cat is peeing outside box

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Jamie N Gizmo

Jamie N Gizmo

Member Since 2014
im at my witts end! it was different when he was sick..but hes in remission for 3 years now. occasionally he just goes outside the box..and in odd places... he peed in my dryer on my cloths. . has anyone given up their cat for doing this...? has anyone like built a large cage or something...? i really need options or something. i hate to think i went through all those hard times just to give him up. last checked his sugar was 43 on alphatrak. He's 11 years old
 
Has he been checked for a UTI or crystals in his urine? Any correlation with increased times of stress? The first thing I would do is get a urinalysis done if that hasn't been done yet.
 
How long has this been going on? Have you had him checked for a UTI? Has anything changed that could be causing him stress? I have a cat that has started this too. Had him checked-no UTI, but another cat has been bothering him, so I believe it's stress related. I am going to try Feliway pheromone diffuser and in the meantime I have been giving him extra attention and keeping the other cat at bay.
 
I have a cat who does this every time he feels stressed, or if he feels his territory is threatened (yes, he is neutered). I can reduce his stress here in the house, but I can't stop him from watching through the windows, where any other animal he sees is a threat to him. I use the Feliway diffusers and they do help; it doesn't eliminate the problem, but it does make the frequency and duration much shorter. Talk to your vet - if it's not a physical problem, he can prescribe Prozac for him, if you want to go that route.
 
the first thing i think of is medical. make sure it is not a medical issue like a UTI. you dont want anything to escalate to a blockage which can be critical especially for male cats.

after ruling out medical reason, then look at behavioral. but please get your cat to a vet to check things out.
 
He stopped using the box completely when he became diabetic. .it got better as he felt better and went into remission. It just seems every now and then if the box isnt perfect..or something he finds somewhere else. Hes drug my cloths off a shelf to pee in them before..or blankets..i never imagined he would jump in the dryer and start peeing...hes a very large cat with a bad shoulder. This has been ongoing since his diabetes..i dont think its a uti or anything. I dont know whats going through his head. My whole basement smells like cat pee from when he decided bags next to my pellet stove would be awsome to pee on. Im just reaching my limits..but feeling guilty im thinking of giving him up after 11 years. I dont wanna be one of those ppl going to work smelling or having ppl over with a nasty selling house..its embarrassing. I had to wash my cloths in the sink real quick today and throw em in the dryer hoping they would be dry in time for work.
 
Jamie N Gizmo said:
He stopped using the box completely when he became diabetic. .it got better as he felt better and went into remission. It just seems every now and then if the box isnt perfect..or something he finds somewhere else. Hes drug my cloths off a shelf to pee in them before..or blankets..i never imagined he would jump in the dryer and start peeing...hes a very large cat with a bad shoulder. This has been ongoing since his diabetes..i dont think its a uti or anything. I dont know whats going through his head. My whole basement smells like cat pee from when he decided bags next to my pellet stove would be awsome to pee on. Im just reaching my limits..but feeling guilty im thinking of giving him up after 11 years. I dont wanna be one of those ppl going to work smelling or having ppl over with a nasty selling house..its embarrassing. I had to wash my cloths in the sink real quick today and throw em in the dryer hoping they would be dry in time for work.
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i still think it would be best to rule out medical. you dont think its a uti but how would you know? if he stopped using litter box when he became diabetic, and got better using it when he began feeling better, and now he isnt using it again, to me that means he isnt feeling well again. might not be diabetes, might not be uti, but could be something else medical. at least rule out medical, is still my suggestion.
 
I think hes just being an ass..but ill call the vet. Hus behavior has been odd too. I have another cat he used to like. The cat comes near him now to groom him and my diabetic start grabbing his brothers hair and pulling it out. Maybe a cat he used to like he hates now..so many things it could be
 
Jamie N Gizmo said:
I think hes just being an ass..but ill call the vet. Hus behavior has been odd too. I have another cat he used to like. The cat comes near him now to groom him and my diabetic start grabbing his brothers hair and pulling it out. Maybe a cat he used to like he hates now..so many things it could be
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I would definitely talk to you vet and rule out any physical causes. Something is obviously up with him - make sure the vet is aware of the odd behavior as well as the inappropriate urination.
 
Jamie N Gizmo said:
I think hes just being an ass..but ill call the vet. Hus behavior has been odd too. I have another cat he used to like. The cat comes near him now to groom him and my diabetic start grabbing his brothers hair and pulling it out. Maybe a cat he used to like he hates now..so many things it could be
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i'm glad you're calling the vet. him lashing out at his catfriend just makes me feel more that he isnt feeling well due to a medical issue.
 
