[Closed] Peeing cat

Stressed?

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Some sort of training montage, and then a showdown with the ginger cat?

If all goes to plan, ginger cat will be all cocky but lose, and your cat will win the territory and his girlfriend.

...and possibly his tricked out car.

Please don't get rid of a pet because of a behaviour issue which can be sorted.

Speak to your vet or a behaviour specialist vet. There are a lot of things you can do. Do you keep the litter trays clean and changed frequently? are they in private locations, try different styles of tray for things that work with the cat. There is a lot of behaviour stuff that can explain a lot.

I know it's her (and not the ginger thing coming in) as she's been caught a couple of times. I don't want a litter tray as she will then crap in it which will stink our low ceilings house out even more.

Second the feliway. She is feeling low in the pecking order, so is peeing the in corner to get one up on you. The feliway will make her feel better. It would help if you gave the ginger cat a good shout, squirt some water when it comes in your garden, try and scare it away.

P.S do you have a dirt box for her in the house ?

You don't want a litter tray ?? Poor cat, I am starting to agree that you should rehome it to somebody who will care about it. And if you are mean to her she will fight back: peeing in the corner. I'd start keeping your bedroom door closed.

P.P.S and if she is feeling anxious about peeing she will hold it in = kidney problems = expensive vet bills, if that makes you feel a bit more motivated to be nicer to her.

I don't want a litter tray as she will then crap in it.

Oh no, you've done it now. Prepare to be pitchforked!

- The ginger thing actually coming into the house will probably stress your cat out loads and therefore, pee in corner.

- You need a litter-trained cat, and a litter tray really. Yes they're 'orrible things, but buy decent litter, pick out the poop, and it won't smell.

- Water pistol the hell out of ginger cat, or get a microchip cat flap (assuming that's how it's getting entry, and not through an open skylight)

- and consider the feliway.

IANAC

I don't want a litter tray as she will then crap in it which will stink our low ceilings house out even more.

It's all to do with territory as you've guessed. Your cat is afraid to go out so has moved her bathroom indoors. Give her a litter tray, poor thing; she has her standards.

Our older female cat is going out less and less at nights and we've noticed that the neighbourhood cats are becoming much bolder as a consequence, they often stroll right though our garden, which is prime mousing territory for our cat. Our younger cat isn't yet big and bold enough to re-assert the territorial rights.

Once you've got that sorted, build one of these:

too lazy to go out when it's raining

Oh, and it's not lazy, cat's don't usually like rain you know 😉

I disagree with those who suggest a litter-tray. They stink. Cats can pee outdoors. I've had cats here for 25 years without a tray or trouble and there are loads of more dominant moggies around

Make sure that her catflap is easy to use, if necessary get one that the ginger won't get through, and try to keep the intruder out of your garden. Perhaps dig up a section of border on the opposite side from the ginger, so she has somewhere attractive & outside to pee in.

I'm not horrible to her and do (& the rest of the family) make a fuss of her frequently. I'll try the Feliway stuff and scaring off the ginger

Moses - Member
I disagree with those who suggest a litter-tray. They stink. Cats can pee outdoors. I've had cats here for 25 years without a tray or trouble and there are loads of more dominant moggies around

especially how they go to the toilet online.

I never realised cats were that depraved.

Always had litter tray for my cat. Only smells if you don't empty it/clean it often.

Why would anyone want a litter tray in the house? Dogs go outside. So why cant cats?
My parents' 13 year old cat has never had one. No cat flap either. It asks to go out and then just waits outside till the door is opened again.

It is good to give them the option. Then if they are unwell, and they will eventually get old, they can use it. Also means I can leave her alone all day when I am at work and even overnight with food left out. But they much prefer peeing outside if they can, sometimes I come back from being away and she is at the back door crossing her legs, and the dirt tray is empty. (and she has NEVER peed in the house, not once since she was a kitten)

[url= ]Time for some 'tough love'[/url]

I don't want a litter tray as she will then crap in it.

Well it's better than it crapping in everyone else's gardens! That's the thing about cat owners, they think little Tiddles is all sweetness and light and buried its crap where nobody will ever find it, all smelling of roses.
Wrong
I love doing the gardening than having to get cat shit from under my fingernails.
Dog owners pick up after their dogs, so what absolves you from clearing up after your cat, eh?

I don't want a litter tray......

That really did make me chuckle, bearing in mind that the OP is complaining that his "lazy" cat is pissing on the floor 🙂

Litter trays don't smell if you change them weekly, and if you get one with a cover you don't even have to look at it.

Weekly ? 😯

I would suggest daily.

I'm amazed that anyone should want a pet but not the "problems" associated with the fact that as long as they are alive they will urinate and defecate.

