He's always peed stuff, bags, laundry, stuffed animals, he doesn't have a urinary tract infection, but does have a thyroid problem, he gets medicine every day, gets fed first thing in the morning. When ever I find him in the act I confine him to the utility area of my basement. Lately I've found him peeing on things infront of me, so I've put him now into his pet carrier. So now he's gone asfar as peeing on my family. He's thirteen years old. Everyone tells me just get rid him. I've been beyond patient with him. Anyone have any ideas.
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cat peeing on people
- Thread starter cat
- Start Date
How many litterboxes do you have??
Katie
Katie
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- May 21, 2004
- Messages
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Is he neutered?
-Monica.
-Monica.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
Try providing some more litterboxes. Also..check out these sites:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...?P=C&C=240&S=2
http://www.catsinternational.org/index.html
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/Housesoiling.html
http://www.animalbehavior.org/Applie...sesoiling.html
http://www3.us.elsevierhealth.com/co...tructions.html
Katie
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...?P=C&C=240&S=2
http://www.catsinternational.org/index.html
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/Housesoiling.html
http://www.animalbehavior.org/Applie...sesoiling.html
http://www3.us.elsevierhealth.com/co...tructions.html
Katie
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
I don't know much about the background here, and I have no idea about your knowledge of cats, so if I'm telling you things you already know, I'm sorry.
First of all, URIs are not the only medical problem that causes cats to pee outside the box. With a thyroid problem, I assume he gets full blood work-ups done regularly and all other medical reasons have been eliminated?
Next, unless the smell is COMPLETELY removed from the place or item, a cat that pees outside the box will often continue to pee in the same place. Clothing, carpets, etc. should be treated with an enzyme cleaner before being otherwise washed. On the carpet, the enzyme cleaner (such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution) must soak completely down through the padding - all the way through to the floorboards or the smell remains. Anything cleaned with ammonia will continue to smell like pee to a cat. If you would like to visibly check for cat pee remaining in carpets, etc., just buy a black light. You'll be able to see anything on the carpet (even though you've cleaned it!) using this.
Does your cat have any mobility problems? Sometimes not being able to comfortably get into the litterbox is the issue. Does he have arthritis? Does he have to go far to get to a litterbox? Litterbox placement can be an issue. Do you have more than one litterbox? Does he have to go up or down stairs to get to it or one of them?
Some cats can be very picky about the litter. Ferals, for instance, often need to be induced to use a litterbox by covering the litter with dirt. Have you tried different types of litter already? Have you tried clay instead of clumping, one brand vs. another, shredded newspaper instead of litter, etc.?
Have you read through this VERY helpful thread? Inappropriate Peeing Problems Answered
At 13, it could be he has developed Alzheimers. Becky's Domino just posted her very sad experience with this horrible disease. In older cats, one of the symptoms is frequent urination outside the box.
95% of the time, a cat's peeing problem does, in fact, turn out to be medical. The first thing I would do is see another vet to get a second opinion. Once you are absolutely certain your cat is healthy (other than the thyroid problem being treated), and you've tried using multiple litter pans in various places, trying differnt types of litter pans, different litter pan placements, and different types of litter, and you're still having a problem, then perhaps consider containing the cat to one room, not in his crate.
You can try retraining your kitty to use the litterbox by containing him in a small room, such as the bathroom, or a large crate - one that is large enough to have a litterpan on one side, some room for him to move around in, and his food and water on the other side of the cage. Once he is using the litterbox, if he does so, then slowly allow him into the rest of the house, using multiple litter pans.
Containing him to his carrier is just out and out cruel.
BTW - when you say you feed him once a day, do you mean wet food, and he's allowed to free feed dry food? Cat's digestive systems are set up to eat many small meals a day. Unless this is on the advice of a vet and has to do with his thyroid problem, I'd consider feeding him more frequently, at least twice a day.
First of all, URIs are not the only medical problem that causes cats to pee outside the box. With a thyroid problem, I assume he gets full blood work-ups done regularly and all other medical reasons have been eliminated?
