Cat peeing on clothes/bed, etc HELP!!

[Kendra]

Hi Tanya,

Although I dont have alot of experience with this I have some.. My cat Clementine was doing this but only on my clothes etc. WHen I took her to the vet she had diabetes. She was 11 and I cant imagine a kitty as young as yours having diabtes but may not hurt to have kitty checked.
There is a product called "feliway" that is a synthetic hormone and comes in spray and diffuser.. I tried this for my aggresive cat(didnt work) but it is supposed to calm them down and when sprayed on items deters the kitty from peeing on them. May be worth a try.

[Tanya]

Well I discovered she's been peeing in a box in the spareroom (in my BF's papers, yearbooks, etc) He's not happy at all! I've never had so much trouble with a cat in my life! She'd peed on the spare bed (on top of the plastic) I've changed the litter - to a different type. She seems not to know she is suposed to cover it though. She went "number 2" and didn't cover it. The big cat came in behind her and covered it for her. She does the same thing when she pees. Just pees on top of the litter and does not cover it.

I could try feliway, but is that for cats that have issues for marking? I think she just likes to pee anywhere but her litter box... She is very loving and sweet, I don't understand this.

I called the vet re: diabetes but she hasn't gotten back to me yet.

[Traci]

Tanya,

1) Has she been spayed yet (said you were getting her spayed on Friday)

2) Did you change the litter type yet?

3) How many litterboxes are in your home (rule of thumb, one box for each cat, most cats prefer to urinate in one, defecate in the other....also make sure they are strategically placed, easily accessible to her, private and away from high traffic areas in your home)

4) Is she intimidated or aggrivated by the other cats?

5) Is the environment really stressful for her? (I'm sensing yes, simply due to YOUR stress, cats can sense our stress and will react to it)

6) Clothes hampers, clothes on the floor, bathroom rugs and towels are prime areas for cats to urinate on, they contain our scents, and most cats will mark them simply for territorial reasons. Never leave clothes out for a kitty to urinate on. Your BF's books may also be a problem because she associates them with his personal items....may also be due to stress from him in some way...is he also helping you to work out this situation? Is he also showing his stress around her?

7) Are you using enzymatic cleaners to clean the areas she marks, etc? Most of us here use Nature's Miracle, it neutralizes the urine scent.

8 ) Feliway works for some cats, but won't work for all cats. Personally, I find it useless, but some owners find it helpful. It is intended for calming measures, and may be more useful for male cats with marking behaviors, but again, won't work for all cats. I think you would fair better simply using enzymatic cleaners.

This may not apply in your situation, but the litter type may be a problem for her. Try switching....if you're using clumping litter for example, switch to clay litter.....or if you're using clay, switch to clumping. I have a female who refuses litter altogether, so her box is expressly lined with paper towels only, the other cats don't bother it, and she will use her own box as long as there is no type of litter in it.

[Kendra]

The Feliway comfort zone is for "urine marking" "comforts cats" etc. It did not work for calming down my aggresive cat but may help with the peeing where your kitty shouldnt. Im not sure.
It is expensive($50.00 Canadian) but if you get it from a pet store that will allow you to return it if it doesnt work(I'll be returning mine) it may be worth a shot.
Good luck.. I know how frustrating it is.
Give an update if you can after you have talked with the vet.

[Tanya]

1) Has she been spayed yet (said you were getting her spayed on Friday) - Yes she is now spayed - almost 2 weeks now.

2) Did you change the litter type yet? Yes - switched from Clay to yesterdays news - I didn't think clumping would work because of the smell.

3) How many litterboxes are in your home (rule of thumb, one box for each cat, most cats prefer to urinate in one, defecate in the other....also make sure they are strategically placed, easily accessible to her, private and away from high traffic areas in your home) - 2 boxes, 2 cats - both in private locations.

4) Is she intimidated or aggrivated by the other cats? No, they love each other.

5) Is the environment really stressful for her? (I'm sensing yes, simply due to YOUR stress, cats can sense our stress and will react to it)

No stress, I pick her up when I see her lurking about and put her in the litter box, but dont force the issue. She normally does the peeing out of site when I'm not around. I thought maybe because I was locking her in the spare room at night so I stopped doing that (that is where most of the mess occurs)... She escaped outside when I was away on the weekend and now wants out pretty bad.. meows about it, etc. She seems normal and loving otherwise.

6) Clothes hampers, clothes on the floor, bathroom rugs and towels are prime areas for cats to urinate on, they contain our scents, and most cats will mark them simply for territorial reasons. Never leave clothes out for a kitty to urinate on. Your BF's books may also be a problem because she associates them with his personal items....may also be due to stress from him in some way...is he also helping you to work out this situation? Is he also showing his stress around her?

I don't really know how to deal with the situation - other than reinforcing going to the litter box, so I don't think it's anything we are doing. If we discover a mess we clean it - wash the sheets, etc.

