My cat won't pee in the litter box anymore!

hendem

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I have an eight year old that that has become quite the problem cat. She is spayed, healthy and affectionate. I have over 20 years of cat ownership experience. The problem is urinating outside the box, and only in the family room. Yet she always poops in the litter box. This started a few months ago when we could smell cat pee but wasn't sure where it was from. Then we caught her peeing right under the dining room table. I took her to the vet the following Monday and they said nothing was wrong with her. I cleaned every stain I could find got two additional litter boxes, one of those pheromone diffusers and the problem has only gotten worse.

Recently I had the carpet professionally cleaned to remove pet stains which cost hundreds of dollars. Then last night I stayed up almost all night to watch the cat, she started sniffing around her favorite pee spots, every time I would pick her up and put her in a litter box (all of them clean). She would never use it. After about five rounds of this she started standing next to the front door. I let her out. We live in a condo so she was just out in the hallway. Which is carpeted and it is easy to get outside into the grounds. She just stayed next to the front door.  I check on her in two hours and she is still by the door. She wants to come in. Immediately she starts sniffing around where she tends to pee. I put her in the litter box again! Then maybe fifteen minutes later when I’m not paying attention she pees on the carpet! I spot her mid-stream and she darts out of the room knowing she is deep trouble.

I’m at my wits end; I cannot tolerate living in a house that smells like cat piss, and this cat is so suborn she would rather pee on my family room carpet instead of outside or the box! I would have considered the hallway carpet a small victory. I think my choices left are, keep her in a cage with a litter box, Give her away (if I can find any takers), turn her into the animal shelter, or euthanasia.  We are very strongly considering the last option.

Anyone have any ideas beyond these?
 

stephanietx

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First off, she needs to go to the vet to rule out any medical problems.  Then, clean every spot with an enzymatic cleaner.  Also, try Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter and maybe even put her in the bathroom for a few days to retrain her on using the box.  Have you tried Feliway?  That might help, too.
 
 

missymotus

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Was she specifically checked for a UTI or just a general health check?

Did the professional cleaners use an enzyme cleaner? You need a cleaner that removes all traces, there are several pet stain products on the market or you can use a biological laundry detergent mixed with water, soak the area quite well since it's been happening for a little while.

Some cats do react negatively to Feliway and similar plug ins too.
 
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hendem

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The Vet ruled out a UTI and other medical problems like kidney failure, and concluded that the problem is behavior.

We have a Feliway diffuser setup.

I have cleaned and re-cleaned with a enzyme cleaner probably into that over 100 bucks, and have recently had a professional remove the pet stains using an enzyme cleaner as well, then steamed it after.

 

I might try the cat attractant litter and possibly additional confinement. I've been confined her somewhat but I might need to step it up to 24/7 until/if she learns to use the litter box.
 

sevenwonders

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Welcome to TCS! 


I had one kitty who suddenly acted the same way.

I cleaned the litter boxes, rinsed well, and bought 2 additional types of litter,

so they had 3 different types to choose from - problem solved immediately.  


BTW - I had been using Pine Pellets (still do in one box)

and I began using Exquisicat clumping Wheat in one (the new favorite - much better than Swheat Scoop)

and Exquisicat Clumping Pine & Corn in another.

I'm sure she will come around - if you try my suggestion and it does not work,

let us know - we will figure it out. 
 
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hendem

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I like this three litter idea. I'll give it a try, hopefully this will work I feel like I have tried everything else.
 

sevenwonders

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I like this three litter idea. I'll give it a try, hopefully this will work I feel like I have tried everything else.
Glad to hear it - my Kitties really prefer these natural types of litter, and they are much better for them and the environment than clay 


Please let us know how it goes!
 

wasabipea

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I'll just make my long story short. After many UTIs and kidney "insufficiency" as my vet puts it, my girl was still going outside the box from time to time.

The vet said she thought it could be stress-related cystitis (I'm gone all day and she is very needy with loving)  and  put her on a tiny dose of Amiltryptiline, which is an antidepressant of all things. First few weeks were rough and I felt terrible because she looked so out of it and was a zombie, but now she's acting fine and happy and the peeing issues have all but stopped.

Pet Naturals also makes a treat called Calming which has an amino acid L-Theanine, she also gets one of those a day, broken up since they are kind of hard.

She's chill purr kitty now... and keep in mind she's almost 17.

I was at my wits end with the peeing though, esp when the vet said no infection present. that was always the fall back to why she wasn't peeing in the box.

I could give you the whole story but just don't feel like typing so if you have any questions just let me know. Good luck! I can sympathize.
 
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hendem

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Wow thanks.