Someone should have told the OP that cats shit, and their shit doesn't always smell of roses !!!

I'm amazed that anyone should want a pet but not the "problems" associated with the fact that as long as they are alive they will urinate and defecate.

I want to get shot of her but get shouted down.

Since when was it normal to have a cat litter?
(serious question)
We had cats when I was a child, and they just went outside. Is it because more people live in flats so there isn't an outside?

I've no idea but the missus see's it as very normal even with cats that can get out whenever they want to.

Long winded but some useful info

The first thing to do if you have a problem with your cat urinating or soiling outside the litter tray is to take her or him to the vet for a check up to rule out any medical causes such as cystitis, kidney or liver problems, constipation or arthritis.
Unneutered males and unsprayed females in heat are likely to mark indoors so unless there is a medical reason that prevents it, have your cat neutered. This will prevent any unwanted litters of kittens and may also help stop other unwanted behaviours such as fighting, roaming and calling at night.

Bear in mind inappropriate elimination isn't done to get even with you or out of spite. Cats have no understanding of how important our furniture and carpets are to us or of how horrible the smell of cat pee is! Your cat is reacting to her circumstances and any punishment or scolding will exacerbate the problem.

Litter Tray Avoidance
Sometimes the cause can be as simple as your cat not liking the litter you provide and the problem can be easily solved, though if this has been happening for some time your cat can become conditioned to going in certain places outside the tray and it will take longer to break the habit.

Number
Do you have enough litter trays?
Cats are generally fastidious and prefer clean trays and often will not use the same tray as another cat. The general rule is one tray per cat plus a spare one so 3 cats = 4 trays.
Be alert for one of your cats blocking the others access to the litter tray. This can be subtlety done with out you noticing.
If your cat has outdoor access you might need to provide a tray if she is elderly, not well , to anxious to toilet outside or the weather is very bad.
Some cats may also dislike covered trays.

Cleanliness
Remove the used litter and any mess as frequently as possible. Rinse out the tray thoroughly after cleaning.
The scent of strong disinfectant can put cats off as they have a very fine sense of smell.
For cats and kittens that haven?t established the habit of using the litter tray, leave a little of the used litter in it as the scent will attract them and remind them to use it .

Litter type
Cats may dislike of certain types of litter such as the large grain ones or wood based which can feel uncomfortable to them. Changing the litter to a fine grained one can make a difference. Scented litter can put cats off.
The depth of the litter might be too shallow or too deep. Two ?inches is usually recommended but find out what your cat prefers.

Location
Cats feel vulnerable when they are toileting and may use another place if the trays are placed in a busy or exposed area. Like us, they do not like to eat near their toilet so make sure it's placed away from their feed and water bowls.

Learned Avoidance
A cat may avoid using the tray if she has had an unpleasant experience while using it such as pain , being ambushed by another cat or being startled by a loud noise.

It's important you clean up any urine from the areas your cat has been using with an enzymatic cleaner otherwise she will still be able to smell her scent and be drawn back to the same spots.A product from the pet store can be used such as Urine off or you can use a solution of 10% biological washing powder and warm water. Do not use bleach. A black light torch will show up any areas where your cat has urinated.

Deterrents
Most behaviourist will recommend placing food, preferably dried, down in the places your cat is using as a toilet. UA members have found this method sucessful as cats don't like to soil where they eat.
Tin foil, orange peel or deterrents from pet stores can be used and they can be successful in simple cases but it's not advisable to use with cats who have more complex issues. Unless you get to the root of the problem, your cat will just toilet elsewhere.
The dry food is the best method to use especially if your cat is stressed or having to cope with any changes in the household. Peter Neville says "Food is reassuring rather than alarming and gives the cat a sense of security at places where it has previously expressed its feelings of being under threat ( i.e spraying)"
Also, deterrents such as tinfoil can be irksome and annoying, adding to the stress of the cat. Do not use pepper as a deterrent in case it is inhaled.

Cats will face rub on surfaces to leave their facial pherenomes from their glands. It's appears they rarely spray over these marks so you could gently rub a cotton hanky on your cats chin and then transfer it to the previously sprayed surface ( after cleaning first ). But these need to be topped up and artificial feline facial pherenomes in spray form called FELIWAY, can be used instead.
Feliway is also available in a plug in Diffuser and is effective at calming and relaxing cats over a
period of time.

