About a week back I mentioned that our elder dog had had a couple of accidents on our living room carpet....now we are thinking that it is the cat. This has happened about five times in the same two spots. It's urine, no poop. She is still using the litter box for poop and for peeing, or so I thought. She is 18 months old or so and we have had her since she was a kitten.
Why would she start doing this and how can I get her to stop??? I have cleaned it up well. I now have two pieces of tinfoil over the spots so she doesn't walk there and try again. But I can't keep them there forever.
I have never seen her do it. We think she is doing it when we leave the house. She is very interested in the outside world lately. Opening our shutters with her head, meowing for me to open the shutters in the bathroom so she can look out, etc. Do you think she is trying to tell us to let her out? I know it may sound crazy but I am going crazy at this point.
We don't want out carpeting ruined, our house smelling like pee and my DH is starting to get very annoyed.
Can anyone help?
Thanks!

By Emily7 on Thursday, May 6, 2004 - 11:56 pm:

That is the hardest thing to get out. We lived in a place that had cat urine in the carpet. I thought I had the smell out, but our cat starting peeing in the same areas are dog did too. You should be able to call in a professional cleaner & they should be able to get the scent out.

By Pamt on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 12:07 am:

Make sure that you have used a carpet cleaner specifically for pet stains. Otherwise, the smell will remain and draw kitty back to the same spot. Is she spayed? If not, then I would certainly suggest that. If you are concerned about her peeing when you are gone, I would start off by locking her in a bathroom or laundry room (with litterbox, food/water, place to nap) and then once she proves she is using her little box, slowly enlarge her territory. Good luck!

By Annie2 on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 12:26 am:

Okay, another tidbit of info. She is spayed, it is spring, do female cats "mark" their area like male cats?
Thanks!!!

By Feona on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 06:39 am:

I had a kitten do this. (Almost full grown) I really think she need to be in a bathroom with the door closed if she isn't around people. (With litter box and food and water of course)

This so freaked me out I had to get rid of the cat. SHe peed in the crib.

The pet store sprays that train the cat about the peeing. I went the the vet and he gave me a spray to spray around where he had peed. Didn't work....

I don't think female cats mark but I could be wrong.

Where I saw her pee was in the corner where we stored an air conditioner. I had a tiny rug on the floor to protect the floor. I had some table clothes on the air conditioners to hid the air conditioner. We washed the table clothes, but the rug we didn't wash because the heavy air conditioner was on it. Maybe that was our mistake.

I feel very bad about that little cat. We just go a new kitten (stray) We are leaving him in the bathroom when we aren't home and in the night.

Also the last time I thought one litter box would be enough for the house. (I wouldn't do that again for a while.)

By Colette on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 06:53 am:

Yes, some female cats do mark their territory.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 07:46 am:

Nature's Miracle can be used on the carpet.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 10:53 am:

Natures Miracle works good. My dad, who owns s carpet cleaning business told me (I've had this problem) to use an equal amount of water and vinegar to soak the area since the vinegar will kill the urine smell. After its completely dry then you could put something that smells a bit better than the vinegar, such as the Natures Miracle.

Does your kitty possibly have a urinary tract infection?

How often do you clean the litter box? My cats would only pee on the carpet if I forgot to clean it one day.

If shes not spayed I would recommend getting it done or you could have this problem on and off for the kittys whole life.

If she continues to pee after youve reuled out every other potential problem, i'd use a squirt bottle. Everytime you see her do it, squirt her. Not just on the mist but a full blast to startle her.

There is also a product called Feliway.

----Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone use to control inappropriate urine marking behavior and to reassure cats in strange surroundings.

You have noticed that your cat rubs his chin on things. He rubs on your leg, the corners of furniture, doorways – pretty much all over the house. Naturally, animal behaviorists have noticed this too and have also observed that when cats are stressed and spraying urine to mark their territory, they rarely mark the areas where they have been rubbing their chins. It turns out that cats have a specific pheromone which they apply to things they consider their own. It is called feline facial pheromone, and where cats have applied it they feel at home. They have no urge to urine mark these areas, and since they feel at home, cats are more comfortable and relaxed.

You can actually buy this pheromone in a bottle, which is pretty remarkable all by itself, and the pheromone has some remarkable effects. It is used most frequently to eliminate urine spraying by female cats and neutered male cats and works pretty well, since urine marking is usually the result of uncertainty and anxiety over territory.

