It's Izzy. She pees everywhere. I had a coat hanging on the back of a chair; she pulled it down for the sole purpose of peeing on it. I received a package in a box and left the box out for the girls to play with; she peed in it. I started smelling cat pee on the couch again, since she peed on it about a year ago. Figured the rain was bringing the smell out. But it was getting stronger. So I pulled the couch apart and between the cushions, it's SOAKED in pee. So I have that torn apart and am pretty much dedicating the next week to cleaning it thoroughly (thank GOD we're not having company for the holiday).
I took her to the vet. Absolutely nothing wrong with her; bloodwork and all came back perfectly normal. There are no new stress factors in the environment. The litter box(es) are kept clean (scrubbed out clean -- I hate the smell of stale litter).
She's crawling around the dismantled couch sniffing at her handiwork. It's kind of maddening. I love her to bits but this has to STOP. What's the deal?
I fear the couch is a lost cause the way the urine is soaked in, but I don't want to spend money on a new one just to have it happen again. Ugh. I'm not independently wealthy over here; furniture is not disposable. Nor is it a bathroom!!!
Seriously, what's with the peeing?
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
I have used Urine-Off successfully and the cheapest place I have found it is on Amazon...and I like THIS seller
http://www.amazon.com/Urine-Kitten-Stai ... 935&sr=8-3
I have also read alot of good reviews about a product called Zero Odor but have yet to try it...listening to the testimonials....even people with cats that peed outside the box said it took care of the smell and often times they started to go in the box....
http://www.zeroodorstore.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Urine-Kitten-Stai ... 935&sr=8-3
I have also read alot of good reviews about a product called Zero Odor but have yet to try it...listening to the testimonials....even people with cats that peed outside the box said it took care of the smell and often times they started to go in the box....
http://www.zeroodorstore.com/
Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
Can you determine when this started, other than the incident last year?
I hate to disagree with you, but if it isn't a health issue, it is most likely a stress issue. Even the most subtle changes can change their behavior. Try to think back on any slight change or event in the environment, all that includes food, feeding, litterboxes, furniture, people, your routine or your own stresses, etc. How are she and Emily getting along? Are you absolutely certain it is Izzy who urinated there?
What types of cleaners have you used on the couch in the past? Sometimes, cleaners only make the smell worse, and sometimes the cleaners will actually cause the cat to continue marking in that area.
Have you noticed any other behavioral changes? Have you noticed anything unusual between the two cats' interactions with each other, her interaction with you? Have you noticed anything unusual about her routine? Is Emily intimidating her near the litterbox areas?
Once you get the area cleaned properly, you can use a clear heavy shower curtain liner to place over the couch cushions when you're gone or at night etc. I know it's not the best solution, but it will prevent further damage to the couch.
I hate to disagree with you, but if it isn't a health issue, it is most likely a stress issue. Even the most subtle changes can change their behavior. Try to think back on any slight change or event in the environment, all that includes food, feeding, litterboxes, furniture, people, your routine or your own stresses, etc. How are she and Emily getting along? Are you absolutely certain it is Izzy who urinated there?
What types of cleaners have you used on the couch in the past? Sometimes, cleaners only make the smell worse, and sometimes the cleaners will actually cause the cat to continue marking in that area.
Have you noticed any other behavioral changes? Have you noticed anything unusual between the two cats' interactions with each other, her interaction with you? Have you noticed anything unusual about her routine? Is Emily intimidating her near the litterbox areas?
Once you get the area cleaned properly, you can use a clear heavy shower curtain liner to place over the couch cushions when you're gone or at night etc. I know it's not the best solution, but it will prevent further damage to the couch.
..........Traci
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
This started... somewhere between two weeks and a month ago. I lose track of time. If there's stress, I don't know WHAT'S stressing her. She's getting the same orange bag chicken Iams she's been getting since day one. Litter hasn't changed. She and Emmy play like they always have. They're both sleeping peacefully on the back of the couch right now. What am I missing? Could it just be the change in weather?? She seems to just go through peeing phases about once a year. I can't find the common denominator...
And yeah, I catch her in the act. I know for sure it's Izzy. The only inappropriate elimination Emmy does is she forgets to put her butt inside the litterbox sometimes when she's taking a #2... lol. All four paws in! Butt hanging over the edge. And she'll sit there and look for it all confused as to why it isn't in the box. It's pretty funny... but that's a different story altogether.
The only other weird thing I've noticed is she's been hanging out in the bathroom at night a lot, sleeping either on the toilet lid or on the bath mat. But only at night; during the day she's out in the living room with me. I don't know if that means anything. I put a new air freshener in there a couple of days ago that smells like apples; maybe she likes that. I dunno. As much as I love cats, I don't understand them at all sometimes.
Tambrey, I ordered the little bottle of Zero Odor. I'll let you know how it works. The couch cushions came clean but the back of the couch still smells. I covered it with Febreeze for now but am hoping the Zero Odor will make it neutral again.
And yeah, I catch her in the act. I know for sure it's Izzy. The only inappropriate elimination Emmy does is she forgets to put her butt inside the litterbox sometimes when she's taking a #2... lol. All four paws in! Butt hanging over the edge. And she'll sit there and look for it all confused as to why it isn't in the box. It's pretty funny... but that's a different story altogether.
