peed on couch and seems like i have to force her to eat

okay. So, the past few days it seems as though I have to remind Odessa to eat. The title of my post aside, i don't have to "force" not forcing, but her food will be put out and she doesn't touch it (unusual for her) so I dab a bit in front of her face, then she licks it off my finger, then she eats a little bit. She also peed on my couch tonight. Well actually its her couch, that is where she lays most of the day. The litter box is just down the kitty stairs and to the left. She doesn't use it very often when the other two are out and about (but Odessa is the only one in the living room during feeding times and after I take the other two to bed).

She is not the most active cat so if there is something wrong I'm going to find out some other way... She is still grooming herself and is looking out the window right now. She will be 3 this year and has never had any serious health issues.

I'm going to try and get a vet appointment sometime early next week unless she pees on my couch again, then I'll just have to make it work financially before that.

Any amateur advice until then?

When I first read your post, I assumed she was a senior cat.

But a huge red flag went up when I read she is only 3. If she's not eating unless you put food on your finger, this is serious.

The peeing is probably a symptom. She could have a UTI, and be blocking. If that's the case, she could die.

IMO, she should see a vet ASAP.

Originally Posted by threecatowner

When I first read your post, I assumed she was a senior cat.

But a huge red flag went up when I read she is only 3. If she's not eating unless you put food on your finger, this is serious.

The peeing is probably a symptom. She could have a UTI, and be blocking. If that's the case, she could die.

IMO, she should see a vet ASAP.

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Hummm..... Yes, but she can be spoiled too... It happens to Bugsy sometimes - I spoil my cats too much, and they all of the sudden get used to me following them around with the food, putting it on the right place, at the right time, just so. Sometimes it becomes a game with the "brats" . What happens with mine I think too, because they only eat one food (due to sensitivities), from time to time they go finicky on me.
So, when this happens I do dab a little food on their face/mouth, and they start eating. Bugsy usually eats 1/3 of his food, moves around then I need to move his food a bit later so he eats the rest. All that and it is not an indication at all of him being sick. And yes, it goes on spurs.... They just get finicky bored of their wet food.
Watch your kitty closely - is this about the wet food only, or wet and dry? Is she losing weight? How is her behavior? Are you varying the food enough?
About the litter box: I read three kitties and one litter box? You also said she doesn't like using the boxes while the other cats are around? This, right there can be the problem.
Rule of thumb for good litterbox usage: # of boxes = # of cats + 1. So, for three cats you should have 4 boxes, or at least 3.
Bottom line is, she has to have a litterbox of her own. You also said it is under a staircase? Do people go up and down the stair? is it closed at the sides? She can be getting startled and feeling trapped. Add litterboxes in different, open areas (uncovered, large boxes) - back corner of rooms and corridors are perfect, so she can see the whole room and not feel trapped.
I would do that and watch for a few days. If the situation doesn't change, take her to the vet....
BUT: Make SURE she eats - even if she is finicky and you are reminding her to eat, make absolutely sure she eats - a cat that is not eating can get very very sick fast.

Hi And I have a spoiled, finicky girl at my house too!! Perla will turn her nose up at her wet food and I have to put some on my finger too and then she will most likely dig in. But, , I too have followed her around until she stops and I put the bowl down and then she eats (little brat ). So, you just have to know when the eating is from "having your number" or "really not feeling well".

I would also add a couple more litterboxes with the Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter today. Put one near that couch as that sounds like where she feels safe. She may not want to go down those stairs for whatever reason . I definitely think she needs a vet check and urinalysis done. I would watch her very, very closely because if it is an UTI, this can turn from bad to very serious quickly. Vibes to you and your girl

Don't' want to scare you, but serious word of caution here. My cat Marsh, who passed away from leukemia last year, was just sluggish and didn't eat well for few days before I realized it's a bigger issue. I took him into the vet, he was severely dehydrated with a fever ... vet said I'm out of my mind, why I didn't bring him earlier?! Cats do not show they are sick, as a mom, you need to be very aware of any small changes.

This happened to a friend of mine. Her vet did urine and said no infection ran a kidney panel and vet said CRF...cat was 2 yrs old. I took the results to my vet and asked for a second opinion. They said put her on an antibiotic and give sub q fluids...no way she was CRF....ARF maybe but not cronic.

They also did a ultrasound of the kidneys because her Vet fought her tooth and nail on the treatment she asked for.

Two weeks of antibiotics later she is cured. She had a kidney infection that did not show in her urine. Ultrasound showed normal kidneys.