Innapropriate peeing- getting to the last straw...

Okay, so I have 2 female cats who had bladder infections and crystals at the same time (out of 4 female cats). I have one cat who always pees in the front of the box, in the same spot. I have one who stands against the sides and pees on them, managing to get pee in the crack between the bottom and top of the litterbox, even though it has high sides... The two who had the bladder infections (since cleared) are not using the litterbox properly. One is using the bathtub, and the other is using anything in the bathroom (especially rugs and clothing on the floor) she can, despite there being a open top litter box in the hole by the commode, and before she got sick, this was her favorite box. She still uses it, just not all the time.

Okay, I know part of the problem is that right before they got sick, I put the new litter box in the bathroom, left it there until I was sure they were using it, and got rid of a favored litterbox that was in my daughter's playroom (had to go, for obvious reasons ).

So, I've been reading, reading, reading, here, and this is what I've come up with:

Get a rubbermaid container and make a really high sided litterbox and try to come up with somewhere more central in the house to put it ;

Spray the bathroom rugs with simple solution (AGAIN ), wash 'em (AGAIN ) with Dreft,
spray them with vinegar and citrus scent...

Spray Simple Solution and Natures Miracle everywhere (AGAIN ) that they could have left pee scent;

(and this is mine-) fill the bathtub up with water-SURPRISE!

Anybody else have any other suggestions... I am about to SCREAM!!! (not to mention my DH...)

Oh, and the two non litterbox users are 13 and 10 years old- one hasn't had a bladder infection before... the other has always gone back to using the box afterwards, but not this time...

I'm getting a little frustrated....

I think you are very lucky that this is happening in the bathroom, especially the tub! Our last cat, Sweety, peed on anything that was on the bathroom floor, towel, carpet......thankgod that was it! We simply did'nt leave anything on the bathroom floor. I would keep litter in the bathroom and be careful of intro litter in new parts of the house, you don't want to invite this behavior in other rooms.

Yes, I guess there is one bright side to this... . Hmm, hadn't thought about causing the problem to spread....

Please don't leave the bathtub filled with water. When I first starting having cats I had a tub that wouldn't drain and I forgot to close the shower door and I sleep so soundly that a bomb could go off and I wouldn't hear it. Well I had a small cat wasn't very old. Well I got up and I couldn't find him until I went to the bathroom he had fallen in my tub and he couldn't get out and I never heard him and he drowned and I will never leave the tub filled again and I always make sure that the toilet lids are down and so is the washer and anything of the sort. I have never forgiven myself for this even though I know there was no way I could have known it would happen. Don't think because they are grown that it can't happen because it can.

And on the other notes I think you are doing all the right things.

Sorry to tell you this, but it has been my experience that cats that pee on smooth surfaces have UTI Suggest you have your cats checked for FLUTD basically reoccuring urinary tract infections.

Originally Posted by Tavia'smom

Please don't leave the bathtub filled with water. When I first starting having cats I had a tub that wouldn't drain and I forgot to close the shower door and I sleep so soundly that a bomb could go off and I wouldn't hear it. Well I had a small cat wasn't very old. Well I got up and I couldn't find him until I went to the bathroom he had fallen in my tub and he couldn't get out and I never heard him and he drowned and I will never leave the tub filled again and I always make sure that the toilet lids are down and so is the washer and anything of the sort. I have never forgiven myself for this even though I know there was no way I could have known it would happen. Don't think because they are grown that it can't happen because it can.

And on the other notes I think you are doing all the right things.

Click to expand...

I'm so sorry that happened! I meant just enough to get her feet wet , and this tub won't hold water overnight (gotta get the drain fixed), so it's okay . I should have elaborated, sorry. Yes, I am also a make sure the toilet lids are down, etc. kind of person . Thanks!

Originally Posted by hissy

Sorry to tell you this, but it has been my experience that cats that pee on smooth surfaces have UTI Suggest you have your cats checked for FLUTD basically reoccuring urinary tract infections.

Click to expand...

Yep, I know (been there, done that ), but she has been rechecked, and came back clean, but the behavior didn't stop when they were (finally!) given the all clear from the vet. I went through the reoccuring UTI with 2 of my cats when they were younger, and when we cut out the fish, everything went back to normal. I am planning to take in another sample soon (dog has to go back for thyroid recheck anyways ) just to make sure... but I really think it is a combination of getting rid of the "favored" litterbox, and the UTI happening so close together *sigh*. We'll see , I'll let you know .

We have a similar problem, only our little guy (who was fixed two months ago) pee's on the sofa. He pee'd there three times since we got home from the store this afternoon! It seems completely behavioral... he never does it when we're not home, but as soon as we come through the door he's doing it.

He started peeing and pooing on the sofa after he first got here, and it was obvious that it was because the older cat made him nervous about using the litter box (she would rush the box every time he went in there) so he went on the sofa beside where we were sitting seemingly because it felt 'safe'. He spent a few weeks confined to the bedroom while he got to know her better (until he figured out how to open the door) but by that point he had stopped doing it. Now it's back with AVENGEANCE!!!!

We bought this stuff that had rave reviews on stopping inappropriate peeing... but it didn't work. He has to be doing this for attention so I have no idea how to stop it... he gets plenty of attention already!!! We're at our wit's end, too.

Have you tried changing the type of litter? Our Maine Coon HATES our litter and has taken to peeing in the bathtub (though he's finally pooping in the litter!) We also keep the bathtub filled with water (about an inch) and he'll use the box as long as the tub has water in it. Natures Miracle has a very fine type of litter that mine really seem to like, and there is another I've used called "Cat Attract." I hope you find something that works! Your cats are gorgeous, by the way!

Thanks! Yes, I tried a couple of different litters quite a while back, but this is their favorite- good news, not as many "accidents" this weekend, maybe it's just taking a while longer than usual...But now the dog has found the open top litterbox in our bathroom... ugh.

Well, this is embarrassing, not to mention guilt inducing- I bought the wrong catfood! I've been feeding them regular Felidae- with fish- instead of the Chicken and Rice this time! Oh my word...I'm an idiot. And they have almost eaten the entire 16 lbs before I noticed . My best friend came over today, and I was showing her the catfood's ingredients list, and realized ...well, at least I know what was wrong with them ...

Originally Posted by catsallover

Well, this is embarrassing, not to mention guilt inducing- I bought the wrong catfood!

I've been feeding them regular Felidae- with fish- instead of the Chicken and Rice this time! Oh my word...I'm an idiot.

And they have almost eaten the entire 16 lbs before I noticed

. My best friend came over today, and I was showing her the catfood's ingredients list, and realized

...well, at least I know what was wrong with them ...

Click to expand...

Dont fault yourself too bad ... I have done this tooo...

Have you thought about puppy piddle pads??

I had some of those for our chairs (actually, the people kind- they're cheaper ) when we were starting potty training around here...

If they would wee on them, then someone else would come along and try to cover it up, and then I would have yellow "snow" !