My civie cat is a behavioural pee-er and has been his whole life and he's 12. Urinates on the bed, or a blanket left on the ground, a mat, clothes etc if something changes that he doesn't approve of. Ex: changing to a new litter, moving furniture around, physically moving houses, having too many people over. It is something that comes and goes but I live with it and work around it by using waterproof "bed covers" that are actually for incontinent humans that can just be thrown in the wash and re-used. I also use Feliway Spray/Plug-Ins, Rescue Remedy, or this similar spray made by Jackson Galaxy.

However, I think it's smart to rule out medical first.
 
I haven't had the pee problem but I have had cats that were once best friends want to attack each other--
The feliway has worked great for my home cats and rescues-
I hope the vet can help you, maybe a stone as it will cause a urgency to pee... a UTI is pretty awful -- I used to get them all the time:(
:bighug:
 
Your cat is not being an ass - something is wrong and he's trying to tell you. Agree that he needs to see the vet and be checked for a UT and kidney problems but since you mentioned a bad shoulder, I would also recommend that you get an x-ray to see if he has arthritis. If getting into the litter box is difficult for him (ie sides too high) and hurts, the cat will associate that pain with the box and avoid it. Is he declawed?
 
For inappropriate elimination, always go to the vet and rule out any medical problems.

Here is a list I compiled previously. Some of the items may not apply.
***********************************************************************
You might try an integrated approach using multiple options from the list below on a consistent basis:

* start with crating, using a medium large crate (30" long is big enough for cat and a litter box) until progress. She probably won't go where she'd have to lie in it ... but if she does, something is wrong and it may be medical.

* tarps and newspapers may be easier on clean up if you don't crate her

* feeding on a schedule and then placing her in the litterbox (maybe in a crate) within 15-20 minutes after eating, until she goes, then praising and letting her out.

* Feliway/Comfort Zone - friendly facial pheromones which reduce stress and may reduce marking behavior. Cheapest prices are usually on the net (ex http://www.LambertVetSupply.com ) I've used it and it helps.

* Cat Attract litter - supposed to help attract cat to litter box

* rule out arthritis or constipation - pain causes box avoidance

* watch if the other cats ever attack her in the box and if so, you may need to keep her separated from them. I've got one the others attack, completely unprovoked.

* litter box should be 1.5 times length of cat, litter cleaned frequently, but avoid really strong smelling cleaners as cats may avoid them due to the scent.

* you've got to get residual odors out from areas which were 'nailed'. If you don't get those spots thoroughly cleaned, any residual odor may trigger using the spot again. Enzyme based products such as Nature's Miracle, are the most likely to have success. Carpet may need to be rolled back and treated on the back side, plus treating the pad separately (or replacing the pad). It can require repeated applications.

* regular play sessions of about 15 minutes to reduce stress and promote bond with you

* reward desirable behaviors - if you see her use the box, praise and treat her

* put unpleasant textures in places she has peed to encourage avoidance

* read some of this author's books: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/ she's pretty good - ex "Starting from Scratch"
 
i will. I have to find a vet in my area first. I left my old vet not only because i moved, but because the last vet knew nothing about diabetes and was overdosing his insulin. I know he has arthritis from a previous injury in his shoulder..but if that were it, i can't imagine he would jump two feet into a dryer instead of stepping over the side of the box. I noticed he prefers a particular box too which is odd. I have a very large box, then a smaller box..and he always goes in the small box he barely fits in that i put out for the smaller cat. I swear theyre like children. Luckily even though his old areas where he peed smell, he hasn't peed there again. I haven't changed litter or anything to discourage him using it. I do notice he only pees once a day...and pees a river. My other cat goes like 6 times a day in little spurts.. we'll see what the vet says, but i think its just old bad behavior
 
Jamie N Gizmo said:
im at my witts end! it was different when he was sick..but hes in remission for 3 years now. occasionally he just goes outside the box..and in odd places... he peed in my dryer on my cloths. . has anyone given up their cat for doing this...? has anyone like built a large cage or something...? i really need options or something. i hate to think i went through all those hard times just to give him up. last checked his sugar was 43 on alphatrak. He's 11 years old
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Over the years, I have found that some of my cats will pee in places to get my attention. Imagine finding red pee in the sink. They are saying "Mommy, I have a problem " I always get them to a vet ASAP, even if it's a different vet. UTI hurts, and I don't want any of my babies hurting.
 
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