Aggression and urination issues

Well let me add to the common thread of cat urination issues.

I have 7 cats.  No one ever goes into things saying I want 7 cats, but there you go.

I moved in with my fiance back in 2010 with my cat Cleo and other kitties who have since passed away.  

He already had Shadow and Moorea.  All 3 girls and all three declawed.  Yes, I learned.

We adopted a kitten in 2013, Smores.  Also a girl.

Buddy, adopted us 2015...a boy.

August we took in two more boys, Charlie and Bailey.  All of these have their claws.

Everyone is neutered.

Throughout my time with my fiance and his two children, his cat Shadow has peed on things.  Sometimes marking...sometimes peeing.  Favorite spots were the basement but now no cats go down there.  Other favorites are the in floor registers in our new addition.  It would be seasonal so I thought it could be smells from the outside or rodents attracting her.  Whatever.  It would be a spot or two and I could keep up with it.  Tried Nature's Miracle No Spray deterrent and she seemed to respond to that.

WELL, the 2 new boys came into the house and we now have a Pee A Palooza going on.  I kept them in a bedroom for about 2 weeks to introduce them to the humans.  Then they were in the main portion of the house, separated by a screen door to the remainder of the kitties.  Only Moorea was with them but she's like a stuffed toy and does nothing but sleep and live with my step daughter.

We allowed everyone to try to sniff and eat near each other and get along.  Slowly the boys were let out into the other portion of the house.  I admit...sooner than I wanted to but some men don't understand cat behavior and don't want to listen to those that do.

My situation now is this:  Shadow is being chased and hunted down by the 18lb Bailey and terrorized by the 16lb Charlie.  She's now started to pee on benches, pillows, the registers, etc.  Bailey joined in too with peeing on the registers.

I locked them up again in the main portion of the house and let Shadow out after about 2 weeks.  She seemed okay then let Bailey out and then it started up again.  These boys also go after Cleo but she isn't a problem with peeing.  

Physically, Shadow is a runt.  7lbs and tiny.  She has a huge mouth though so you know when Charlie goes after her.  Bailey is doing better after his last incarceration.  I do not think he's spotting.  I have upside down carpet protector around the registers and "ScatMats" in the most favorite places.  That saved the floors but now she's in on the pillows and other stuff.

Note on litter boxes:  I have 8 total.  3 in the main house.  2 in a  Breezeway connector and 3 upstairs where the pee episodes happen.  Some are covered boxes, some are open and large, one has only a puppy pee pad in it to try that option out.

I have 3 feliway mutilple cat diffusers upstairs and spray feliway on all the previously marked spots.  I use Anti-Icky Poo to clean up infractions.  The pillows were peed on last night so they were washed, sprayed with Anti-icky poo and may be put back but I'm not decided.  They have 5 cat trees scattered about the house.  

Everyone is free fed with several bowls of dry food on all levels.  At least one bowl is not across from a litter box.  Two large waterers are also located away from food bowls.

I work second shift, 1pm to 9pm so when I get home many times every human is in bed and the house is dark.  I lurk around as quietly as possible.

I'm not sure what else to do!  I've tried putting treats on the places where pee happens and they pee on the treats.  Maybe play time could help?  I need to engage the other humans in the house to get this accomplished.  

Any other ideas?  Oh, and Smore's scratches the leather couch now too.  sigh.  

It sounds like a stress response to me.  Have you checked over the house with a black light?  That can help to tell that you've gotten all of the urine out so it's not attracting them back to spots.  

Hi MoochNNoodles,

Yes, I go over the whole house with a black light.  Our bathroom is shockingly disgusting by the way, no kitty issues either.

At any rate, based on your comment I agree that Shadow is under extreme stress.  I don't know if I mentioned it before but a couple nights ago I awoke to find she had peed on my cell phone on our headboard.  The next day I found poop in my closet.  Never had that issue.  Charly has been chasing everyone around and most Shadow and Cleo.

I locked Shadow up into one of the spare bedrooms to let everyone calm down and give her some space to feel safe.  

I also bought 66qt containers and swapped them into some of my cabinet litter boxes.  I plan to put one out in the open too.  Bailey is a large cat and I think his inappropriate elimination issues are due to the fact he just doesn't fit into conventional boxes.  

I also switched to a combo of our Swheat Scoop and Cat Attract litter in one box, and Silica litter with Swheat Scoop in another.  Already the one with Cat Attract is very attractive.

All these changes make me hopeful.  I'm going to add a second cleaning in the morning and play time for each cat at least in the evening.  That should help too.  I'll keep you all posted!

Hi MoochNNoodles,

Yes, I go over the whole house with a black light.  Our bathroom is shockingly disgusting by the way, no kitty issues either.

At any rate, based on your comment I agree that Shadow is under extreme stress.  I don't know if I mentioned it before but a couple nights ago I awoke to find she had peed on my cell phone on our headboard.  The next day I found poop in my closet.  Never had that issue.  Charly has been chasing everyone around and most Shadow and Cleo.

I locked Shadow up into one of the spare bedrooms to let everyone calm down and give her some space to feel safe.  

I also bought 66qt containers and swapped them into some of my cabinet litter boxes.  I plan to put one out in the open too.  Bailey is a large cat and I think his inappropriate elimination issues are due to the fact he just doesn't fit into conventional boxes.  

I also switched to a combo of our Swheat Scoop and Cat Attract litter in one box, and Silica litter with Swheat Scoop in another.  Already the one with Cat Attract is very attractive.

All these changes make me hopeful.  I'm going to add a second cleaning in the morning and play time for each cat at least in the evening.  That should help too.  I'll keep you all posted!