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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Dirty filthy cat pissing in corners of my house

32 replies

Fettuccinecarbonara · 18/08/2019 21:43

She’s a Siamese. I got her in February when she was a kitten. Was toilet trained. Had the odd poo on my bed Angry but once I’d worked out why (dog was harassing her whilst she pooed) we moved the litter tray to where the dog can’t go, and she started using it again.

Last month she started weeing in my daughter’s bedroom

She’s now progressed to pissing in every corner of mine.

She only uses the litter tray to poo in.

My house STINKS.

Have had a vet check, she’s fine. Vet says ‘Siamese are known for this’

But how do I stop her? I LOVE this cat. She sleeps curled up in my arms all night. But when my house stinks of cat piss, I’d gladly use her as a mop (lighthearted: I don’t)

Can you help me?

OP posts:
viccat · 18/08/2019 21:57

First you need to clean everything extremely well with an enzyme cleaner as the smell will attract her back to the same spots.

Has she been neutered?

Often this is stress related, you need to think about the environment. She might need more than one litter tray, many cats don't like using the same for pee and poo. How is her relationship with the dog in general?

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/08/2019 22:04

Can she go out? Is her litter too sharp eg wood pellet or crystal? Is there only one tray?. Have you tried cystease?.

Cataline · 18/08/2019 22:13

She needs at least two litter trays- ideally in different rooms.

Fettuccinecarbonara · 18/08/2019 22:15

She’s neutered and can go out but chooses not to.

She quite likes the dog, chooses to curl up with him, and bops him on the nose if he wants to play and she doesn’t. She’s definitely in charge of that relationship.

We do however have another cat, and they still hate each other. But he is normally out all night and asleep all day (downstairs). Pissy cat (as she shall now be known) sleeps all night and plays all day. The two cats only really meet at meal times when old cat wakes up (they are fed separately).

Litter is same as she’s always had. No change. There is however only one litter tray in the upstairs ensuite (where dog can’t get at it). All other upstairs doors are shut to minimise her weeing.

I’m almost certain she won’t wee downstairs because of old cat. There’s nowhere else to put one unless I go back to putting one in the bedroom, but she’ll likely avoid it because of dog.

I’m at a total loss!

She is a protest pooer. When I went away for a few nights, she pooed on DH pillow whilst he slept GrinEnvy

I imagine if she were upset about anything else she’d poo, rather than wee? But maybe I’m over simplifying it?

OP posts:
Detroitin68 · 18/08/2019 22:17

Have you tried feliway plug ins?

Fettuccinecarbonara · 18/08/2019 22:21

No! I’ve just googled cystease and saw it was by feliway! I’m going to stock up!

Thank you :)

I’ll report back in a week or so

OP posts:
itsonlyforevernotlongatall83 · 18/08/2019 22:21

I have a Siamese who does exactly this, and like you, it causes alot of stress, after trying everything possible in the end we got cat scares which we put in each place she had toileted and put her in the kitchen at night time, so far 6 months down the line she hasn't done it since, but I am still paranoid though if I think I have even tiniest whiff that she is doing it again!

Veterinari · 18/08/2019 22:22

Inappropriate elimination is a sign that your cat is massively stressed. She’s not ‘dirty, filthy’ She’s unhappy or sick Sad

I know it’s unpleasant but she’s not doing this to upset you - she needs help. Has the vet actually tested a urine sample for infection/crystals?
Read the isfm guidance here:
icatcare.org/advice/problem-behaviour/soiling-indoors

Start appropriate cleaning, use feliway to normalise the scent profiles and increase the number and types of trays that you offer - either restrict the dog or put trays on shelves where the dog cannot reach.

Detroitin68 · 18/08/2019 23:14

I really hope it works!

It helped my old Siamese, along with cleaning through.

An extra litter box might also help. Mine preferred paper litter to pee on.

Good luck!

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/08/2019 07:01

Which litter are you using?. It needs to be as close to soil in texture as possible, ultra clumping is best.

