Cat peeing on bathroom floor... don't know which one!

The only one I can rule out for sure is Maple. Her pee reeks (vet said it's the worst he's ever smelled), and yes, I sniffed it to check. Smelled like non-Maple cat pee. My reason for calling her out is because she used to pee on things due to anxiety, and we got off kilter with her Prozac schedule for awhile the last few weeks. Finally got back on track the end of last week.

Anyway, there have been a few times that the little sleeping pad in the bathroom has been peed on. I thought it might be Maple, as it was her one time, but didn't want to smell it the other times to find out. That was some time ago though.

I know that the cats will still lay on it, despite having been peed on. They didn't the first time I washed it, and tried to "bury" it even. I soaked the dang thing in Nature's Miracle before washing it it the last times it was peed on. This time though, the pee wasn't on the cat bed, but rather next to it.

I can't be sure who it is because all the cats go in the bathroom. All four love it there because it's so warm. How do you normally handle this with multiple cats when you can't pinpoint the culprit? Obviously will take whoever it is to the vet (although I'm gonna try leaving the bed off the floor to see what happens for now). I do have a sneaky suspicion it might be Penelopy, because she is the one usually laying on the bed. And she has a history of "missing" the litter box when she pees (because she doesn't bring her little bum all the way in), and today made me think of that.

   I hope you manage to get this worked out quickly, and figure out who needs to make that vet trip and what might be the cause of the behaviour.

It can be so hard figuring out who is up to what in a multi-cat household and unless they have some particular individual trait (like Maple) the only way I found was through constant if subtle observation.   Whose paws were trotting off in which direction, when and how often....  There was many a time I wished I had a kitty-cam, and if you have anything you could set up to watch that area then I'd be all for doing it.

Ironically, the one who I'm suspecting (Penelopy) is the one I keep waiting to poop so I can take it to the vet (I have a little tube just waiting for a stool sample). I've not quite caught her going yet - she has no shame and will watch me while she goes as a rule, and her poops are very recognizable (I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that I know that, lol).

She usually pees at night, I have a litter box in my room to make it easier for Maple, and hear them going, but usually try to ignore it. I'll have to pay attention tonight. I know for certain Maple was in there, I heard her little bell as she jumped out this morning.

Also not gonna put the little bed thing down for awhile. And will wash it / soak it in Nature's Miracle a few times. It only seems to happen when that bed is down.

I was thinking earlier... It's possible Maple may have dribble on her and then it stays on the little bed when she lays on it. And Pea-Pea is kinda territorial when it comes to that. I never thought I'd potentially have THAT kind of an issue with two spayed females! :lol3:

Hi @Donutte,

I was also thinking, like MServant mentioned, that some sort of 'web-cam' or 'motion-activated camera with sd-card' for recording would be helpful.

I just don't know which ones are good, and not that expensive.

I also wish they came up with something like the 'urine sticks' they use for testing the pH of urine:

https://www.walmart.com/tp/ph-test-strips

But I don't think that would help in distinguishing which cat's urine it is, especially if the pH levels are similar.

(Vets should come up with a harmless food dye, but I've never heard of that either. It would probably freak us cat-guardians out, if we saw 'fluorescent coloured urine' from our cats)

Gosh, I am not helpful at all. 

I like your idea of having a "Bell" on Penelopy.

Maybe you can try a bell on one cat, and some sort of different 'jingle sound', or no bell, on the other,...just to distinguish them, from each other.

You might have to get Penelopy a different type of box, with higher sides, if she likes to hang over the edge.  Perhaps one of those tote boxes, or clear storage boxes. They come in all sizes.

She has no problem with the litter box. I saw her jump in and dig earlier - just dig though (and yes, she does that normally). I actually make my own litter boxes. The one in my bedroom is made from a 30-gallon bin, and the one in the back porch from an 18 gallon bin. The one in my bedroom does not have the cover, and the one in the back porch does. She uses both.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on her (and an ear out for her during the night). She's a loud pee-er, just like Maple is (the boys are more quiet about it).

Donutte said:

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I'll definitely be keeping an eye on her (and an ear out for her during the night). She's a loud pee-er, just like Maple is (the boys are more quiet about it).

Click to expand...

I guess in this situation...being a loud pee-er, is a good thing.    

It is funny how the personalities, and habits of all cats are so different.

They might do similar things, but they do it in their own unique style.

Of course, when you want them to do something, then forget-about-it.

Waiting on getting a medical urine or poop sample, is like suddenly there is no schedule. (the cat schedules are all mixed up, and the cats are suddenly not helpful.)

Hope all goes well, tonight.  

No pee in the bathroom. Woke up this morning and heard Pea-Pea digging, but hadn't woken up in time to tell what she was digging. She's more apt to go crazy burying poops though. Or, burying others' stuff (Maple doesn't cover up). So couldn't tell - again.

Oliver peed in the litter box last night. I sat up and turned the light on when I heard someone in there and it was him. I waited for him to be done - he wasn't too happy about me staring at him. And he peed, so that made me happy (like I said, quiet pee-er, so couldn't tell what he was doing!). Oscar I rarely catch in the litter box, and when I have it's usually mid-morning or early-evening. Maple goes really early so sometimes I notice, sometimes not. This morning I didn't. She goes other times too but not sure when. She's already been ruled out but keeping an eye out just in case.

Hoping this is just a case of "smelling Maple dribble on something so trying to pee on top of it". And of course, if that is the case, it makes sense because Pea-Pea has no sense of aim.

None again. Thinking I may have been premature in asking about it but freaked out a bit when I saw it on the floor the other day. Wasn't the first time there was pee, but it was the first time it wasn't on the pad. Pad is being super-washed for the time being. All kitties are acting like their crazy selves.

Well it is always best to prepare and catch early than something be going on for a long time beforfe you realize - I'm sure I won't be alone in wishing you well with your latest theory and hoping no more peeing outside-the-pad is detected.  

I agree. It might just be 'marking their territory' or favourite spots, to keep the other away, or 'over-marking' if one accidentally dribbles.

If you can, I would place another sleeping pad in there, different from the original, and see if the same thing happens.

Glad that all the cats are back to acting like their crazy selves.   Never a dull moment, living with cats.    

Well, I get home, and smell pee. The bathroom is quite warm and the fragrance is definitely there. Dangit. Big puddle of pee in the middle of the floor, with no cat pad there. It's yellow so it's concentrated, but gosh there's a lot of it. I'm starting to wonder if the culprit is our one pooch. Usually when there is a lot of pee with cats, that's a bad thing! And it's also very dilute in those cases. But definitely yellow and concentrated here.

I just don't know! It's so frustrating I've been meticulously watching every cat when they go. I'll be home tomorrow so will try to keep an eye on them again, but this hasn't been happening every day.

Knowing cats, they would definitely blame the dog. And the dog would blame the cats. Yes, frustrating.

Would putting down a 'puppy pee pad' without scent on it, help...if for example it left a 'paw print' on the top, while the animal walked away?

Though, you don't really want to be training them, that it's okay to go on the pee pad.

Besides having a 'camera', or catching them in the act,...I don't know how you'd figure it out.

Good Luck, tomorrow, while you're home.