problem cat?

Question

my eldest cat gives me endless problems with her behaviour. she hairballs alot, usually because she has a plastic fetish and chews any plastic be it bags, sellotape etc which then turns up in her hairballs. she also likes to pee on my laundry basket and on towels in the bathroom. on top of this she is very aggressive towards other people and often attacks them although she is fine with me. i am at a loss to her erratic behaviour. she uses a litter tray and goes outside but still pees in the bathroom anytime she gets a chance. ive also tried hairball remedies but none seem to work. while i would never dream of parting with her im just wondering if anybody has any suggestions on ways i could prevent her doing these things aside from the more obvious like shutting the doors etc (which she opens by the way).

Answer 1

Hi there...there are several possibilities as to why your cat may be urinating inappropriately. If she hasn't been spayed, this would contribute to spraying behaviour and only spaying her will resolve this as well as the aggression issues she's exhibiting.
More on spaying: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_the_feline_spay.html

If she is spayed she may have a lower urinary tract infection (UTI) which needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Cats develop litter box avoidance behaviour because it's painful to urinate in the box so they believe it's the box causing the problem when it's actually a lower urinary tract infection. Some cats suffer partial urethral obstructions and need to see a vet urgently as this can be fatal for a cat within 24-48 hours.
More on Feline UTI or known Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorders (FLUTD): http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html
Urethral obstructions: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/urinary_blockage.html
More on why cats inappropriately soil the home:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

The eating of non-edible items is a condition called PICA. It's important to secure these items away from her as this can causes bowel obstructions and be fatal for cats.
More on PICA:
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/pica.html

Pica: The Un-finicky Feline
Chewing or eating cords, fabric, houseplants, etc.

What is Pica?
Pica is the act of eating non-food items. In less serious cases, cats may chew or suck on objects, but not actually swallow them. Common targets include yarn or string, fabric, wool, phone or electric cords, and plants. Any object may be a potential target, however.

Why is Pica Dangerous?
Other than its destructive potential, pica can be extremely hazardous to your cat's health if non-food items are consumed. Ingested fabric, string, or other materials can lodge in your cat's stomach or intestine. The blockage prevents the passage of food and may cut off the blood supply to these organs. Both are life-threatening conditions. Cat's that chew on power cords may be electrocuted. Additionally, many common houseplants are toxic to cats; chewing or eating these plants can cause a wide range of symptoms from drooling to death. If your cat has a history of ingesting non-food items and becomes lethargic, vomits, or displays other concerning behavior, take them to your veterinarian immediately.

Why Does My Cat Eat/Chew on Non-food Items?
No one knows exactly why some cats exhibit pica behavior. Because pica has been associated with a variety of diseases including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, a veterinarian should examine any cat with pica. A genetic component is also suspected since wool or fabric sucking/chewing is more commonly found in Oriental breeds such as Siamese cats. Although it is normal for cats to eat small amounts of grass, consumption of large amounts of plant material may be an indication of a dietary deficiency or illness. Once medical causes are ruled out, behavioral reasons for pica can include boredom, attention-seeking, attractive odors, hunger, and learned behavior.

...please consider visiting the website for full details on how to treat PICA cats

Answer 2

She sounds like she is mad over something. As far as the peeing I would spray everything with citrus. Cats do not like citrus. You can go on Pet Co or other pet supply places and find many deterrents for cats. I understand the cat opening doors thing. I put locks on my doors so if I dont want my male in a room he cant get in. Also try your hardest to keep all the plastic away from her. Did you get a new cat or have some sort of change that she could be pissed about. Seems she is doing this to get back at you for something. Just show her whos boss and I hope she calms down.

Answer 3

The urinating outside of the box could be from many reasons. Cats are really, really picky. She could all of a sudden hate where the litter box is, what kind the box is (too small, too big, no lid, had a lid), she could hate the litter. Also, it could be a sign of anger, or medical. Elder cats do tend to goto the bathroom outside of the litterbox just because their old, but it could also be a bladder infection or some other sort of medical problem. You should take her to the vet and have her checked for this sort of thing because you make any decisions. As far as the aggression is concerned, theres not much you can do about it now. Older cats are going to decide for themselfs who they like, and who they do not like & you cannot change their mind.

Answer 4

The above answer is right on target. She could have a urinal tract infection, which causes them to pee everywhere. If she isn't spayed, she needs to be, that could be causing some of her aggression. Make sure all plastic items are put in drawers or cabinets, because that's hard to break. We have a dog that eats remote controls, not just chews them up, actually eats them, so we have to keep them put away when we leave. She could have some plastic stuck in her stomach also, which could be attributing to her behaviors. We have a psycho cat that opens doors too, so we have to latch them good. Get her to a vet, its most likely medical.

Answer 5

Wow! Try child-proof hooks on doors and cupboards that she can open.....white vinegar can remove urine odors from fabric so the scent is gone and won't attract her(regular detegent doesn't help remove all odors) .....get her vet checked to be sure there are no medical reasons for urinating outside the litter box......your vet can also give you hints and help for hairballs( there is also a line of catfood especially for hairball prone cats- sold in super markets and feed and grain stores) Illness will also cause behavioral changes as well as indescriminate urinating.. Good luck!

Answer 6

I had and elder cat as well who as well likes plastic bags but she always has,If you store allows change to paper bags try to always keep the plastic bags away from the cat..Have you tried to move the litter in the bathroom? or putting another box in the bathroom?also maybe the perivous tenants had a cat befor you and there cats litter box use to be in the bathroom and you cat can smell the old cat and she is marking her spot even thought you can not smell it she can.As for the landury put the basket behind closed doors

Answer 7

Usually when a cat urinates outside of his litter box, it's an indication that there is something going on physically with the cat. She needs to go to a good veterinarian where she can be properly diagnosed and treated---please don't delay...I did and my precious cat died from cirrhosis of the liver; had I taken her sooner and not just chalked up her odd behavior as being "strange," maybe she could have received treatment sooner.

Answer 8

I think your cat is marking her territory when she pees in the bathroom - she is upset at having the other cats around perhaps? Have you introduced new cats to her recently? Older cats can really get upset if they feel their territory is threatened by their cat community! When she attacks people it is probably the same - she is showing it's her territory. I think you have to let her know she is being naughty - perhaps give her a treat when she is good, but when she pees where she shouldn't let her know - they soon know if your voice tone changes to one that is annoyed and they don't like it!

Answer 9

About the peeing thing: is she spayed? And more important, have you checked if she has a urinary tract infection? this behaviour could be either marking or indicating some health problem.

Answer 10

my cat of 5 yrs was acting angry at her cat mates and then she started peeing on my clothes and on the floor sect.... the pee had a zoo smell to it;so i brought her to the vet;and she had a bad urinary tract infection and had some tape worms on top of it;;.at the time i almost thought of giving her to the shelter;but it was;NT even her doings;it was her health;so get the health thing checked out also,,,,LOL..//.