Cat peeing on kitchen counter

cleo123

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Hi. Since you were so helpful the last time I had an issue with one of my cats running away, I wanted to seek your advice on something else.

For about the past month, my cat, Cleo, has been peeing on the kitchen counter (and once in my room upstairs). She is about 11 years old, but she doesn't seem to have any other sort of mental defect or sign of senility. She is strong and can comfortably hop up and down from the counter.

A bit about her personality and the household:

Cleo is really a one-cat-per-household type cat, but we have seven. She tolerates being near one of the cats, doesn't care for the others, and gets into a hissing match with one of the others. The kitchen counter is kind of "her" space. She has a food bowl up there and she sleeps there, too.

While we have seven cats, we only have two litterboxes (I know, I know, I know - but we live in a small house). We keep the boxes pretty immaculate. One is upstairs, one is downstairs in the room next to the kitchen.

When I've read about this issue, I've always heard recommendations to take the cat to the vet. Unfortunately, my mother really doesn't believe this is a health issue, so taking her to the vet is unfortunately going to be a last resort, I think.

One idea to help the problem is to get another litterbox, and put it in the kitchen/dining room (there is no wall or door between these two areas). If this is the case, then what we'll do is get a covered litterbox - I was thinking of the Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litterbox:


Because it would be covered and therefore somewhat more aesthetic. There are various issues with it, though, such as that one of my cats doesn't cover his waste.

I'm wondering if this is a good idea or not. My hesitation is that if she is not using the litterbox because she doesn't like having to pass the other cats who are hanging around there, she might not use this litterbox for the same reason, even if it's in a different space - and she might continue to use "her area" simply because it's "her area" and it is convenient.

Thank you for your help.
 

Ms. Freya

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Litterbox issues are always a bit tricky. Can you try isolating her in a room or area by herself with access to a litterbox that none of the others can use? That might help you tell if it's likely medical (she still won't use the box) or behavioural, in which case she might used the box when the others aren't there.

You can certainly try the new box - it can't hurt, but there's certainly a chance that she still won't use it. Have you changed litters at all recently? Some cats can't stand certain litters. Also, have you checked her claws? Some cats, if they have an ingrown nail or such, won't ding in litter because it hurts.

Just some suggestions. I'm sure some others here will have more.

Best of luck!
 
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cleo123

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Litterbox issues are always a bit tricky. Can you try isolating her in a room or area by herself with access to a litterbox that none of the others can use? That might help you tell if it's likely medical (she still won't use the box) or behavioural, in which case she might used the box when the others aren't there.

You can certainly try the new box - it can't hurt, but there's certainly a chance that she still won't use it. Have you changed litters at all recently? Some cats can't stand certain litters. Also, have you checked her claws? Some cats, if they have an ingrown nail or such, won't ding in litter because it hurts.

Just some suggestions. I'm sure some others here will have more.

Best of luck!
Hi! Thanks for responding. To clarify, she is using the litterbox sometimes - she uses the one upstairs and the one downstairs. She always poops and covers in the litterbox, but every other day or so, she pees on the counter.
 

clare brown

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Help! I'm having the exact same problem my kitchen tops are being used as a pee tray!

I have 3 cats and one cat is the oldest uses the kitchen side as his area as the younger cat and him don't get on. Recently I keep smelling wee and see someone has sprayed everywhere all up the side and on the counter??

Did u have any luck with ur situation??
 

feralvr

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Yeah - litter box issues can have so many reasons and levels. First thing is to get a urinalysis. It is possible that it is stress related since she is really a one household kitty as you say. I don't care for auto litter boxes as I know of one cat that was so frightened by the noise and the motor that this cat stopped using any litter box. Sometimes the motor can malfunction and start cleaning and moving before the cat has time to leave the box. I would use the largest open style litter boxes that you can find. You might have to confine her to a small room until she is using the box again regularly. Try the Cat Attract litter and use the litter additive along with that. It really does work to draw the cat to the box. It sounds to me that Cleo is stressed with the other cats and I do think you need more litter boxes and more choices for her to get to a litter box without being bothered. She might need privacy. My Perla is this way. She needs complete privacy to use the box. I have six cats and five extra large open boxes that I scoop at least three times a day.

Also, stress can bring on UTI's in cats. So it is possible that she has an infection. :nod: You might check her urine first. You could also discuss with your vet the possibility of using an anti-depressant called Elavil for highly stressed cats with bladder and litter box issues. That could be a last resort though, just something to ask your vet about after you have her urinalysis done. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: For your Cleo.
 
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