Pls help - cat pissing everywhere!

[RUSU92]

I’m at the end of my tether Bot of background...

Got 2 rescue cats a couple of years ago, about 4/5 years old. One of them very shy, the other very friendly. We were told by the rescue centre not to bother with them, as they came as a pair and the shy one would just hiss at you.

We figured we’d take a chance and just let her get on with it on her own if she wasn’t friendly, as the other one was super nice.

Turned out the shy one was actually really lovely, just very troubled. She’s clearly been hit a lot, as she cowers when you go near her, but with a lot of patience she’s now really affectionate and a lot more confident than she used to be.

They don’t seem particularly nice to each other, rarely interact. They might sit on the same sofa but don’t really acknowledge each other except the occasional fight, where boy cat starts to wash her and then starts biting Her so she swipes him. So I think she’s stressed having him around.

So to come to the problem, she pisses on everything. Beds, sofas, door mats. I’ve replaced mattresses, Had to throw out a sofa she peed right through several times, I’ve bought a Vax, now bought mattress protectors. It’s costing me a fortune. I’ve had her checked out and vet can’t find a problem with infection or anything, have tried cystitis tablets but she just won’t eat any food that has the medication on it. She has plenty of litter trays, but chooses to use the garden decking instead.

We keep all doors shut and I’m constantly on edge in case she’s peeing somewhere, if I hear her pawing at something I rush over to make sure she’s not peeing. I dread going up to bed every night in case someone has left my door open and she’s peed on my bed.

I really don’t want to get rid of her as she’s so sweet, and I know that nobody else will want her if they know what she’s like.

Has anyone dealt successfully with this? It is it a case of her now having marked everywhere as her own personal toilet, she’ll just keep on doing it? I’ve used those enzyme sprays but she pees so much it gets right into the foam of the cushions and the depths of the mattress so I’m sure it’s not all coming out.

I don’t want my house to stink of cat piss. But I don’t want to have to get rid of her. Unless she’d be happier elsewhere. Can anyone help. Please. I’m in tears thinking of having to give her up as my DD loves her so much - she’s not talking to me at the moment because I was so cross earlier, cleaning up the 3rd wee in 3 days, having just bought her a new mattress today. Help!!

Well you can't allow her to use your home as a giant litter tray can you! Sounds disgusting and is very unhygienic

I'd confine her to one room for now. She shouldn't be in your bedrooms so, if you really want to stop her pissing on your bed, you'll have to be super vigilant here and keep on top of it. As in, it's your main aim of the day

Try a plug in feliway for multiple cat households. Try changing litter. Make sure you have enough trays. Get her checked to see if medical issue

Chances are it's stress. Most cats are solitary and like to live alone

So right now you need to pop her in the one room, with her comforts and absolutely stick to that for now

Thanks for your reply Kipper. I am super vigilant, but I have 3 DCs who are not and if one of them doesn’t quite close the door properly or DP forgets to close the sitting room door at night, it’s still me who ends up cleaning it up, so they don’t feel the full consequences of forgetting. I know they should all step the fuck up, (DCs are all teens) but I literally rammed it home to them all today after going out and spending £100 I don’t have on a new mattress for DD and I come upstairs to find mine and two other doors left open. I went ballistic. Went down and DCat has peed on the sofa. I’m toying with the idea of self closing door hinges like fire doors, but if it’s just stress then I know I should let her go and live on her own. DD will be utterly heartbroken and will never forgive me though.

Has she always been like this or has it developed recently?

If there isn't a physical problem then it is very likely to be stress. If they don't get on can you rehome the other cat? It does sound as if she needs to be an only, whether it's in your house or elsewhere.

You haven't mentioned litter trays. How many do you have and where are they?

What exactly is she doing when she’s weeing on things? Is she marking (with an upright tail?) or genuinely weeing?

Where does she wee in relation to the litter trays and how many do you have/where are they?
This could be an aversion to the litter tray caused by e.g. dislike of litter, not being cleaned enough, other cat taking tray, being disturbed whilst in tray, it not being private enough etc

Alternatively, it could be another issue but it’s hard to say without more information

Do you have separate trays ( essential)?
Do you have any others animals bar these two cats inthe house?
Do you have A catflap? Can any other cats come in?