7) Are you using enzymatic cleaners to clean the areas she marks, etc? Most of us here use Nature's Miracle, it neutralizes the urine scent.

I use bleach in the clothes and vinegar on the spots - like when she pees on the plastic or in the area the box was located incase it got on the floor, etc.

8 ) Feliway works for some cats, but won't work for all cats. Personally, I find it useless, but some owners find it helpful. It is intended for calming measures, and may be more useful for male cats with marking behaviors, but again, won't work for all cats. I think you would fair better simply using enzymatic cleaners.

It was suggested and I saw something similar at the pet store, but it seemed like it was more for marking and she is simply peeing.

[Traci]

Yes - switched from Clay to yesterdays news - I didn't think clumping would work because of the smell.

Won't know unless you try it. I'm not familiar with yesterday's news, but if it doesn't work, then try something else.

No, they love each other.

Not exactly what I meant here. You've had her for a relatively short amount of time, yes? Just trying to rule out potential distractions in the home, the other cats could be part of the problem, such as intimidation, maybe being agressive or rough with her on occasion, or intimidating her in other ways. If you don't feel that is the problem, then that can be ruled out. She could also be hyperactive simply due to her new environment, taking time to adjust.

No stress, I pick her up when I see her lurking about and put her in the litter box, but dont force the issue.

Again, not exactly what I meant. Stress involving stressful environment, changes that are stressful, your stress, recent changes or events, a busy or hectic lifestyle/environment can all exacerbate stress in cats. Cats cannot tolerate stress like humans, they are sensitive to changes, events, etc.

I don't really know how to deal with the situation

(Snip)....what I mean is, is your BF also showing stress around her, having difficulty in dealing with the situation, and is she picking up on those vibes from him, you, both of you? In other words, not knowing how he is contributing or not contributing to solving the problem is part of it. Picking her up, showing her the box, and cleaning as accidents occur are all parts of the solution, but getting to the cause of potential stress is probably foremost in resolving the situation, as mentioned earlier.

I use bleach in the clothes and vinegar on the spots

Bleach is fine for pourous surfaces like tile, etc, but concerning carpets, rugs, etc, vinegar isn't going to cut it. An enzymatic cleaner is going to give better results for both neutralizing the odors and for cleaning spots and stains.

Doesn't matter if she is marking or simply choosing to urinate on certain things, outside of her litterbox. There is probably a stressful event going on that is causing her to do this. If recent changes occured in your home, or if you are showing outward and obvious signs of stress, she will pick up on it and react. For this reason, it's important to remain positive, patient, forgiving, and comitted to finding out the cause of the stress in which to rectify it. The solution will be in multiple steps, like changing the litter, placing the litterbox in a more private area perhaps, not confining her for extended periods of time, reducing any other stress factors in the home, (including your own), and of course, ruling out urinary tract infection by your vet. Since he said she doesn't have a urinary tract infection, then the most likely cause is stress.

[Guest]

The story of Kari - she was found in a dumpster with her mom and sib's up in a region very north from where I live. She was brought down to Vancouver in a plane, placed in foster care, I rode the ferry to go get her. She has now been in a plane, ferry and car... alot to handle for a runt! She came home with me on October 31st. Where my other cat, Kismet, took her on as her own kitten (I adopted Kizzy as a ex-momma cat) who had just given up her kittens. So Kizzy would clean, wash and I'm not exactly sure but Kari would try to nurse... I tried to discourage this. The cats and dog sleep together and all get along really well. There is the chase each other all over the house (minus the dog) activity but it seems like a game and there is no hostile growls, hackles or such... My bedroom has no heater, so that is why I was locking them up at night (which Kari would let me know in the morning that it was time be let out), but as the warmer weather approaches I've been leaving the cats loose and keeping my door shut instead. When I first brought her home she's done stuff like pee on the clothes, clothes hampers, etc.... She then moved on to boxes and the bed.... (in the spare-room) luckily no 'accidents' have happened downstairs (well maybe 2 - once in the recycling and once a blanket left on the couch). I have no kids and it's just 2 adults in the house - 2 cats and the dog. I just clean up after her... I don't punish her behaviour and by putting her in the litter box I am just trying to reinforce the right place to do your business - but she's sneaky!! and if she has to go and I put her in the litter box she goes.... Thanks for all the input...

I mentioned the thing about clumping litter because she seems to really not like the litter once it gets smelly (even remotely) and when I had my old cat (bless her heart) I tried it and found it quite smelly.

[Tanya]

Sorry posted under guest in previous post.. Please see previous post. Thanks.

[Tanya]

I found this website with a bunch of good suggestions as well. I think I will get the clumping litter - I believe it may be the adversion to the litter, since she has a real issue with wiping her feet when she gets out. She also doesn't 'cover' her soiling and this website also refers to that as being a behavioural thing and an indicator of a problem toileter - take a look and see what you think about the site:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plai ... ustrng.htm

[Kendra]

Any update on your kitty?