? Cat peeing on carpet. Need advice please.

[LilTurkey]

My diabetic is doing cat is doing well but my other cat is having potty issues. Wondering if anyone has some advice.
I went on a trip to visit family for 3 days a few weeks back, we've done this multiple time the last 3 years, nothing new. We leave them alone with their water fountain and automatic feeders, plenty of toys to play with and I even installed security cameras that I can speak to them with as well. The only other change was that I moved the litterbox 2 feet farther away this time so it wasn't as close to there food and water.
They seemed fine when I checked the cameras and spoke to them and everything. Only issue was that when I got back I could immediately tell that one of my cats didn't use the litterbox at all as her poos and pees are extremely small and my other cat has huge poos and larger pee spots. Found where she peed and cleaned it up.
She was pooping in the litter area again but on the mat which isn't out of the ordinary as she's done this off and on for the last year but it's not a huge issue. Still no pee in the litterbox though. Realized she was peeing in the same place again in our living room carpet behind the couch. Shampooed it this time but she still wasn't peeing in the litterbox and then was pretty sure she was peeing under the couch where she's always hiding. So, shampooed that and now she's peeing and pooping behind the couch again. Put a litterbox in the same area and she sniffs it but still won't use it.
Now, all this being said my other cat does bully her and sometimes runs her off from the litterbox. I wonder if he was doing that while we were gone more and I just didn't see it on camera. I thought putting the litter box there would solve it a little but it doesn't seems to do anything.
Just really need help. She's healthy and not acting abnormal other than this. I'm still taking her to the vet soon. Just trying to stop this as I live with family and they've just about had it. She's never done this before and I don't know what to do.

 

[JL and Chip]

my other cat does bully her and sometimes runs her off from the litter box.

This. This could very well be the root of the problem.

How many litter boxes do you have? How many different locations? Covered or uncovered?

If you only have one box, or you have multiple boxes but all in one location, then the bully cat can lurk near that spot and spring on your other cat without warning. Talk about a deterrent to using the box! If you had a one-bathroom home and a rat jumped on your shoulder every time you went to use the facilities, you’d probably seek other accommodations too.

Dr Lisa Pierson (who is the author of the current food charts and used to post here) has a wealth of information on her website about litter box issues. I strongly encourage you to read all of it. It’s very informative and worth the time.
https://catinfo.org/the-litter-box-from-your-cats-point-of-view/

Now for some suggestions:
Rule of thumb is that the minimum number of litterboxes should equal number cats plus one. So, 3 boxes for 2 cats, 5 boxes for 4 cats, and so on. They shouldn’t all be in the same place, and they should be as large as possible and easily accessible. It’s also a very good idea to have at least one box on each floor of the home.

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract litter is designed to help get a cat back to using the box. If you haven’t tried it, it’s worth a go. https://www.chewy.com/dr-elseys-precious-cat-attract/dp/32365

You’ll also want to treat the carpet with an enzyme cleaner designed to break down and remove the urine odor. Carpet shampoo alone is not enough. Once a cat has soiled a location, they can still smell it and are drawn back to that area again, which is why enzyme cleaners are so important. My favorite is Anti-Icky-Poo Unscented (emphasis on unscented; the scented version is overpowering). https://www.chewy.com/mistermax-anti-icky-poo/dp/177852

Have you tried putting a litter box in the spot behind the couch where the cat is peeing? After treating with an enzyme cleaner, you might try putting a litter box there, at least temporarily.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t suggest a possible vet visit for both cats. If the bullying behavior is new, for example, it can be a sign of a medical issue. I once had a cat suddenly start bullying another and it was a dental issue. Pull a few teeth, treat the dental infection, and peace was restored (although it did take awhile for the bullied cat to trust she was “safe” again). Scared cats will avoid the litter box if they feel threatened, it’s that simple. Missing the box can also be a sign of a medical issue. Stress can trigger idiopathic cystitis, or could be a UTI, or multiple other things. I truly believe that most cats who pee outside the litter box are asking for help, especially if it’s a new behavior. We need to “think like a cat” and try to help them.

I have many more thoughts and suggestions, but I think the best thing you can do is read the very thorough info on Dr. Lisa’s website linked above and mull over that to see what applies.

Good luck and please come back with an update.