MyMumTracyBeaker · 19/08/2019 08:32

I'm so sorry OP, nothing helpful to add. We have a lovely rescue cat - he's been with us a week and had one wee outside of his litter tray overnight (hard floor, thankfully), but I think this is because he'd pooed in his litter tray and didn't want to use it until it had been cleaned.

I just wanted to post to say that this made me laugh out loud Grin.

She is a protest pooer. When I went away for a few nights, she pooed on DH pillow whilst he slept Grin Envy

OrangeSwoosh · 19/08/2019 08:37

What @Veterinari said. I'd also probably request a basic blood test for baseline figures. Siamese are predisposed to kidney problems.

Also have a look on the international cat care website about how you can improve the environment. The n+1 rule for resources is important, especially as there's friction between the two cats. You have 2 cats so you need at least 3 resources - litter trays, beds, water bowls etc. There will also be information about how best to set these up - beds on different levels, litter trays/food bowls positioning etc.

Veterinari · 19/08/2019 08:40

Oh I missed that there was more than one cat! Yes in that case definitely multiple resources - trays, feeding stations, beds

OldGrinch · 19/08/2019 08:57

The kitty is massively stressed, they don't do this for nothing! How did you manage the introduction between the two cats? Was it gradually, did you do scent swapping and use Feliway plug ins so both cats were calmer? I think they do a specific one for introducing a new cat. I got a Burmese Kitten and the resident cat was female and hated him at first, using these methods they started to tolerate each other and are now good friends.

Fettuccinecarbonara · 19/08/2019 09:23

Our resident cat is a Jekyl and Hyde character and is aggressive.

New kitten was shut in bedroom for around 6-8 weeks whilst we made sure she made friends with dog and resident cat. Vets advice was sought and followed given aggression of resident cat. Scent swapping, feeding on either side of doors, kitten crated to allow for resident cat to investigate.

When they finally met it was fairly peaceful for a couple of weeks. I say fairly, because new cat is a huge hisser, so would hiss in residents cat’s face (still does!)

However they both don’t like each other. They’ll take turns one chasing the other, fairly agggressivelg, though no injuries have occyrred as yet. The dog normally breaks up the fights.

Old cat always toilets outside, he wouldn’t tolerate a litter tray.

He eats downstairs in his own little scullery room.

New cat eats upstairs in our bedroom, we supervise otherwise dog eats it all.

Old cat is out (by choice!) most of the night and comes in in the morning for food. He then settles down in the kitchen and sleeps. He’s partially deaf so sleeps even when new cat is in close proximity.

New cat sleeps all night and plays around the house (and with the dog) all day.

I taking on board everything you’re saying! I’m just trying to give you all some context as to how our house operates.

I’ve booked a vets appointment for later on so will update you if any news. I’m going to a different vet to see if they offer more advice, rather than ‘Siamese do this’

I’ll order feliway too. Thank you all :)

OP posts:
Veterinari · 19/08/2019 20:26

@Fettuccinecarbonara
Based on your update I seriously recommend rehoming your kitten.

Both of your cats sound utterly miserable and forced into a lifetime of ongoing avoidance, fear and aggression. I doubt you’ll ever conquer the indoor soiling issue with the chaotic and stressful situation you describe and what you describe is awful for their welfare. The guidelines linked to above describe what they need. If you can’t come close to this you need to seriously reconsider what is the point of keeping everyone in misery.

Fettuccinecarbonara · 19/08/2019 20:54

Thank you for your positivity Grin

Our house is plenty big enough to house us all, and as little cat hasn’t constantly been in any state of distress except for the last two weeks, I’ll persevere Smile

The vet has given us feliway, and is really very helpful. I’ve also got 2 extra litter trays.

Right now littlecat is in the lounge with my daughter and old cat is out hunting. I don’t doubt their dislike of each other, but their paths need not cross often. We’ve only had littlecat 5 months and cats take aaaaaageeessss to learn to live together.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 19/08/2019 21:05

@Fettucinecarbonara

The size of your house isn’t particularly relevant. It won’t be bigger than the core territories for two unrelated cats. The behaviour of your cats and your ability to provide for their environmental needs are more relevant.

