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Original poster

Why has my cat started peeing in the house??

30 replies

Wilkie · 13/04/2007 21:39

She started doing this when LO was 5 weeks old (he is 13 weeks now). I wasn't certain that she was peeing I could just smell cat wee in the house.

Found a large damp patch in the bedroom on the carpet near the wardrobe yesterday, sniffed it and it was defo cat wee. I then noticed that the veneer on the wardrobe at the bottom has come away so I am guessing that she has been peeing there for the whole time.

Went upstairs today and the towel that I had put over the patch was drenched - she'd done it again.

DH is threatening to get rid of her and I would be heartbroken but I really really can't have her weeing in the house. She never did it before LO arrived.

Any suggestions on how I can get her to stop? We've never had a litter tray and I don't want one in the house.

OP posts:
charliecat · 13/04/2007 21:40

Is she drinking more water too? My cat started weeing everywhere and it turned out he has diabetes.
The weeing is because they need to get rid of the glucose or something. Will find the thread and be back in a mo...

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 21:41

Haven't noticed particularly. She just has a bowl down all of the time.

She's 4.5yrs old if that makes any difference.

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pirategirl · 13/04/2007 21:43

Our cat started to do this, she was stressed out by the baby. At the time I was stressed out by her doing it, she didnt like the baby crying, one bit.

She did get used to it, in the end, we kept her, and she eventually sorted her prob with the wee.

charliecat · 13/04/2007 21:43

My cats 6 heres the thread and a little way up I mention him weeing about the place
Is she ok in herself, Im off now but will check back here tommorow

Twinklemegan · 13/04/2007 21:43

I wish I knew the answer. One of our cats has been a serial pee-er at intervals ever since we got them, 8 years ago. And she has a litter tray (there used to be two trays, one for each fgs). She's taken to peeing in the kitchen near the litter tray even if it's got nothing in it at all, but only at night strangely.

The worst thing is, unfortunately, that once she's got used to going somewhere it'll be nigh on impossible to stop her unless you shut her out of that room.

In your case it does sound like it could be related to the arrival of your LO. I have yet to understand what prompted mine to start. But please don't let your DH get rid of her - that's a bit drastic!

southeastastra · 13/04/2007 21:43

kick it out! cats are bad

NutterlyUts · 13/04/2007 21:44

Clean the area with that special cleaner designed to remove all trace of the smell, and see if that works. If it doesn't re-clean with the cleaner, then put her food bowls there. If it still doesn't work, I give up

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 21:48

Southeastastra - helpful, thanks

Thanks for suggestions girls. She is such a sweetie, I really don't want to get rid of her

Am going to shut her out of the bedroom for the time being and see if she stops.

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mrsjohnsimnelcake · 13/04/2007 21:55

you could also pseak to your vetws and see if you can get some feliway or felifriend.
These are synthetic pheromones that mimic lactating female cat pheromones.
They do help to chill out stressed cats.... really!

But keep an eye on how much she is drinking too, diabetes in cats is quite common too.

southeastastra · 13/04/2007 21:58

sorry

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 21:59

Forgiven Southeastastra - I'm just very concerned/upset and not in mood for crap comments

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Winston · 13/04/2007 22:00

Ok, to clean the wee up so no smell attracts her back to the same spot use biological washing powder mixed with water and scrub then spray with surgical spirit (this lifts the fatty residues they wee out which create the smell. If she insists on going back to the same spots put small bits of her food right next to it (animals never dirty next to where they eat). This is easier if you use dried food. If it still continues take her to your vet for a blood test to rule out any Urinary Tract Infection. TBH sounds like new arrival may have upset her so to help her adjust by putting something the baby has worn in her bed to help her get used to the new baby smell. Cats get upset very easliy by new smells in their territory.
Hope this helps? I dont own a cat but was a Pet Health Counsellor a few years back and this was a very common problem.9 times out of 10 the issue resolved itself so dont fret just yet and just see how things go. Good luck

mytwopenceworth · 13/04/2007 22:01

if you have ruled out illness, then she is most likely doing it as protest. she is unhappy about something - new baby sounds just the thing to piss off a cat!

i had one that used to shit on my pillow whenever he was cross with me. no escaping the message there!