Next, unless the smell is COMPLETELY removed from the place or item, a cat that pees outside the box will often continue to pee in the same place. Clothing, carpets, etc. should be treated with an enzyme cleaner before being otherwise washed. On the carpet, the enzyme cleaner (such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution) must soak completely down through the padding - all the way through to the floorboards or the smell remains. Anything cleaned with ammonia will continue to smell like pee to a cat. If you would like to visibly check for cat pee remaining in carpets, etc., just buy a black light. You'll be able to see anything on the carpet (even though you've cleaned it!) using this.
Does your cat have any mobility problems? Sometimes not being able to comfortably get into the litterbox is the issue. Does he have arthritis? Does he have to go far to get to a litterbox? Litterbox placement can be an issue. Do you have more than one litterbox? Does he have to go up or down stairs to get to it or one of them?
Some cats can be very picky about the litter. Ferals, for instance, often need to be induced to use a litterbox by covering the litter with dirt. Have you tried different types of litter already? Have you tried clay instead of clumping, one brand vs. another, shredded newspaper instead of litter, etc.?
Have you read through this VERY helpful thread? Inappropriate Peeing Problems Answered
At 13, it could be he has developed Alzheimers. Becky's Domino just posted her very sad experience with this horrible disease. In older cats, one of the symptoms is frequent urination outside the box.
95% of the time, a cat's peeing problem does, in fact, turn out to be medical. The first thing I would do is see another vet to get a second opinion. Once you are absolutely certain your cat is healthy (other than the thyroid problem being treated), and you've tried using multiple litter pans in various places, trying differnt types of litter pans, different litter pan placements, and different types of litter, and you're still having a problem, then perhaps consider containing the cat to one room, not in his crate.
You can try retraining your kitty to use the litterbox by containing him in a small room, such as the bathroom, or a large crate - one that is large enough to have a litterpan on one side, some room for him to move around in, and his food and water on the other side of the cage. Once he is using the litterbox, if he does so, then slowly allow him into the rest of the house, using multiple litter pans.
Containing him to his carrier is just out and out cruel.
BTW - when you say you feed him once a day, do you mean wet food, and he's allowed to free feed dry food? Cat's digestive systems are set up to eat many small meals a day. Unless this is on the advice of a vet and has to do with his thyroid problem, I'd consider feeding him more frequently, at least twice a day.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
Some cats are just "talkative" by nature.
Katie
Katie
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I agree with everything Laurie had to say. The first thing to do is find a cat specialist vet and get a 2nd opinion on the medical status of your cat. I also think experimenting with different litter types and more boxes wouldn't hurt.
Another thing that can cause cats to pee outside the box is stress... and locking him up in rooms and carriers, having to give him pills everyday is stressful for a cat. All of my cats are fixed / neutered now and the only time my cats have ever peed or pooped outside the box since everyone got altered was when I was away on vacation and they were stressed out by the person caring for them while I was gone. It sounds to me like you are very angry about this peeing issue and that anger is likely stressing the cat out even more which just makes the peeing worse... it's a horrible spiral.
I'd read all the articles in this section of the site. Each of them offers insight into the cat psyche which may help you help your cat.
http://www.thecatsite.com/cat_behavior/
Does this cat demonstrate any other negative behaviors? Is he affectionate with you, does he avoid you, what can you tell us about your relationship with the cat?
-Monica.
Another thing that can cause cats to pee outside the box is stress... and locking him up in rooms and carriers, having to give him pills everyday is stressful for a cat. All of my cats are fixed / neutered now and the only time my cats have ever peed or pooped outside the box since everyone got altered was when I was away on vacation and they were stressed out by the person caring for them while I was gone. It sounds to me like you are very angry about this peeing issue and that anger is likely stressing the cat out even more which just makes the peeing worse... it's a horrible spiral.
I'd read all the articles in this section of the site. Each of them offers insight into the cat psyche which may help you help your cat.
http://www.thecatsite.com/cat_behavior/
Does this cat demonstrate any other negative behaviors? Is he affectionate with you, does he avoid you, what can you tell us about your relationship with the cat?
-Monica.
Somehow there were two threads, so I did just merge them.
After reading the other thread I hadn't seen, I'd like to add that some cats are also very picky about the cleanliness of the litterbox. Apart from recommending that at least one litterbox be available on each level of the home, each litterbox really ought to be cleaned twice a day, morning and evening. The litter should be changed and the boxes completely cleaned and bleached at least once a month.
