Rescued uneutered adult male - spot urine problems

This is a long story.  Wasn't planning to rescue a cat, especially not before the holidays.  Someone talked to me about this beautiful "Ragdoll" cat abandoned in a very rural area.  When I heard about the cat the températures outside were horribly cold (-30)!!!  Well I decided I couldn't let him freeze out there.  But I had already made plans to go away for Christmas and had only a week to catch him and get him settled.  Ouf, got him late Saturday night.  Put him in my bathroom with food, water and a litter box.  He seemed ok that night.  Next day, spent time with him and tried to show him around the house.  Would let us pet him and ate.  The second night...he would be more active at night and seemed stressed out.  He would meow and go to the window or the door.  Thinking he wanted to go out so he could do his business...we put him the litter box...voila!  He used the litter box.  OK, went back to bed, but this routine reapeted itself... we put him in the litter box a few more times but he did not always use it and just jumped out.  In the morning we had urine in a few places.  Tried to clean out the spots as best as we could.  Off to work and school...had to leave him alone.  On our return...more pee.  Cleaned those as best we could but could still smell the urine.  Tried to show him litter box again.  Got a second bigger box (uncovered).  That seemed to help a bit.  The problem seems to be more at night.  We find pee in different areas of the house in the morning.  Got him neutered...hoping that helps.  New problem...had to leave him since we could not change our Christmas vacation plans.  Someone is checking on him twice a day and has told us there is still pee.  We had closed all the curtains (advice from another web site).  We had one window with no curtains in my kitchen and he climbed up on the counter and peed next to the window.  Not sure what I will find on my return.  He is probably stressed out and quit honestly...so am I.  This was not the best situation for all involved.  What advice can you give me to make this better??

I would suspect he got dumped because he did peed alot.  Him being unneutered making things worse, of course.  Or even, starting the problems in the beginning.

So, neuter him if not done already.  Use relaxing tricks,  like Feliway diffuser,  Relaxing music.  There should be suitable  Flower spirit essences - seek around!   One of the places to seek is at "Jackson Galaxy".

And look at the tips on getting control over peeing....  Look thus also in teh Behavior forum.

Some of them are have several litters, at least one in each room he is allowed to be in.

Have him rather confined...

Get some nice enzyme biological cleaning spray...  A lamp with ultra violett  light reveals where he did peed, or if the cleeaning wasnt  thorough enough.

Good luck!

ps-   a vet check up if he has physical problems causing the peeing is also wise.

Thanks,

Yes, we vet checked him and also had him neutered.  I got some enzyme cleaner.  Will try getting the black light to check for undetected pee.  Hopefully, once I am able to be around more I can monitor him more closely.  But will he stop or at least want to go out less?

I keep seeing other posts on this site and that also will help me understand and treat the cleaning process.  Also I will be better in understanding his behaviour.  I will try the behavior forum for further questions.  I just thought maybe this was a feral cat issue.  Although he must have been a family cat before since he is no too scared to approach us.

Merry Christmas!

A second litter box may help.  I would definitely try that.

I also thought that if he was just neutered, he may still be having the urge to mark territory.  Enzyme cleaners will help get rid of the smell and hopefully, as his testosterone goes down, so will the urge.  Thank you for rescuing him!!!!

Originally Posted by Jo catpee  
.  But will he stop or at least want to go out less?.....

I just thought maybe this was a feral cat issue.  Although he must have been a family cat before since he is no too scared to approach us.

Merry Christmas!

Click to expand...

Ondine said:

 
I also thought that if he was just neutered, he may still be having the urge to mark territory. ...hopefully, as his testosterone goes down..., so will the urge.  Thank you for rescuing him!!!!

Click to expand...

My guess is he is a dumped homeboy.  True, there are some semiferale toms who arent very shy of humans, and may even accept petting by the humans - but beat up their residents...

But here,  Im almost sure he is dumped because of the peeing.  Or possibly got astray searching after ladies - which is a common enough fate for adult unneutered toms.

So I think his behavior problems arent because of being found homeless, but its a tom and or peeing problem.

Toms are renown for marking their territory with spray.  Some do pee (too), especielly if feeling stressed.

I too like Ondine  think it will be better with time, when his hormone levels gets down.  Both with his urge to go out, and his peeing / spraying.  He will be more relaxed, more willing to play and amuse himself, have his tail happily swaying straigh up.... 

But as he got the habit with inappropriate peeing, its safest you work on several traces parallelly.

Good luck!

Here's an update for my beautiful Guimauve.  Since being neutered and accustomed to his new home Guimauve hardly pees anywhere but his litter.  I still have two litter boxes (one upstairs and one in the basement).  He was still very vocal at night and wanting to go out.  He even escaped one time outdoors but luckily we were able to catch him.  I would be scared that he wouldn't come back if he were to go out on his own.

So my beautiful boy is now a normal indoor cat.  We are both loving the cuddles and each others company. 

Thank you for the update.  I am so happy that Guimauve is settling into his new home.  Thank you so much for rescuing him.

Thank you for the update!  So happy to hear Guimauve is doing well.  I have to admit, I had to look up the name - French for Marshmellow, right?  I like it!