I'm going to give those calming treats a try. I think some kind of anxiety is also an issue with our cat, since we are not home all that much.
 

wasabipea

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I laughed when someone suggested that my girlcat could be stressed because she has quite the cushy life, but then when I thought about it - she's very needy with affection (me only) and ALWAYS on my lap... so me being at work all day with commute time on top if it, she might very well be stressed. Could be an issue with yours too? Both my kitties really like the Calming treats though, and they are picky.

Also, Nok-Out (only availalbe online I think) was the best enzyme cat pee neutralizer I've found over the years.

Good luck!
 

eb24

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I think you have gotten a lot of good advice. The main things I would try are: 1) really re-cleaning the areas with an enzyme remover (like Natures Miracle), and 2) trying some different kinds of litters (and I second Dr. Elsey's cat attract litter- it's good stuff)! 

Also, have you tried putting a box on the spots where she likes to go? There may be something about that area that is comforting to her. You could also try putting her food and water dishes on the spot- cats don't like to pee where they eat. It may be an inconvenient spot for you but I suppose if it works it's better than pee on the carpet! 

I know it's frustrating but hopefully one or more of these things will work and you guys can find the balance again. If it doesn't keep posting and we will keep trying to think of solutions! 
 

stella1258

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So pleased to have found this site! I'm having the same problem with my 17 yr old cat, she has stopped wee'ing in the littler tray but will still poo there.
The vet has checked her out & all tests came back perfect, much better than usual for her age apparently. Over the past year she has moved house twice, has another adult, 2 teenagers, a dog & a cat move in with her. She's been stopped from keeping on my bed and hated the other cat when it arrived.
Before we moved into our house I put in 2 cat doors but she will only use them to get outside to use, not to a litter tray. We've had a Feliway diffuser going for a week , put out 2 more litter trays and watching her ever move when she is inside but she still manages to wee in the same spot on tiles next to the 2 litter trays! Thinking of trying drugs next but I really don't know how much longer we can have her wee'ing on the floor.

I'm really hoping I can figure out what's going on otherwise she will either become an outside cat, or have to be euthanised soon!
 

sue2

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I can sympathize with all the above distraught kittie mom's. I have a female that is 3 years old and I have had her since she was 5 months old, adopted for the humane society. The first year she was needy but nothing to extreme, always has been a bit wacky. This past spring she started acting really wacked. She is constantly crying to go out, there are other cats in the neighborhood and I believe the ones coming around are male, she cries like her heart is broken, but she is fixed. She has also stated peeing in her water bowl, and bathroom sink. I have also caught her spraying the front door quite a few times. The constant crying is starting to make me a bit! crazy, 5 am until 11 pm when i am home working. I do have an appointment with the vet in a week but this is the second one, ( the first casting 175 bucks) I also have another female cat which is not quite as high strung and they have been together for that last 3 years. Recently I have noticed Mabel the troubled child being a bit more aggressive with Pip the sweet one, I don't know if this connected or what. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give as much info as possible I can not live with the crying much longer, it is like living with a collicky baby that pees on the floor!  Help!!!!
 

kriss

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Wow...I'm kind of surprised that euthanize can be an option for cats peeing in inappropriate places...I came in here to get an answer for my cat peeing at the wrong places all over my house for months but never once thought of killing him for it....I'm from Korea..and I thought koreans are the ones with issues with cats ....I guess I was wrong...sorry but I think I've made a wrong judgment call for visiting here....
 

hexiesfriend

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Kriss if you read through the main thread you will see the 2 at the end are new people with new issues that probably needed to start new thread. The original thread started as you can see in 2012. No one on this site is suggesting Stella 1258 euthenize her cat because it's peeing in the wrong place. Stella started a thread of her own inside someone else's and the rest of the members probablymissed it including myself. I think I can speak for all the members here in saying we do not agree a cat should be put to sleep for peeing outside the litterbox.
 

di and bob

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I agree, I think all of us here would be HORRIFIED to think a cat would be killed for urination problems.  This site is the most compassionate and caring one I have ever found. There are also SO many people here who have owned and cared for so many cats over the years we have lots of advise. I have owned cats for over 50 years. Please start your own thread or continue to read through some of the older threads fro solutions to your problem, I'm SURE there is one !All the luck and please keep posting!
 

emuller48

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Hi

I wondered if you ever resolved this problem.  My cat is 5 yrs old, neutered etc and a few monthe ago stopped peeing in his litter box. It is driving me crazy. Laast night he peed on my 7 yr olds book bag.  She is allergic to cats, we discovered recently, so I have been home hunting for him but how can I give him away with bad behavior?

I have been trying to do everything I can to keep the cat dander away from my child so we could keep him.  But now the pee issue?

What did you finally do?

I really appreciate your help!

[email protected]
 

hexiesfriend

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Has the cat been examined for a urinary tract infection? This frequently happens when they suffer from a UTI. Do you know how to start a new thread because this is a common problem you will get a lot of help with.
 
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