Female cat peeing/spraying everywhere...Need advice!

[kylier]

So, a little over a year ago I had to re-locate overseas and wasn't able to - for various reasons - take my four beautiful furbabies with me. Fortunately, my parents were in a position to kitty-sit for me. All four cats were/are indoors with an outdoor enclosure. They came to me at varying stages - I started with one, then two, then three and four came together as mama and son - so they are used to being in a multi-cat household and tolerating each other reasonably well.

My parents also have three cats of their own ranging in age from about 5 to 19. We purposely set everything up so that if necessary, my parents' cats and my cats could be separated at different times whilst still having quality interaction with the humans of the household. The youngest of my parents' brood - a spayed female - is not overly tolerant of my cats, the other two will mind their own business most of the time.

For the first 5-6 months, everything was fine, then my eldest cat - a spayed 14 year old DMH girl - started peeing in odd places. By this, I mean in shoes, on pillows, in handbags, curtains...pretty much nowhere has been safe. At Christmas, she sprayed all over some presents under the tree and TODAY she

sprayed on my mother's leg. Yes. Oh dear. It's one of those things you know you shouldn't laugh at, but you can't help nonetheless. Lucky my parents are cat-people (though I think they are running out of patience...) I should probably mention that when Ali lived at my house with my other three cats, she was no.1 kitty and quite a demanding little diva. Since going to my parents' house, she has become quite attached to my mum.

The first thing I thought was a kidney problem or UTI but she has checked out fine. She has recently (September) been diagnosed with a mammary adenocarcinoma and has had two surgeries and is currently undergoing chemo. Both my local vet and the specialist oncologist are very happy with her progress. Both surgeries went well with good margins and she has had no side-effects from the chemo whatsoever. To look at her, you wouldn't know there is anything wrong at all. She is her usual bossy, cranky self

IMG_0644.JPG

• kylier
• Jan 1, 2014

IMG_1004.JPG

• kylier
• Jan 1, 2014

 

[hexiesfriend]

My cat would turn around and pee on my leg occasionally, it was usually when I was showing him a lot of affection. It's gross and I hated it but he did it only when he was happy and purring so I left it alone. He did it maybe 10 times over his lifetime. This I think is an unfortunate sign of affection.

With my first set of kitties, I had to do the same as you with my parents a couple years after I got them, and without other cats being in the house previously, they would pee all over everything. They eventually became my parents' cats because my father became so attached. Altogether It took probably 1 1/2 years for the behavior to go away. I think it was from just being in a new environment and wanting to make it theirs as well as marking members of the household as theirs. I don't think any of this behavior is vindictive in any way. I think they just need their own space. I'd have your parents set up spots just for the cats to be in so it is just their space and maybe give the girl giving the most problems her own space to be, not confining her but giving her her own little cubbie. This is what worked at my parent's house and eventually the peeing stopped. Hope this helps and don't give up yet!!

 

[mservant]

So sorry to hear one of your cats is presenting with such difficulty over the past 5 months or so since she move in to your parents' home.  It must be awful for your parents, but also for you as you are not there and helping her yourself.

It sounds as if much of her peeing is on your mother's personal things, as well as her person, and there is some reference to this type of behaviour perhaps being about seeking reassurance in one of the discussion and advice areas on TCS.  I have added the link here which takes you to the articles section of the site, and a long thread that discusses inappropriate peeing and spraying behavioiur.  Within the thread there is a further link to another long thread that has other points and advice to consider.  I really hope that something in these gives you and your mum some ideas for things that might help your old girl.

Along side all of this of course I would say continue to discuss with the vet as sometimes things can be masked, particularly with a lot going on, or become more aparent over a period of time.  

 

[stewball]

I don't suppose senility had anything to do with it?

 

[kylier]

I don't suppose senility had anything to do with it?

That would almost be a good thing if true! At least she would have a valid excuse! Nope...she's as sharp as a whip!

 

[kylier]

 
So sorry to hear one of your cats is presenting with such difficulty over the past 5 months or so since she move in to your parents' home.  It must be awful for your parents, but also for you as you are not there and helping her yourself.

Yes, you are absolutely right...one of the things that bothers me most is being so far away and leaving my parents (who are in their seventies) to deal with it all The other thing of course, is that whilst undergoing the chemo, her pee is quite literally contaminated by the chemo drugs and these are considered harmful (though not fully proven) to humans. When cleaning up "spills", one is supposed to where full surgical gloves etc, so peeing on my mum's leg is definitely not a good thing!

Thanks for the advice and the link - though I coudn't see it in your post? Would you mind re-posting? Thanks so much.

 

[mservant]

 
That would almost be a good thing if true! At least she would have a valid excuse! Nope...she's as sharp as a whip!

It does have more of a feel of attention and security if it isn't physical health because she seems to be targeting quite personal areas / things, though I too did give some initial thought to neurological things, esp with the other stuff going on.  I am sure your family will continue to have discussions with the vet around everything.  I do think wading through those long threads is a good idea for you, but one idea I'm wondering about is if it is feasible for your mum to offer a more contained space / room for this cat for a while?  It might help with both the amount of things being soiled in the home with resulting cleaning issues, and perhaps help your older girl feel a little more secure, esp if a Feliway plug in were added in the area.

Is your mum able to check the home for area where peeing has happened (the black light that is talked about in the other threads) and go through a serious enzyme cleaning routine to rid the place of some of the smells that might contribute to behaviour repetition?

Ha ha, just like me to forget to include to link!!!!

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/9563/inappropriate-peeing-problems-answered

 

[kylier]

Oh, I agree 100%! She's a very loving cat - adores my mum - always wants to sleep with her and gets really cranky when she's on the "outside" (aka in her cat enclosure) - and I honestly believe she does get jealous of my mum's eldest cat (who is 19 years old - we rescued her and bottled fed from about 3/4 weeks old). She (the 19 y.o.) is my mother's shadow and actually gets separation anxiety, so I think my cat isn't so big into sharing! I do think that it is very similar to what you went through - just hope it stops soon as it is becoming quite stressful for my folks. Thanks for the advice and info on your kitties!

 

[stewball]

That would almost be a good thing if true! At least she would have a valid excuse! Nope...she's as sharp as a whip!

Oh well. It was just a hopeful thought.