My oldest cat Meeker is going to be 11 this year, and we think she may be having some urination problems. My boyfriend and I have discovered a lot of urine on some garbage bags that have clothes in them and we don't really know who's doing it but we both have our suspicions that it's Meeker. The garbage bags are being disposed of because I know that nothing attracts a cat to urinate like urine, and it's really gross anyway. Is there anything I can do short of taking her to the vet to see if maybe she's become incontinent or maybe has some other problem? Perhaps I should just monitor her closely and watch to see if it is her peeing on stuff? We keep the catbox clean and both of the other cats are using it just fine, but I'm not convinced it's JUST her peeing on things.
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elderly cat
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I had to smile when I saw the title of your thread and then read that Meeker is only 11! Eleven years old is certainly a mature kitty, but not elderly. I say this as someone who has an 18 year old kitty.
Other than watching Meeker's every move to see if she is in fact the one urinating outside the litter box, the best thing you can do is take her for a check-up, especially if she hasn't had one in awhile. Bloodwork is important to do at this age - it's always best to catch any potential problems early. Urinating outside the box can certainly indicate health problems, as you suspect. It's best to find out for sure by scheduling a vet visit.
Other than watching Meeker's every move to see if she is in fact the one urinating outside the litter box, the best thing you can do is take her for a check-up, especially if she hasn't had one in awhile. Bloodwork is important to do at this age - it's always best to catch any potential problems early. Urinating outside the box can certainly indicate health problems, as you suspect. It's best to find out for sure by scheduling a vet visit.
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Time for a vet visit and a "senior blood panel "...
11 yr is a nice age for a kitty ... I too have an 18 yr old
11 yr is a nice age for a kitty ... I too have an 18 yr old
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I'm counting on Meeker living for many years still, but she's certainly acting like a senior and has been ever since she was a kitten. I've been wanting to get that pet health insurance some vets offer, but I've only seen it mostly at PetSmart and I don't really want my cats going there. I used to work at a PetSmart and know somewhat how the vets, at least there, operate *shudders*. Anyway, I need to get them all into the vet soon anyway for their check-ups, so I'll be sure to ask about the 'senior blood panel' and urination if it's still a problem at that point.
I've been wanting to get that pet health insurance some vets offer, but I've only seen it mostly at PetSmart and I don't really want my cats going there. I used to work at a PetSmart and know somewhat how the vets, at least there, operate *shudders*. Anyway, I need to get them all into the vet soon anyway for their check-ups, so I'll be sure to ask about the 'senior blood panel' and urination if it's still a problem at that point.
The sooner you can get her in, the better. Sometimes, urinating outside the litter box can be an indication of a urinary tract infection or crystals, which can be both painful and lead to other, more serious problems. When you take her in, request that a urinanalysis be performed along with the bloodwork. The vet will need to acquire a urine sample, either by you bringing one in (collect it in a small, disposable plastic container with a secure lid and refrigerate it if you aren't going in right away - I use the Rubbermaid "Take-Along" containers in the small round size) or by a bladder centesis - a procedure where they use a small needle to tap into the bladder and collect a sample). The centesis is invasive and uncomfortable, so I usually try to get a sample at home to take in if at all possible.
Best of luck that it is something easy to fix.
Best of luck that it is something easy to fix.
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Now I'm really worried that something is wrong with my baby girl! She never peed outside of the litter box until I moved in with my boyfriend, and she had kind of a stressful trip because we had to drive from Salt Lake City, Utah to Phoenix, Arizona, but I guess that it could have developed during that time, huh?? I have no money right now to take her to the vet, but I'm going to as soon as I possibly get the chance because if there is something wrong I want to help my baby get better a.s.a.p. Also we've been moving a lot lately, 6 months in Albuquerque, 3 months in Idaho, 9 months in Utah and then the quick move here and I'm moving back to Utah within the next couple of weeks. I hate moving this much and I know it's stressing out my kitties as well as me, but could that possibly be a reason for urinating outside the box, just stress? My boyfriends girl kitty is also kind of territorial and did not like the fact that I brought a tom with me, and i'm not fully convinced that it IS just Meeker, like I said before, so I'll keep an eye on everyone and see how things go over the next while.
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If you are in Phx now ... call the humane society they should either have a low cost vet on hand or give you numbers for a few... i know phx has a few of them
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I don't know that I even have the money for a low-cost vet. I've only got $8 in my wallet and that's the only money I've got til I can file my taxes and get the return which takes forever, and my boyfriend will probably just get mad if I ask him for money. But I'll call and see how much they charge for a check-up and uti test or whatever it is that I need and I'll find the money somehow.
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11 years old isn't that old - I also had an 18 year old and I also currently have a 14 year old. A vet check with a senior blood panel and senior checkup anlong with a urinalysis would definatley be a good idea to see what might be going on with her.
Ask your vet if they would be willing to work with you on a payment plan or ask your local aspca for a lost-cost vet.
Ask your vet if they would be willing to work with you on a payment plan or ask your local aspca for a lost-cost vet.
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Actually once we discovered where the urine smell was coming from and removed it there haven't been any more accidents! Hooray! I'm still going to get all my babies to the vet soon, though.
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Thank you for the update
We had a spate of that too a couple of months back, always at or near or even on our kitchen rubbish bin (garbage can). Most of our cats go in and out through the cat flap. All my cats are neutered/spayed. Caught the culprit one night - a stray tom who wandered in through the cat flap for a free meal then left his calling card! This cat is an entire tom so you can imagine the smell
Even after thoroughly cleaning the area he'd sprayed on with cat odour eliminator, our cats thought it was a good idea to try and cover his scent (as they're neutered, it didn't really work). They've stopped doing it now but it was annoying while it lasted. Even if you think you've got rid of the scent, although we can't smell it, the cats can and they'll keep going back and urinating/spraying on the same spot. Even the girls were doing it
