End of my tether

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking for a while and found lots of helpful advice here. I'm hoping someone can give me another perspective, some advice or support. Sorry for the length but i'm trying to be thorough.

My indoor cat (5 years old, spayed) has stopped weeing in any of her (3) litter boxes. I move them to where she wees and she'll pick a different spot, or she'll wee right in front or next to them, sometimes so close it goes under the box. She does not adopt the spraying position, it is a squat down wee but it is by the front and back doors downstairs so does look like territorial marking. This started intermittently in the height of summer. I took her and a urine sample to the vets and they didn't find anything apart from that she was a little dehydrated, i've put more water bowls out and she drinks a lot more now. They just did the cheap test, not the culturing - do you think I need to get that done?

About once a month or two I might hear cats fighting outside - this is the only evidence of other cats that I have noticed. I put deterrents outside anyway, just in case they were bothering her. I also put out a third litter box with a different type of litter but she didn't touch it and I don't think she has a problem with the type of litter. Her 2 boxes are in a good location (private, quiet etc) and I spot clean them often - the third box is not in a great spot but it is where she was weeing so she chose it although she doesn't use it. I clean using the Pets at home Simple Solution.

I've been using Feliway plug ins for months, bought some rescue remedy which she dislikes and have now resorted to ordering a packet of Zylkene. I'd prefer not to medicate her to be honest. She has a cat tree and lots of scratching posts and beds all of which she uses.

Thank you for reading this far.

Do you think letting her go out would help her? Do you have any other ideas? I don't know how long this can go on.

Doodle

sounds like a health issue to me ,even though they said not.Im sure someone more experienced will have more suggestions.

More water is good.Has her diet changed??

Funny my cats miss on occasion but I have 2,and it seems to be territorial.

the boy stalks the girl to keep her from using the box,she will whiz outside the box to??retaliate??

Honestly,if only they could talk.

Do you think I should go back to the vet? They might think i'm rich and mad, they've already looked at her and said she's fine.

Her diet hasn't changed no, she still no.2s in the box.

can try-new boxes-different litter-more water.seems like if its medical,it will persist and symptoms will start to show.

I suppose you could let her out if its fairly safe and she will come when called.

this is like being sherlock holmes of the cat world-no??

I might try the vet again-if I could afford it.

I know with humans sometimes symptoms would show up later,have to keep watching

Instead of letting her go out and roam freely, get an enclosure for her? (Like the little "tent" ones you can find on Amazon for fairly affordable prices.) I'm at a loss to think what it might be, unless it's an illness that has not yet been diagnosed. 

I'm in England so it is safer for cats to be let outside, but I will probably enclose my garden off for her as it is only small. I hope that helps. I would take her to the vet again but there are no other symptoms??

Sounds like a territorial issue to me.  Even though you don't always hear the other cats I can be pretty confident they are out there.   My cat sprays on one wall,,,,the one that happens to be an exterior wall.   I currently have a litter box in that area plus I've taped paper towels on the wall and floor to change the scenary.   Lovely huh?   So far no spraying but it is still early yet.

I've heard that going outside just adds to the problem.  It makes them more territorial because they go out and smell where the other cats have been.   Do you have other cats in the house?   Is the litter box large enough to give plenty of room for the cat?     Is it covered?  If so is the cover clear or gives lots of visibility and feels safe to be inside?    Just some things to think about.

have you seen a picture of cat squatting when they have blockage?

I guess you could google it.they squat different when they cant get the urine out.

Blockages are more common in males I think.But I know its bad when they start missing

the box,ruining floors and carpets.

Thanks. I've googled what a cat looks like when they have a blockage and she doesn't look like that. 

I have blocked out one window and am considering doing the other room. There are no other cats in the house, the litter boxes are large and uncovered. I've changed the litter in one (again) just in case it helps.

I am interested in what you said Fortunate: "I've taped paper towels on the wall and floor to change the scenary." - Can you explain your logic behind that a little more please?

Oh I've just read that you need to do something to change the area they are marking so it isn't appealing.  

I treated the wall and wood floor with natures miracle to to get the odor out but she keeps going there.  I taped paper towels on the wall and floor so I can more readily see when she does it plus it soaks it up so it doesn't sit on my wood floor.   Also another benefit is it makes it seem like an unfamiliar area.    It is in my dining room and I'm not in there every day.

So far since I have the paper towels there she hasn't pee'd.  

 I've tried foil, saran wrap, spikes (like that plastic desk chair stuff),,,you name it to keep them away from an area where they are marking.   It just needs to be unappealing to them.

Darn cats!