Peeing Problem and Arching

I was hoping somebody could help me - the problem is getting really out of hand now. Any info or help will be really appreciated!!

I have a 5 year old female half persian cat called Tallulah-Bear. She is my baby and that is exactly how I treat her... we are very close!!!! She is a house cat and I adopted her when she was one year old.

She has always had a peeing problem in that I have to put a litter tray wherever she choses is her pee place of the week!!! But its now getting out of hand becuase I have cat litter trays everywhere... but if I don't put them down, she just does her business anway. Its almost as if she has "forgot" that she should go in a litter tray.

She used to have the full run of my flat until she chose a spot next to my bed as a new place to go.. and I was not prepared to have a cat litter tray in my bedroom so unless I am in the house with her, the bedroom door is kept closed.

When I am in the house, I am on constant guard and listen out for her first few scratches that she does before having a wee...

But over the last couple of weeks, she is just weeing anywhere - sometimes next to her litter tray. Every time I get up in a morning or come home from being out at work, I have to go over the entire floor with kitchen roll looking to see if she has randomly weed. Its driving me crazy I seem to be spending every day cleaning up cat wee - my house is going to smell so much if this carries on!!

I just dont know whats wrong with her - she gets so much love and attention when I am at home (I work full time) and I never leave her overnight on her own.

I am not sure if this is connected, but she has recently started to hold a mad stance.. where she arches her back, holds and tenses for a few seconds and then releases. She doesn't seem to be stretching - she looks different than when she just stretches. She does it at random times and for no apparent reason. I was thinking maybe she has a water infection but in herself she seems as happy and loved as ever - so if she had a water infection would she be in pain or something? She is often still purring when she holds the mad stance... And besides, she did tend to have a peeing problem before this.

I am taking her to the vets on Tuesday for her booster jabs so will ask for their help but thought I would try and get as many opinions and as much help as I can get!

do you think she needs behaviour training?

Sorry this is so long I just wanted to give as much info as possible..

Thanks for listening!!!!

Kerry and Tallulah-Bear x

Have you taken her to the vet to be checked for urinary problems? Sounds like the arching might be from pain.

Sounds to me like she has an Urinary Tract Infection... Good Luck!
Oh, Make sure you have 2 litter boxes, and clean the spots she peed on with a good enzyme cleaner.
If you have it available there, try to find Cat attract litter - it should help tremendously! Here is a rebate form, so your first bag is free. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=206606

Sounds like a UTI to me.
I would take her to the vet.

Your cat most likely has a long standing urinary tract infection and/or crystals in her urine. Very painful for kitty

Please take her to the vet without delay and have her urine tested, it sound to me like she is in a lot of pain. She avoids the box because she blames the box for her pain.

Thank you so much for you help. I am really upset that she might be in pain... she doesn't come across like she is?!?!

I took her to the vets a couple of weeks ago (for a jab and about her scratching under her chin which turned out to be a bit of dry skin...) and the vet didn't pick up anything then.

If it is the infection, will she be in constant pain? She is booked into the vets tomorrow - I cant get in before then!! Is there anything I can do for her in the meantime???

Thank you guys,

Kerry & Tallulah-Bear x

Cats are notorious for hiding pain... they don't show it, unless it is extreme - peeing outside the box is almost a sure sign of an infection as they relate the pain to the box... So in their mind, if they pee outside, it's not going to hurt... Yes, she is probably in pain.

good for you for making an appointment. As has been said, cats instinctively hide pain at all costs. When they begin to show pain, it means it is so severe they can no longer hide it.

As for the vet visit a few weeks ago, the only way to diagnose a urinary tract problem is for the vet to take a urine sample.

It's best if you can get her to the vet with a full bladder. One way to do this is to give her something watery she will drink readily such as the water from canned chicken, with a little water added. give her this at least two hours before the appointment, then put her in her carrier, so she can't get to a littler box, or one of her other pee spots.

By the way.....is she spayed?

I know she is not fond of the litter box. But if you can get her to give you a urine sample the best litter to use for that is IMO, aquarium gravel. It does not absorb the urine like regular litter.

A week ago, my cat had a UTI. I couldn't think how I could get a clear sample. My husband suggested the aquarium gravel. Some types are more rounded and are less likely to be uncomforatable on the cats feet. Make sure you get a bag that says, "dust free".

You should be able to get a clear sample from this method.

Most vets take the urine directly from the bladder now. It's the cleanest purest sample possible. It does not hurt kitty, I have seen it done several times on two of my cats.

Hi everyone and thanks so much for all your help and advice! I just wanted to let you know that Tallulah-Bear did have a slight (vet said slight.. but I think that was to make me feel better) infection.

She was given an anti-inflammatory injection and an antibiotic jab that they said should last 2 weeks.

I just wonder if I could pick your brains for another very quick one... now she is on the mend, will she learn to use the litter tray again or will she always have a phobia of it? What generall happens with other cats?

Thanks again for your time,

Kerry & Tallulah-Bear x

Good job getting Tallulah-Bear checked and treated.

First you have to remove ALL traces of urine in soiled areas, or she may return to them. You need a black light to find all the spots (because even if you can't smell them, she can) and use an anzymatic cleaner to get rid of them. It has to be an enzymatic cleaner, this means it breaks down the bacteria in the stain. Each spot must be saturated with the cleaner.

Secondly I advise getting two brand new litter boxes.

Please let us know how Tallulah-Bear is doing.

Glad she's doing better! I also suggest cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner (Nature's Miracle sold at PetsMart, etc) and using the black light to find all the spots. Then get Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter, http://www.preciouscat.com/solve-you...tract-I-3.html . Also, be sure to have 2 litter boxes just in case she likes to pee in one & poop in another. If all else fails, you might have to retrain her to use the box by confining her in the bathroom.