Thanks all.

I do have a cat flap - there’s a neighbours cat who regularly comes into our garden and has been known to fight with them both. She ended up with a big cut recently, I presume from this cat, so she’s definitely not feeling secure. When I had litter trays in the house she would wee next to them, there were 3 and she ignored all of them, other cat went outside. So I bought a kennel and put them in there. Now other cat uses the kennel and this one walks straight past it and poos/wees straight onto the decking round the corner, which is now mouldy. It’s a much more exposed place for her to go, but I can’t get her to use the trays wherever they go and whatever litter I’ve tried.

When she wees she’s totally emptying her her bladder. It’s not spraying/marking, it’s a total bed soaking wee.

No other animals. Just these two, who were supposed to be a bonded pair but apart from the odd head-butt when they’re waiting for food, and the very occasional attempt at affection that turns into harassment, they don’t really interact. They’re both neutered but both display some signs that I haven’t seen in other cats Ive owned so wonder if they were done later in life.

She grooms herself excessively which I know is a sign of stress, and drinks a lot of water, so I highly suspect cystitis but vets haven’t been helpful in that regard, just saying she doesn’t have an infection. They then sell me some medication that she won’t touch and I end up £100 worse off and nothing’s changed.

Have you tried cystease capsules in her breakfast? Mine had them sprinkled in his food and they only cost £12 in pets at home.

Have you tried ultra clumping litter? It’s closer to the texture of soil than other litters & they prefer it to big litters like crystals or woodchip. Sanicat golds a good one.

Put citrus peel around. Cats hate it

Has the vet tested for diabetes. If its all stress related maybe it would be kinder just to have one cat. What a difficult situation. With scent marking their territory they just wee again on clean things.

Does she eat excessively? Does she always want food?
Does she seem forgetful?
She does sound very stressed

Well as a start I would bring a litter tray back inside. Make sure it's a big one and without a hood/lid. Perhaps experiment with some different types of litter. It sounds as though she doesn't want to wee outside, so you need to get her used to using a tray.

As a last ditch attempt you could buy/borrow a big dog crate and make sure all space apart from her bed food is covered in litter tray/s. You need to confine her in there for a week or so. That way she will have to use a tray and it should become a habit.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments.

If they don't get on can you rehome the other cat? It does sound as if she needs to be an only, whether it's in your house or elsewhere. Trouble with this one is that it means getting rid of my son's cat and keeping my DD's even though that is the one causing all the trouble! If its NOT stress caused by living together, I've just done myself out of a good cat!

Have you tried cystease capsules
Have you tried ultra clumping litter?

Thanks I will try both of those!

It sounds as though she doesn't want to wee outside, so you need to get her used to using a tray.

As a last ditch attempt you could buy/borrow a big dog crate and make sure all space apart from her bed food is covered in litter tray/s. You need to confine her in there for a week or so. That way she will have to use a tray and it should become a habit.

This is a good idea. I think she's just got out of the habit of using the tray because she uses the garden. Thank you.

Does she eat excessively? Does she always want food?
No she doesn't eat a lot, but she drinks a lot.
Does she seem forgetful?
I'm not sure how I'd know! She certainly forgives me quite quickly after I've picked her up or taken her to the vet etc so I guess a short memory!
She does sound very stressed
Definitely She's very timid and anxious. I do think she'd be better on her own, but that means breaking one of my DCs' hearts and thats a tricky thing to come to terms with!

Try a different vets, mine were fabulous in helping my beautiful cat with urinary problems. Please don’t let the vet you have currently fob you off, there is help out there.

Don’t clean up with bleach, there’s something in it which smells so good to cats they just want to pee on it again.

Thank you thank you thank you!!

She has managed to use her litter tray two days running (not sure why she's suddenly ok with it, when she used to avoid it like the plague!!) and having tried the Cystease tablets mentioned above for 2 days running, this is how they were when my DS woke up this morning!!

These two cats who seemingly hate each other have cuddled up for the first time in forever. I know this is just baby steps, but I'm so grateful for the advice on here. It may have just saved her bacon!

They look very cosy. Full marks for obstructing a door way too.

Aww they seem happy! Keep their litter and food bowls separate.