Cat Urine problems....the cat or the couch?

[Catwoman1022]

Ok....I am looking for suggestions. We have four cats, 3 females, one male. We had 5, and there were two males. The males proceeded to completely RUIN a couch by spraying and peeing on it (and yes, they're all fixed.) When my daughter moved out she took one of the males with her. We thought that would solve the problem. So when we moved into the new house we bought all new living room furniture and things were great for months. Now someone's ruining a BRAND new chair with pee! We pretty much figured it was the male. He's about 9 or 10 years old, and a healthy cat. My husband thinks it's because we have some neighborhood cats who hang out in our yard sometimes.

My husband wants to get rid of the male. And here's the rub. This cat will only tolerate three people, me, My husband and my son. He doesn't like my daughters and if anyone comes over to the house he hides. No one would ever take this cat. The hubby thinks that maybe we should put him to sleep, but I have a real hard time doing that since he's healthy and probably has several years to go. He loves me, and other than the pee, he's a great cat. I'm extremely torn. I spent a lot of hard earned money on this furniture and I don't want it all ruined and have the "odor" in the air, yet I don't know what to do with the cat.

Cat

[slvrwhispr]

What makes you think it's the male? You have three other cats to consider. It might not be a behavioral thing. Cats will often urinate on furniture or in other inappropriate places when they have some sort of bladder infection. You need to figure out for certain which cat is doing the inappropriate elimination, and then get them to the vet for an examination. When my cat was peeing on the couch, she had a bad UTI that required antibiotics, but she hasn't done it again since.

[Catwoman1022]

We believe it's the male because we'd caught him several times doing it when we had the old couch. Plus he's gotten aggressive with the females again recently, starting fights and such.

Cat

[Tina B and crew]

As silver said it can often be an indication thath something is wrong, UTI or something so get him to the VET as soon as possible for a full geriatric check up. If all checks out OK then you have to consider it behavioral. Start with cleaning the couch with an enzymatic cleaner. I can't remember the name of the one that use to be Nature's Miracle (anyone?? Was it Petastic or something) you also might try using a Feliway diffuser as that stopped on of my cats from inappropriate urination....I'd do everything I could, hell if it were me I'd cover my furniture with vinyl. I had a cat who did this on the floor...I wouldn't have traded her for anything. She's gone now and I miss her terribly. But the Feliway did help so try it and see if it does.

Good luck

[mamabear]

I agree, get him in for a geriatric check up. Bloods/urine the vet will know. Feliway I have been hearing does help so you might want to try it. If he is healthy yes you are right there would be no reason to put down any animal that is healthy just because he is peeing for what ever reason.... phewww glad my dh didnt say that when I was pregnant with my 4th child and had potty problems during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Although embarrassing I must laugh that I'm glad i'm human. LOL

I feel for you and your husband, i certainly wouldnt want my hard earned money going down the toilet(no pun sorry lol) because my kitty decided to pee pee on it. I would seriously make sure there is no UTI or other problems going on and make certain that it is the male.

Do they have enough litter pans?
Do they have clean pans? multi cat household should be scooped several times a day. and cleaned well once a week atleast.
Do they have plenty of water/food. fresh water at all times.

Glad you are looking into suggestions rather than putting down. Thankyou! we Know you care for you kitties and hope you find out what the problem is soon. Have you thought of keeping him out of that room for a while to see if it is really him. I know it seems mean but you'll know for sure if its him

[Catwoman1022]

Yes, it's Nature's Miracle...and I've already drenched this chair with it 5 times...yet he still uses the chair. Not UTI problems....had that checked. It's behavioral. Yes, lots of cat litter and cleaned out a LOT (my daughter complains regularly about having to clean it, it's her job, and yes, I check behind her.)

Yes, I love all my kitties. It kills me when something like this happens. My only other course of action is to try to separate him, but it happens so irregularly he could be locked in one room for weeks (then if he uses our bed, which would be the room we'd put him in, my husband will use him for target practice, or so he promises.) I'm just beside myself and feel like I've tried everything. Just pulling my hair out.

Cat

[Tambrey]

Natures Miracle no longer works...a few years back, the people who make Petastic pulled away from Nature's Miracle....if I understand right...so Nature's Miracle had to change their formula since Petastic had the rights...that is why it is not working..

This is expensive....but get some Urine Off and the blacklight that comes with it and follow the directions for furniture...

the stuff WORKS....trust me!!

[MJ]

I had wondered why Nature's Miracle didn't work at all after everyone suggested it to me a year or so ago when I had kitty pee issues. :P

[jewelsf]

If your cat's problem is not a health issue, try "feliway"
it is a pheremone spray that is supposed to mimic the pheremones that cats leave in safe places. I have used this successfully to prevent cats from urinating on furniture. I always keep a bottle around so when I get new furniture I spray it immediately. I have a cat who used to love to urinate on new furniture, or on furniture where someone she did not like sat. She does not do this anymore!

Julie