to chase something moving however slow is so strong she will join in. That way she might forget she is stressed and start to settle down again.
Good luck.

I did see it. I have a feeling we should be giving her more time tbh but I'm not sure how- we don't have any more time. I just kind of wonder whether we are the wrong family for her. She loved her older couple, and although ds1 ignores her, being auti he is loud (screaming) and the house is noisy a lot of the time.

I've plugged the hormone in the room she tends to sleep in during the day, and we also have a spray thingy.

We came back from holiday about a month ago, but it has taken me a while to work out what was going on, and has suddenly got a lot worse- maybe the electrician.

She's a bit of a lethargic cat tbh- doesn't seem to want to play much, can't work out how to squeeze out of a door (that was pretty wide for a cat!).

I don't think I can keep her in one room as ds1 won't let us shut doors (don't ask)

I do think it's a good idea to try the hormone thing and spray but I doubt if that will do the trick. When exactly did she start peeing? Does she have a litter tray? Does she go outside? Is there a male cat trying to get in? Have other cats visited? Has she had cystitis or does she have a urinary tract problem? When did this actually start?

The Feliway is usually very good-either works a treat and people come in like clockwork every month or doesnt work at all (would say about 75% works). Dont need to shut cat in one room, it will diffuse through a floor area and you are doing the best you can by putting it where she spends the most time.
Presume your vet has checked for cystitis before advising feliway as this can cause random urination.
There are some tablets that will help if feliway doesnt. Your vet wont leap to offer them as they are a bit old fashioned and "might" in theory have side effects, but you could get them if you pushed a bit and they work really well if feliway hasnt.

I think it started when we came back from holiday (or when we were away- my mum looked after her). Vet doesn't think she has cystisis- thinks it is behavioural. No litter tray- she has a cat flap. The vet did ask whether she was being hassled by other cats- but not afaik. Vet also suggested covering the area she pees with a black bin bag so may try that once the electrcian leaves.....