Winston · 13/04/2007 22:02

PS! May not happen to you but sometimes shutting doors that are usually open to them stress them out even more so by wary of this one as she may get more upset and wee somewhere else. Sorry, dont want to sound all negative.

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 22:03

mytwopenceworth

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Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 22:04

Thanks Winston. I was concerned about shutting the bedroom door for this reason - she sleeps on our bed during the day.

Since LO has arrived she has been put out at night whereas before she used to sleep on our bed. I wonder if this has upset her? I jsut don't want her wandering around in the night as I have the nursery door open - hence she gets put out as it is open plan downstairs.

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Winston · 13/04/2007 22:12

Sounds like that could be the thing thats ticked her off the most. What you must remember and what I always told owners was the baby comes first and if there is anyway she could get into the nursery you have to do whatever it means to make sure they dont so sadly if locking her out at night is the only way then so be it. I am sure you would have already thought of this but do you have a utility room or conservatory or even a shed which she could retreat to at night that she can be secure in but not have access to the rest of the house? If so try making a cosy den for her there. If not I am afraid shutting out is your only option.I know its upsetting for you (believe me, I had the same kind of issued with my dog when my DD1 arrived and I was so upset by it) but dont give up hope yet. She needs to feel secure again thats all. Give the suggestions a go and let me know how you get on.

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 22:14

We have put a cat flap in the shed and have shown her how to use it by putting food in the shed and gently pushing her through the cat flap. She gets out fine but won't go in!!!!

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mrsjohnsimnelcake · 13/04/2007 22:17

Would just like to add that vets would take a urine sample to rule out a urinary infection- cats can get a problem calledlower urinary tract diseas which has many doffenret factors- stress bieng one of them amongst others.
however that usually shos as difficulty urinating and frequent small patches of urine either in the tray or somewhere else around the house.
If she is peeing normally but in the wrong place it could be that she is just producing too much urine eg in diabetes or with a kidney problem- these usually mean that she will drink more than usual too.

So it may just be stress/protest vote- in which case the pheromones may well help.
I think they are more likely to help than trying all sorts of ploys re door and feeding and stuff... but those things are faily simple too and don't cost money

pirategirl · 13/04/2007 22:17

i remember now, yes, we changed the place where cat was allowed to sleep, and that must have upset her, as she was always on our bed.

We made her a new comfy place, she did get used to it in the end. I did try and find more time to give her some affection too, as she missed out alot.

she was a lovely cat, resuce one, saddly no longer with us.

Original poster
Wilkie · 13/04/2007 22:20

Pirategirl, Poppy is a rescue cat too that was abandoned at 18 months old so I REALLY don't want to have to put her back into a rehoming centre

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Winston · 13/04/2007 22:21

Ah, not so keen on that one then?! This may be something she will learn to do herself over time. The summer months will help as she will want to be outside more however it still may tick her off for a bit.Like I said, baby comes first now and you have to do whats best for LO. Try the cleaning method and item of baby clothing in her bed and see if there is any improvement with that.Unfortunatly this wont reslove itself overnight and will require time for her to adjust but hopefully she will. Sorry cant help anymore, keep me posted.

mrsjohnsimnelcake · 13/04/2007 22:24

I hope you do get this sorted, and would thouroughly recommend the pheromones- they do seem to help.

I am a vet btw

pirategirl · 13/04/2007 22:34

Wilkie, she was a rescue cat, but she died on the road, we didnt give her away or anything.

Original poster
Wilkie · 14/04/2007 07:47

Thank you - am going to get the pheremones (sp?) on Monday (vet is shut today) cos I have just been out of the bedroom for 10 mins doing some ironing and sorting my son out and there is another wet patch Daren't tell DH.

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