Peeing on Everything Except Litter

Animal Freak

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So, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure if this is a behavioral thing or a health thing, but this seemed to be the safer option. I have a cat of about six years of age by the name of Ash. He's (supposedly) a Napoleon and is fixed. I haven't checked his weight recently but it used to be around eleven pounds and I don't believe he's lost or gained much. And he's peeing on everything. Everything, that is, except the litter in the litter boxes.

He has had UTI problems in the past, but we've since gotten a water fountain type of bowl and added wet cat food to his diet and hasn't seemed to have any problems since. However, he did continue peeing on towels and the occasional plastic bag. The solution was simple though: keeping towels and bags off the floor. If they weren't on the floor then he wouldn't pee on them. Until recently. Now, all of a sudden, he doesn't want to use the litter boxes. We even got a new cat box not that long ago that he seemed to love. They were all using it and he rarely ever used a different one. Not anymore though. He's even taken to peeing on my clothes which he used to enjoy laying on. He peed inside my computer bag though I've no clue how he got in it. Fortunately, my laptop wasn't inside at the time.

We do change litter frequently and never seem to stick to the same thing, but they usually don't have a problem with it and, while we did just change again, he had been going outside the box since before this change. We've kept the litter boxes low on litter, we've had them high on litter. We just trimmed the fur away from everything tonight because my mom thinks he doesn't like the little sticking to his fur. He just peed on the mat in front of the litter box. Tonight. I guess the one good thing is that he was at least close to the box. Just not quite in it.

There hasn't been any blood in his urine so far, but I've got him put back on glucosamine just in case and told my mom to make sure he has water mixed with his food in the morning. Neither one of us can say we've been seeing him drink much lately though we're not home much during the day and I don't know what would bring on this sudden change. Ever since we got the new water bowl(s), he hasn't had a problem. My mom in sure that it's his fur, but it seems like this would've been a problem before now if that was the case. She thinks we should take him to the vet every once in a while for grooming so they can make his groggy and relaxed. I think the car ride alone is too much stress and, even if he's calm at the vet's, he'll be stressed out once he gets home.

He's also had a very bad attitude. He had taken to slapping me when I was preparing their dinner (something I posted about in the past). He's stopped slapping me for the most part though you can tell he thinks about it. He's also taken to slapping at Ember during such times and even Frost on occasion. The other day was the first time I had ever had any issues with them too. He went after my hand when I was brushing him, but it was entirely my fault. I was using a comb that pulls too much under his leg and I think I got distracted so it pulled his fur. He grabbed my hand and pulled himself up like he was going to bite me, but stopped immediately, let go, and simply put his paws up and hissed like he was ready to fight if I tried to retaliate. I was too surprised to do much of anything. By the time I realized what had happened, it was over. He didn't even run away. I just wrapped it up and let him go. I don't blame him for that, but it was the first time any of my cats have actually attacked me. Otherwise he's simply acting like a grouch and either wants attention or is in a bad mood.

I've tried thinking of anything that's changed. We have had issues in the past so this isn't something entirely new and I know the process. But the litter is pretty much the only thing changing and they never seemed to have a problem before. They had also been on the same litter when it first started. Laundry detergent hasn't changed, we've been living in this house for over a year, the dog still freaks him out a bit but she's been here for months and they've all mostly gotten over it. No problems between the cats other than when Ash hisses at the dog or does something to spook Ember and she'll go after him.

I'm sorry this turned out to be so long, but I figured I'd try to answer as many questions in one go as possible. I've posted similar issues in the past and have found that, no matter what I post, there's something I forget to add and end up answering it later on so I attempted to cover it all this time. Please, if anyone knows what's going on, I'd love to hear it. We don't really have to money to take him to the vet if it's something we can fix on our own. I don't want to use the money for them to say he's fine. Of course, we'll do it if we have to. I have some money saved up for situations like this. Just not much. Anything would be great.
 

orange&white

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I understand about the money, believe me, but since he has had UTI problems in the past, I think his current behavior is good reason to break into the emergency vet budget.  I would take him to the vet to rule out medical problems.  Since your mom will take him to the vet for occasional grooming, maybe you could have that done so that if his urinary health checks out ok, you don't waste a trip.  At least you would know that the problem is behavioral, not medical.

I've only had one cat with UTI's and she only had 3 in her 16.5 year lifespan, but every time she'd peed outside the cat box, she had an infection.
 

MoochNNoodles

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Going in a pace he usually loves to lay is a red flag for me.  I think you've covered your bases otherwise; so I do think its time for a vet visit.  Not all UTIs show blood in the urine.  They can also have other urinary issues that cause them to pee inappropriately. 
 
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Animal Freak

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All right, thanks. I'm not sure exactly when we'll get him in, but we'll what we have to. I kind of figured we'd end up needing to take him. I just watched him look in the cat box and then turn around and walk away so it's pretty clear something is causing him to not want to go in it. Thanks for the quick responses.
 
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