Cats who get worried and upset in strange situations can benefit from Feliway in other ways. Feliway is non staining, colorless and odorless. Spray it in your house when introducing a new pet or use it in unsettled multi cat households. Spray it in the cat carrier before stuffing Kitty in there. Behavioral studies of normal cats in stressful situations show that Feliway reduces anxiety by approximately 50%. ----

They also have a plug in version that is time released (I believe) that works as something like Glade plug ins would. You dont smell anything but you kitty will tell the difference.

Hope I helped, let us know how you kitty is doing.

(BTW- I'm not sure if I have the right person but is this the same kitty that was declawed not too long ago??)

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 11:13 am:

To echo others.... Has she been spayed? If not, sounds as if she's going into heat. YES, female cats mark territory. Cats will also urinate in inappropriate spots for medical reasons. Yes, they will continue to use the same spot unless you neutralize the odor. As mentioned, Natures Miracle is great! Good luck!

By Amecmom on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

I see you posted that she has been spayed. It sounds like a jealousy thing. She does it when you leave her alone. I think putting her and her box and food and water in a bathroom when you are out is a good idea.
Also, if she wants to go outside, you could get her a kitty harness and leash. I used to take my cat out and he loved it.
Ame

By Annie2 on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 09:07 pm:

Some very good advice ladies. I will put her the bathroom when not home and clean up the carpet even better than I have. I let her out in the backyard today for about 30 minutes. She seemed to enjoy herself.
There hasn't been anything unusual going on, so I was a bit confused.
Thank you.

By Cicco68 on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 09:21 pm:

maybe she has a uti infection. Go to this spot and go to the forums section. They can give you excellent advice. http://cats.about.com/

Kelly

By Coopaveryben on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 10:27 pm:

My friend had a cat who was doing this and it turned out the cat had an infection too, I agree with the others get the cat checked.

By Annie2 on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 11:13 pm:

Is there an OTC med I can buy for her for a UTI? I would rather go ahead and treat her for one if the price is lower rather than pay for an office visit AND have the vet give me a Rx for a higher price.
He's going to ask for symptoms, do a body check and then give me the same med. He's great but it becomes pricey.
TIA

By Pamt on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 11:50 pm:

Annie, I know it gets expensive, but I would go ahead and take her in. I didn't even think about UTIs, but everyone is correct that they can cause problems with tinkling in the litterbox. Also, UTIs can be fatal in cats and are nothing to take lightly. I would go into the vet ASAP.

By Boxzgrl on Saturday, May 8, 2004 - 12:01 am:

I wouldnt treat a UTI with OTC meds. Different antibiotics are used for the severity of the infection, if your kitty even has one. And UTI can be signs of other serious problems which is why you dont want to treat the unknown with just any old medicine. Cats are very known for UTI, kidney stones, bladder infections etc...

What I would recommend (if your trying to save $$$) is to rule out other possible problems that can be fixed at home (behavioral) and if it doesnt get better then take her to the vet.

Good Luck!

And BTW, when a vet prescribes meds for an animal, you dont necessarily have to get it from them. If they sell it at a regular pharmacy you can get it there for cheaper (usually). Just ask the vet to write a prescription.

By Amecmom on Saturday, May 8, 2004 - 09:54 am:

Also, there is PetMeds, where you can get the script online, supposedly cheaper. I've never used it, so I don't have any experience with it. I did try getting meds from the pharmacy once for my dog, and it was going to cost about $50. more than the vet! Call and check prices first. But, yes, if you suspect the cat may be sick, take her to the vet.
Ame

By Annie2 on Sunday, May 9, 2004 - 05:34 pm:

Dh took her to the vet on Sat. She is being treated for a UTI.
I am putting her in the bathroom at night, when we leave the house and she has been going outside for part of the day.
I thought I had her quaratined last night but someone opened the bathroom door. There was a small spot on the carpet today but we still don't know if the cat or dog is the culprit for today.
I watched her this afternoon walk through the livingroom to the room where her box is and peed in it.
We'll see. Thanks!

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 9, 2004 - 09:34 pm:

Two things can help if it is the cat. First, put down sheets of aluminum foil over the spot - cats don't like aluminum foil. Then, put some newspapers over the foil and spray one of the cat-keepaway sprays on the newspaper. My mom had a cat that didn't want to use the box and frequented a particular section of the basement and that's what I did. Of course, the cat may then just find another spot - sorry, but cats are cats. If it is a UTI then treating it may help but you still need to take some deterrent steps. They are creatures of habits - mostly bad ones.

By Feona on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 06:28 am:

I was just over at tidy cat to look at the crystals when I saw this.

http://www.tidycats.com/health_35_b_2.aspx?category=House+Defecation+(Spraying)