I understand how frustrated you are, and I didn't mean to criticize. With a problem like this, I recommend putting your kitty in a cage. One that's large enough for him, his food and water, his litterbox and some movement. Containing a cat to a carrier under any circumstances for any extended period of time is cruel to the cat, unless it is a very large carrier and he has access to food, water and has a place to eliminate. I was simply reacting to your mentioning that you had put him in his carrier. If it's a normal sized cat carrier, if it is for a short period of time, there's nothing wrong with that, although it does nothing for him (he doesn't understand why, and it provides no method for retraining his behavior), but it does help alleviate your stress, which he's certainly aware of.
After reading the other thread I hadn't seen, I'd like to add that some cats are also very picky about the cleanliness of the litterbox. Apart from recommending that at least one litterbox be available on each level of the home, each litterbox really ought to be cleaned twice a day, morning and evening. The litter should be changed and the boxes completely cleaned and bleached at least once a month.
I understand how frustrated you are, and I didn't mean to criticize. With a problem like this, I recommend putting your kitty in a cage. One that's large enough for him, his food and water, his litterbox and some movement. Containing a cat to a carrier under any circumstances for any extended period of time is cruel to the cat, unless it is a very large carrier and he has access to food, water and has a place to eliminate. I was simply reacting to your mentioning that you had put him in his carrier. If it's a normal sized cat carrier, if it is for a short period of time, there's nothing wrong with that, although it does nothing for him (he doesn't understand why, and it provides no method for retraining his behavior), but it does help alleviate your stress, which he's certainly aware of.
I actually have a big wire cage that I bought at a petstore for $30 (It was a display cage). It's pretty roomy and a small litterbox and food and water fit pretty nicely in it. I highly recommend that over a carrier.
Katie
Katie
I just saw that you posted that he's declawed. Given that he's 13, he may very well be developing arthritis. Cats actually walk on their toes, and the process of declawing removes not just the claw but the end of their toe from the joint. This causes them to walk unnaturally, and most cats that are declawed develop arthritis. This can make getting in and out of the litterbox painful. Please try a very low-sided litter pan that is cleaned frequently.
This could also explain the meowing. When a cat is declawed, many cats develop alternate behavior patterns - some become biters, others become very vocal. Unless he was always vocal - as TNR1 said, many cats just are.
I'm so sorry your poor boy was declawed. Polls of shelters indicate that 85% of cats that are declawed that are given up by their owners are given up for exactly the problem you're experiencing.
I think if you cage him or confine him to a small room to retrain him in the use of the litterbox, experiment with different litters, and use a very low-sided litter pan that is cleaned at least twice a day, you may have success. If he does start using the litterbox under these circumstances, please have several available to him in easy-to-get-to places for him and slowly allow him access to other areas of the home.
Please have your vet check him for arthritis.
This could also explain the meowing. When a cat is declawed, many cats develop alternate behavior patterns - some become biters, others become very vocal. Unless he was always vocal - as TNR1 said, many cats just are.
I'm so sorry your poor boy was declawed. Polls of shelters indicate that 85% of cats that are declawed that are given up by their owners are given up for exactly the problem you're experiencing.
I think if you cage him or confine him to a small room to retrain him in the use of the litterbox, experiment with different litters, and use a very low-sided litter pan that is cleaned at least twice a day, you may have success. If he does start using the litterbox under these circumstances, please have several available to him in easy-to-get-to places for him and slowly allow him access to other areas of the home.
Please have your vet check him for arthritis.
And thank you for not giving up on him yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Also due to his age take him in and have a full blood panel drawn on him. Adding more litter pans will help, not yelling at him helps as well (if you are indeed yelling at him) That just makes the situation worse. It could also be the medication he is on that is causing him to pee on things, he could just be stressed out and calming down the environment will also help him back to health.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #17
cat...please also remember...he isn't doing it on purpose..he isn't trying to get on your last nerve. If he could "talk" to you in a language you understood..he'd tell you exactly what he needs...but unfortunately he cannot. So he is relying on you to figure out how to make things work. Please continue to work towards a solution and feel free to ask more questions.
Katie
Katie