The only other weird thing I've noticed is she's been hanging out in the bathroom at night a lot, sleeping either on the toilet lid or on the bath mat. But only at night; during the day she's out in the living room with me. I don't know if that means anything. I put a new air freshener in there a couple of days ago that smells like apples; maybe she likes that. I dunno. As much as I love cats, I don't understand them at all sometimes.
Tambrey, I ordered the little bottle of Zero Odor. I'll let you know how it works. The couch cushions came clean but the back of the couch still smells. I covered it with Febreeze for now but am hoping the Zero Odor will make it neutral again.
Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
A larger litterbox maybe? Is there something in the area of the litterbox that is too small, too confining? Consider a high-sided box with easy entry perhaps?
Sleeping in the bathroom, can you recall anything different or changed recently about where she normally sleeps at night? (new bedspread, new laundry detergent, do you toss and turn more lately, etc - I assume she normally sleeps with you on the bed?)
Has your routine changed, particularly since DST? Are the cats getting up earlier lately, wanting to be fed/attention earlier?
Sleeping in the bathroom, can you recall anything different or changed recently about where she normally sleeps at night? (new bedspread, new laundry detergent, do you toss and turn more lately, etc - I assume she normally sleeps with you on the bed?)
Has your routine changed, particularly since DST? Are the cats getting up earlier lately, wanting to be fed/attention earlier?
..........Traci
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
No cats in the bedroom... little miss Izzy likes to burrow into the box spring from underneath and keep me up all night, not to mention destroy the mattress. Neither one of 'em are even curious about the bedroom anymore.
Emmy's been having the zoomies a lot lately... just running around at top speed, attacking windows with nothing I can see there, tackling and wrestling the door mat...
Could it be cats outside?? We have a LOT of people around here who let their cats out (grrr... the downstairs neighbor's cat recently disappeared and she didn't understand why I didn't feel bad for HER). I haven't heard any howling or growling out there but I know that just because I don't hear it doesn't mean it's not there. I leave the windows and patio door open a crack at night for fresh air, but certainly enough to let smells in for cats, now that it's cold enough out to have the air off. Would that be enough to make her want to mark everything?
Emmy's been having the zoomies a lot lately... just running around at top speed, attacking windows with nothing I can see there, tackling and wrestling the door mat...
Could it be cats outside?? We have a LOT of people around here who let their cats out (grrr... the downstairs neighbor's cat recently disappeared and she didn't understand why I didn't feel bad for HER). I haven't heard any howling or growling out there but I know that just because I don't hear it doesn't mean it's not there. I leave the windows and patio door open a crack at night for fresh air, but certainly enough to let smells in for cats, now that it's cold enough out to have the air off. Would that be enough to make her want to mark everything?
Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
If there is a window or door cracked open, yes, scents can carry quite far, especially if there is a breeze.
If your apartment has an enclosed entry, then cat scents are probably all over the place.
Most cats are nocturnal (strays, and ferals at least), so there might be a wanderring cat or two outdoors at night.
If your apartment has an enclosed entry, then cat scents are probably all over the place.
Most cats are nocturnal (strays, and ferals at least), so there might be a wanderring cat or two outdoors at night.
..........Traci
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
Do you think that would make her wigged out enough to start scent marking? I guess I'm maybe not sure how strong to estimate the territorial nature of cats.
I don't know (in relationship to your apartment to the outdoors, to the structure of the building etc). I'd be more willing to bet there is something in her direct environment that is causing some stress. What that is, though, remains to be determined.
You've heard the expression, think like a cat? That's exactly what we have to do, we have to view things as they view them in order to even get the slightest clue what might be wrong.
Remember, this could have been something, or some incident/event from months ago, but now just surfacing in her behavior. The important thing, other than that, is focusing on the area she's marked, making sure she can't mark it again, taking steps to observe her behavior regarding this and any other unusual behavior/routine, and try to keep stress to the barest minimum.
You've heard the expression, think like a cat? That's exactly what we have to do, we have to view things as they view them in order to even get the slightest clue what might be wrong.
Remember, this could have been something, or some incident/event from months ago, but now just surfacing in her behavior. The important thing, other than that, is focusing on the area she's marked, making sure she can't mark it again, taking steps to observe her behavior regarding this and any other unusual behavior/routine, and try to keep stress to the barest minimum.
..........Traci
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Seriously, what's with the peeing?
Okay, so I thought about it all night long. The things that Izzy pees on every time without fail: Coats, luggage, anything left on the floor in her area (which is the whole apartment minus the bedrooms), and the couch.
The coats and the luggage I can kinda understand because those go outside and come in with different scents. If it's territorial marking, the new and outside scents could make her mark.
The things left on the floor, that's just a cat thing; I'm pretty good about keeping stuff off the floor.
But why the couch?? I can wash coats, luggage can be cleaned... but I'm really tired of pulling the fabric off the couch to clean it.
Anyway, I woke up this morning and they're replacing the siding on my apartment and it sounds like they're hacking their way through the walls. Both the cats are COMPLETELY spooked. It's gonna be a long day...
The coats and the luggage I can kinda understand because those go outside and come in with different scents. If it's territorial marking, the new and outside scents could make her mark.
The things left on the floor, that's just a cat thing; I'm pretty good about keeping stuff off the floor.
But why the couch?? I can wash coats, luggage can be cleaned... but I'm really tired of pulling the fabric off the couch to clean it.
Anyway, I woke up this morning and they're replacing the siding on my apartment and it sounds like they're hacking their way through the walls. Both the cats are COMPLETELY spooked. It's gonna be a long day...