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Need advice

post #1 of 5
11/27/11 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 

Hello,

 

I am in desparate need of advice. I have a 12 year old cat (she'll turn 12 in January), and I have owned her for the past 8 years. She's been a good cat, and was always good about her litter box, until she got an UTI about 3 months ago. I found out she had an UTI because she was peeing just outside of the litterbox. I took her to the vet, and after 2 rounds of antibiotics, the UTI was cleared up (verified by the vet).

 

However, she is still peeing outside of the litterbox. It has become so bad that I can't have any friends or family over because my house smells like pee. I've tried everything. New litter, different litter, new litter box, additional litter boxes, completely scrubbed out the areas where she'd peed and used enzyme spray everywhere. She'll be good for a couple days, then go right back to the same behaviour.

 

The vet thinks it's habitual at this point, and suggests making her an outdoor cat. She's been an indoor cat for 12 years, and it's winter now, so I don't think it's fair at all to force her into an outdoor cat. I'm thinking I have to give her up.

 

Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Anil.

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post #2 of 5
11/27/11 at 1:11pm

Can you try cage training her? It sounds rough, but if the only alternative is giving up a member of the family, I think it would be worth it. You need a cage that is just big enough to fit her, a litterbox, and food and water dishes in it. You keep her in the cage for a few days to get her used to peeing inside the litterbox. Animals, especially cats, will not go to the bathroom where they have to sleep, so if the only alternative is to use the litterbox, she will choose that over peeing in the area she has to sleep in. Once she has gone a few days of peeing successfully in the box, you can move her into a small, closed off room to see if she keeps up the good behavior with more room in which to pee. If that goes well, you can move up to letting her have free reign of the house again.

 

Apart from being habitual, your cat may have negative feelings towards the litterbox because UTIs are very painful, and she could be thinking the litterbox is what causes her pain rather than the actual act of peeing. It's very common for cats with UTIs.

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post #3 of 5
11/27/11 at 1:17pm
Hi and Welcome to TCS. You have come to the right place and I hope we can help you. First off, here is an article written by one of our member's biggrin.gif and has excellent step by step instructions as to how to remove the urine odor. http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-remove-cat-urine I am sorry you are going through this but it can be fixed. I think at this point, I would put your kitty in a small room with all of her necessities to make her feel comfortable. Plug in a Feliway diffuser - kitty pheromones. These can be purchased at most big pet stores. Try using Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter in an open litter box. Give her two litter boxes to choose from at all times. While she is in her room clean all of the pee areas according to Laurie's article. Confining her for a short time might retrain her to using the box again, and not fearing the box as the cause of pain from the bladder infection. She is probably still avoiding the box for fear of that pain again. It is a mental issue, most likely. OR she still has an infection. frown.gif It bother's me that your vet suggested putting her outside mad.gifeekyellow.gif. That is just cruel and I am sorry your vet told you to do that. hugs.gif I think I might try to bring in another urine sample again (to another vet dontknow.gif), just to double check too. I wish you SO much luck with retraining her back to the box. I also think, when you let her out of that room, have a few extra boxes scattered around so she has quick access to one if needed. Hopefully her infection really is totally cured cross.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #4 of 5
11/27/11 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks so much for the replies. I have had other people suggest cage training, but I was really hesitant. I may give it a go. I want to add that I work long hours, and my schedule changes a lot, so sometimes I feel like I'm not around to giver her the attention she needs. Do you think this could be part of the problem? If so, is there anything I can give her that will make her happier? She has always been a very independent cat, and although she does well with other cats, she prefers being on her own.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

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post #5 of 5
11/27/11 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by armelwani View Post

The vet thinks it's habitual at this point, and suggests making her an outdoor cat. 


I'd be finding a new vet, and telling them why as I insist on a copy of the cat's file. That vet needs a slap upside the head. 

 

I totally agree with trying the Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter. I've had great success with it in the past. Feliway spray and diffusers are also fabulous. 

 

Here is some good info on litter box issues:

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=litterbox

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/inappro-elim.html

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/inappro-elim2.html

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