The Tale of Two Kitties

Dallas is a 2 year old, male, domestic short hair. We got him from an SPCA when he was just a baby. Fixed, he sleeps through the night, uses the litter box and scratching posts and has never ever gone in the floor! He cuddles like a champ and doesn't meow too much. Dallas is the perfect cat!

Billie Jean is a 7month old, female, domestic short hair. She was a stray when we got her but we think she had a home at some point since she knows how to use the litter box and is very friendly. She is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen, super model material! She was fixed a month or two ago but not before going into heat twice. She meows all the time, the does not sleep though the night, she pees on the floor, scratches everything, and drives me crazy! I love this cat but we need some serious help...

We have tried EVERYTHING! For the scratching: tape, spray, scratching posts (horizontal and vertical), spraying her with water and yelling. For the pee: a second litter box, scooping daily, enzyme sprays, rubbing her nose in it and even spankings...She's unstoppable.

The peeing started on the bathroom rugs. After enzyme spray, constant washing and a second litter box (like I said, she knows how to use the box because she poops in it. I've watched her do it...). Now that the bath mats are gone, Billie has moved on to the carpet. She mostly goes in corners, she scratches and digs into the carpet like she would do in the litter box then sits down and pees.

I don't know what to do...I don't want to give up on her but were getting desperate. Does anyone have any suggestions or know of a cat training class or specialist (around Charlotte, NC)? I'm willing to try anything at this point!

Thank you!

Aw the poor girl, it sounds like she's terribly uncomfortable with something. We can try to help you figure out what that something is.

Most vets will say to have kitty checked out for urinary infections first. Even constipation can cause enough discomfort to avoid the litter for peeing in some cases 

lf a urinalysis comes back clean, there could still be bladder inflammation which wouldn't show up, but causes enough discomfort to result in litter box avoidance. What are you feeding her?

After the medical/physical checks are done, there are some other things to try, some of which you've already mentioned above.

Does your other kitty ever ambush her around the litter box? 

Do you have 3 litter boxes? Rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one. Some cats won't pee where there's poop, and vice versa.

Also, any negative reaction from you, ie spankings, spraying etc, is only going to exacerbate the problem. lf she's in pain she's being punished for no reason. lf it's behavioural, she's going to become even more anxious. Speaking of which, have you tried Feliway?

Here's a link to good starter information. Hugs for hanging in there and dealing with this, it's a tough one 

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/problem-behaviour/soiling-indoors

We have 2 boxes, one on either end of the house and I've never seen Dallas attack her while she's in or around either box. They get along rather well, always play fighting and bathing each other so I'm not sure that its him either. I'll look into making Billie a vet appointment but I really don't think its anything medical. I sat and watched her pee in the box this morning so she knows how to do it and never seems uncomfortable. 

Thanks for your advice!