 

[LilTurkey]

Yeah, I agree, we definitely need litterboxes in different rooms but our house is just too small. All the rooms are very small except for the living room, kitchen, and laundry/sun room. All is carpeted except for the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. The bathrooms are way too small for a litterbox. We have 2-3 uncovered litterboxes at a time in the laundry room.
My diabetic cat is a big bully and goes over to her wherever he hears her, which includes the litterbox. He's guarding what he considers his territory I believe. I think she's peeing there because it's a safe space for her where he rarely goes. I don't know why she won't use the litterbox that I put there though.
I also had the idea to put the litterbox in a box with a hole that she only fits. I actually did this for her food last year so my other cat wouldn't steal it and it works for the food at least. She still peed on the carpet...
I did use an enzymic cleaner, nature's miracle, but she still pees on the carpet. I'll have to try the one you suggested. I've used it multiple times and shampooed multiple times. I definitely think she went there as a safe place but now her scent must be embedded in the carpet despite so much shampooing. That's the only reason I can think why she won't use the litterbox I put in the same spot. I'm guessing she may also be marking it as her territory as well.
I've used calming diffusers and sprays too but they've unfortunately done nothing in the past, definitely going to try them again though. Just wish something would work.
I'll try out that litter, I stopped using clay litters a couple years ago because of all the dust but I'll try anything at this point.
The bullying isn't new unfortunately. Hidee was mainly my dad's cat who lived with him at his place. After he passed away we brought Hidee to live with my mom, sister, and I at our house with my cat, Thomas J. That was 11 years ago and Thomas still refuses to get along with her. Hidee always tries to play with him but he wants nothing of it.
I am setting up an appointment for her for sure. She's actually been pooping on the litter mat for months now off and on. It started when she was having a health issues and having diarrhea then started pooping on the mat. She was treated and recovered but still poos outside the litterbox frequently. The peeing is new. I don't see a change in any of the pees and poos fortunately but you never know.
I had to set her up in the laundry room by herself temporarily because the carpet peeing hadn't stopped. She doesn't want to eat or drink though. I did get her to eat some treats, some air dried chicken and a chicken lickable treat. Gave her pets too. She's just very confused and scared.
Thank you for all of the advice. I will definitely give those a good read.

 

[LilTurkey]

Small update: Hidee peed in the litterbox twice today. She also ate and drink thankfully. Used the scratching board and enjoyed birdwatching on the cat tree. Doing better so far.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Happy to hear Hides is doing better

 

[Chuckington]

Poor baby.
Something might have happened between them while you were gone that scared her quite badly.

The litterbox with a hole in it was a good thought because she would have a box that only smelled like her, but it can make the problem worse because:
1. She can't see what's happening around her when she's already in a vulnerable position
2. She has only one route of escape

So if Thomas hears her in there, he can just roll up to the opening and keep her trapped in there until he gets bored and goes away.
Or she gives him the entertainment he's looking for and tries to fight her way out.
Lots of fun for him, but very terrifying for her.
Cats can't articulate that, but they are good at assessing their environment and figuring out what is safe and what isn't. So it makes sense that she would still pick the comfort of behind and under the sofa over a covered box, because at least under the sofa, she can watch her back and run out if anything happens.

I'm glad she's doing better, but definitely recommend leaving all the boxes open.

It's harder to do in a smaller space, but I'd also say to look into carving out territory for Hidee.
Maybe a room where Thomas is not allowed, and she knows that if anything goes wrong, she can run and hide there.
Or shelves that she can jump onto to stay out of his way and survey the territory, especially if Thomas is not as good of a jumper/climber as she is.
You've done this to an extent by enclosing her in the laundry room, and you see it's made a world of difference.
So you'll have to be imaginative and think of how you can create other safe spaces around the house so that she doesn't have to make them with urine.

Jackson Galaxy has good videos on YouTube about how to deal with bullying behavior between cats, so I'd also check that out.
It should absolutely not be tolerated. It's okay for them not to be friends or to ignore each other, but he shouldn't be antagonizing her.
At the end of the day, Hidee didn't ask to come live with ya'll.
Ya'll brought her in. So it's your responsibility to do what you can to make her home nice, including making sure that she's not prey.
If you can't stop the behavior, it may be worth it to look into rehoming her. As miserable as you all are with her peeing the carpet, she's also miserable living in terror on a daily basis. So if she has a chance to be a happy single cat in another home, that's a better outcome for her.