Cat is peeing everywhere, has been to vet, and won't quit - HELP!!!?

Question

I am eight months pregnant with two indoor, neutered cats (both male & are brothers) who I have had since they were around two months old. Now they are a little over two, and ONE of them has begun peeing about six months ago (I have caught him, while the other uses the box religiously). On clothes, clean or dirty, all over my baby's new playpen which we set up (ended up tossing it out when we discovered it was totally ruined), now on my futon which has been here longer than the cat and was never an issue. I took him to the vet a month ago, got him treated for a UTI, and all seemed well for about two weeks. Now he is peeing again - we are talking three times within a 48 hour period. I am ready to take him back to the no kill cat shelter where we got him. We are going to keep his brother. I keep his box clean and have tried all the tricks I have read online - nothing is working here. Any further ideas?? I do NOT need this stress . . .

Answer 1

Hi Michaela...males cats can get chronic UTI known as FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome). Here a a few articles on FUS: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/fusfaqs.html .
http://www.hdw-inc.com/healthfus.htm
http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/cflutd.html

Diets high in magnesium can contribute to FUS inflammation of the bladder by changing the pH in the urine levels. He most likely will needed to be treated again at the vet and maintained on a low ash higher protein diet that his brother can also eat. However if his results show nothing revealing then it is a behavioural issue which sometimes as an option can be treated short term with anti-depressants. A vet can discuss with you more about this as different anti-depressants work better than others, but needs time to see which is effective since the medication isn't immediately effective.

Changes in the home can become stressful for cats and they will exhibit the stressed behaviours with terrioritorial marking even if they are neutered. A new baby on the way and all the added baby furnishings and changes related to the baby may contribute to him acting out.

Also if the areas haven't been thoroughly cleaned with a neutralizing enzymatic product such as Nature's Miracle http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_large_img.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775473&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574488339105 males cats will repeatedly mark those areas as well.

Answer 2

The cat may be peeing where he went before. Unless you use a special cleaner available at pet stores or vet clinics (what I recommend) the cat can smell where he peed and do it again and again. Bleach, pepper, amonia...all these will NOT work. My cat urinated on clothes, sheets and futon too; she stopped when I used the special cleaner. My cat started when she was very stressed out from being hurt by a maintenance man. (do not scold your cat btw...it will make it worse for the animal) Maybe your cat is reacting to anxiety with the new baby on the way.

If he keeps on, take him back to the vet. If it isnt anxiety, then the UTI may be back. (Did the vet mention special food for him? Some male cats will have recurring UTI unless a special food is used) If it is anxiety, you can get a Feliway spray to help the cats too. (we cant smell it, but it calms them down)

Also, try having 2 litter boxes in different areas of the home. Another reason may be he has had something happen to put him off the other litter box

Answer 3

Last year my beautiful Manx cat Theodore went out for the evening and never came back. I love cats and the house didn't feel the same without one, so I picked up Lola from a rescue centre. She was very frightened and would pee all over the house. I found Cat Spraying No More� on the internet and the techniques worked almost immediately. I haven't had a problem with Lola since. Amazing!

Can't stop your cat peeing in the house? Then worry no more...

Answer 4

there can be a lot of reasons why your cat is peeing. first off, three times or more is actually not too much for a cat. think about how small their bladders are. it actually sounds like you cat may still have a UTI. you might want to take him back to the vet and double check. UTI's can be REALLY stubborn. but, usually with UTI's or other infections, cats tend to pee in the same place/s over and over again.

cats are really sensative to smells and things of that sort. you mentioned you are pregnant. it is possible that you may be emitting a different scent. you cat sounds like he's trying to mark his territory. my sister has a female who began peeing when a new kitten was brought into the house.

one thing you might try is using vinegar to wash things. they don't like the smell of it. also, these things may stop after you have given birth. maybe give it a little more time before you give you cat back to the shelter.

Answer 5

Not really related to your question, but in response to one of your other answers: It is actually the cat stool that is dangerous to pregnant women - you may already be aware it can cause Toxoplasmosis and you shouldn't be changing the litter.

Now, back to your question. My cat was also peeing everywhere, and it wasn't until he peed on the kitchen floor that I could see the faint trace of blood in his urine. He also had a UTI, but in addition to treating him, we had to switch him to a low-ash cat food. Have you done this? My vet told me the reason they pee everywhere is because it hurts and they associate the PLACE they are peeing with the pain. So...they try a new place next time.

If treating him for the UTI solved the problem even temporarily, that seems to indicate that something is bothering him. I'd try low-ash food and take him back to the vet to be sure he's not still suffering from a UTI or something else.

Answer 6

You might want to check again to see if her UTI came back or check for crystals in her urine doing a urinalysis.

Make sure you feed kitty premium, high quality food, found at pet stores. Grocery store food is crap. Make sure kitty is getting some canned food, mixed with some water, heated in microwave for a few seconds, twice a day. The extra water will help keep UTI away, feed high quality dry food too.

My cat was peeing outside litterbox too. Hasn't done it for a month now. She has crystals in her urine so we are trying to put her on Dissolution cat food to dissolve struvite crystals (the food is making her vomit, so I'm trying another brand now.)

Here's what else I did:
- bought another litterbox, so she has 2 to choose from (you need 3 litterboxes if you have 2 cats.) We were putting her in there in the morning, after work, and before bed, and she'd pee for us almost every time.

- Buy clumping litter so you can scoop urine and poo, cleaning it multiple times a day.

- Clean messes up really good using Nature's Miracle (pet store), Shout, dish soap, antibacterial Febreeze, cat repellant, covered with tin foil.

Answer 7

This has to be frustrating. Call the vet and start him on his meds again....if that does not help, I'm with you, take him to a cat rescue. You are having a baby and you need to spend you time with the little one, not cleaning up after the cat. I love cats and I have two, but there is a limit and a responsibility to your baby. Take care and congratulations on your little one....enjoy him/her, the grow up too fast!

Answer 8

Try putting another cat litter box out. Some cats don't like to share. Only show the (peeing) cat where it is. Try putting it somewhere your other cat rearly or never goes. I had four cats at one time and they all shared a litter box except one. I had to get her her own box and it worked.

Answer 9

Hmmm, we had a cat that did this but he had an UTI. I can only suggest taking him back to the vet and having him checked again! Otherwise, I would try and find him a nice farm to live on, outside--where he can pee wherever he wants!

Answer 10

use non-scented clumping litter and have multiple boxes.. placed in non-scarey places (eg NOT next to scary laundry machines)

he is probably stressed due to changes in expected baby.. he is upset and marking things that are "new" since they dont smell like him - you can rub a cloth on him then rub the cloth on the stuff so it smells like him - keep babys room door shut
you can get "anti depressant" from the vet but it may also slightly alter his behavior...

poor kitty he is being an older sibling who is upset that he will no longer be "your favorite" once the baby is here...

my guess is his peeing started the same time you started changing the house