Cats are selectively social and live in matrilineal societies. Expecting unrelated non-breeding, non-female pairs or cats that have not been raised as kittens to live together can be a significant welfare issue, and your cats are showing behaviours that indicate significant distress.

Most cats in this situation don’t ‘learn to live together’ one usually dominates the resources and the other spends its life in a state of constant anxiety hiding under beds/on shelves and pissing in corners... Just because they haven’t actively fought and injured it doesn't Mean they’re ok and you shouldn’t be using this as a baseline.

Feliway alone won’t fix this. At a minimum you’ll need to make environmental changes to provide basic welfare needs and appropriate resources for your pets as described in the guidance above. That’s your minimum legal duty of care. In addition feliway friends is more likely to help than feliway but again without appropriate resources it will be a losing battle.

I’m sorry if i’m Missing the point but why would you want to force unhappy cars to live in an unsuitable environment... ?

Fettuccinecarbonara · 19/08/2019 21:40

But what resources are you talking about?

They are fed in very different areas of the house, with neither going near the others food (and yes I’m sure of this)

Big cat doesn’t use a litter tray, he goes outside.

Littlecat doesn’t go outside unless we are with her, she gets scared of the wind. She uses the litter tray upstairs.

Bigcat is a hunter, not a player. He’s never played in his life.

Littlecat plays with her toys and the dog/children. She doesn’t hunt.

I’m absolutely not dismissing your advice, but you’re making huge assumptions that really aren’t true to fact. Things like “chaotic and stressful situations” and the fact that one cat may be hiding etc.

These cats have lived together for 5 months. There has been no sudden incident which has led to this behaviour between the cats. We initially believed the weeing started because I had taken the kids camping for a few days (when she pooped on DH pillow too). It’s just not resolved since we’ve come home, hence why we are looking at other ways to resolve this.

Thank you :)

OP posts:
CottonSock · 19/08/2019 21:45

Legal care if duty to a cat, that actually made me laugh.

Wehttam · 19/08/2019 21:54

I can smell the piss from here 😷

Stinky cat lady 🤭😂😸

Veterinari · 19/08/2019 22:01

However they both don’t like each other. They’ll take turns one chasing the other, fairly agggressivelg, though no injuries have occyrred as yet. The dog normally breaks up the fights.

This is chaotic and stressful for cats - i’m not assuming, i’m Responding to the information you’ve given. I also didn’t assume that your cat was hiding - i’m Speaking in general terms about how many cat owners perceive cats ‘learning to live together’ versus the reality for those cats

Despite you separating them they’ll Both be constantly aware of the presence of each other. Every time you move between them you’re transferring scent. This is stressful. One way in which cats try and eliminate the presence of a rival is to mask the Smell of that rival. In this case the cat will spray against vertical surfaces rather than squat and urinate normally so that’s something to look out for and will give you an idea of the level of social stress. It also sounds like your little cat has had fairly limited socialisation/environmental experience as she’s been restricted upstairs during this critical time, and so she may be finding any interruptions/changes to the household routine more stressful.

It may be that you going away triggered the inappropriate elimination but the fact that there has been 5 months of inadequate resources (one litter tray, limited access to spaces in the house) and social conflict will undoubtedly have added to stress levels.

I’d strongly suggest reading up about what you could provide for them in terms of resources. I’ve linked already posted links to outline what is mean’t by ‘resources’
But i’ll Post again...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X13477537

Veterinari · 19/08/2019 22:06

@CottonSock You might want to check out the Animal welfare Act 2006 if you find it amusing that pet owners have a legal duty of care, it’s hardly a new concept. Though they do say ignorance is bliss, and you seemed to be amused...

OldGrinch · 20/08/2019 00:46

If they hate each other still after several months then it's going to difficult. My cats did get used to each other within about 3 weeks but during that time I was doing intensive scent swapping and giving each cat a treat afterwards, I had 4 Feliway plug ins in different areas of the house. Cost a fortune 😄 After 3 weeks they had started rubbing noses

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