Inappropriate Elimination due to behavioural issues
Urinating and soiling indoors on carpets and other places isn't abnormal behaviour , it is the natural way a cat would react to pressure and stresses if in the wild.
Cats can live happily in our domestic households but when under pressure and in stressful situations where they cannot escape, both females and males will spray up entrances and doorways to rooms etc , and urinate in the laundry basket, sofa and your bed. They will "midden" (poo) in the centre of hall ways or on the door mat. Cats will spray and midden if they feel at threat from outside sources such as a strange cat in the garden or from the smells on the doormat from your shoes or a new member joining the household e.g a new cat or dog. The smell of their own scent makes cat feel more secure and they often urinate on beds and sofas where the scent of their owners is strongest. The mix of scent reassures them and gives a sense of security.

It's fairly obvious that the Op doesn't want a pet

Yep, in fact it's probably at the root cause of the problem - cats aren't stupid and can pick up when someone doesn't like.

I suspect that the poor cat is so stressed about sharing a house with someone who doesn't like him that it is causing him to react nervously and pee.

I suggest that avontyrrell neutralizes the bad vibes he's clearly giving the poor stressed cat by stroking it, giving it lots of cuddles, talking to it in a soft and loving manner, and generally making the cat feel wanted and loved.

Everyone needs to feel wanted and loved.

Let us know how you get on avontyrrell 🙂

You don't want a litter tray ?? Poor cat,

I never really saw the point unless they're elderly or ill, or are indoor cats for whatever reason.

I had a cat for 18 years, she never had a cat flap or litter tray, just asked to go out / come in. Slept in the garage at night, mostly pooed in my yard.

After she died, I ended up inadvertently inheriting another who we had for maybe three years. Got him a cat flap so he could come and go as he pleased. Neither seemed particularly concerned about the lack of an indoor toilet.

Solutions

Don't let her in the dining room?

My tongue in cheek comments about getting rid of her are exactly that, I am not horrible to her as I understand the stress will pass on and make it worse. Had cats for many years, just none have done this before, our place is pretty open plan so not much scope for keeping out of areas. I'll try the spray stuff and scaring big ginger at every opportunity, last resort I guess one of those enclosed litter trays

My tongue in cheek comments.......

You cad !

Feliway is good stuff and can be remarkably successful in un-stressing a cat - I've found it to be surprisingly effective. It will make a cat feel far more secure and that it is within its own territory - which means that marking territory becomes less of a necessity for it.

Although I am told that Feliway's effectiveness depends on the individual cat - a bit like catnip I guess to which some cats react far more than others.

I would also do the obvious thing of keeping the cat out of the dinning room, and if possible other carpeted areas, at least until the behaviour subsides.

And I would definitely get an igloo type covered litter tray, even if it's short term until he settles down. You could scatter the urine impregnated litter in your garden to encourage him to do it there, it might also discourage next door's ginger.

Sounds very much like your cat is scared of the ginger one. As a result, from her point of view her outdoor territory is no longer safe. That's why she's peeing in the house.

Get her a covered litter tray until you have repelled the ginger cat.

[quote=avontyrrell said]4 year old moggy has taken to peeing in a corner of the dining room which stinks, I want to get shot of her but get shouted down. I think it happens because she is too lazy to go out when it's raining (a lot in recent months) plus our new neighbour has a big ginger cat she is scared of. Tried shampooing carpet & spraying stuff on this spot to mask the smell and put her off but she still does it (when no-one is looking). Solutions (assuming I can't put her in a sack and throw in a river or shoot the ginger cat)?

The solution will depend on to a certain extent on how she's peeing.

If she's spraying up a vertical surface, it's because she's not feeling secure in the house, and is marking her territory. It'll be a stress thing, and trying to sort out her stress should fix the problem. That feliway stuff is good and sorted my rescue cat out.

If she's peeing on a horizontal surface, it could be because she doesn't feel secure weeing outside, or it could be a health problem (e.g. Feline lower urinary tract disease). Make sure there's no blood in the urine, and she's not straining when she goes/walking around hunched up after going. If she's fine, get her a litter tray and just accept the fact she'll use it.

Regardless of the causes, get some white vinegar to clean up the current peeing area. She's got a better sense of smell than you have, and will pick up on the scent even when you can't smell it. The vinegar should help neutralise the compounds she's picking up on, and should discourage her from re-using the same spot.

Ignore the weirdos telling you to have a litter tray! Totally agree that's a minging thing to keep in your house. Had one for a few days when I had to keep my cat in with a bad foot and he cried and broke down the cat flap rather than use it! I know cat shit can be a pain in some highly cat populated areas with little soil for them to use but you can cat proof your garden! Ps I'm a gardener with my hands in the soil everyday so maybe I'm just used to it. Not sure why some cats are so lazy and don't bury it when mine digs a big hole even for a pee then covers it and checks it's all been buried.

Can you dig over a bit of garden near the cat flap for moggie to use whilst not having to venture too far?

Totally agree that's a minging thing to keep in your house. Had one for a few days when I had to keep my cat in with a bad foot and he cried and broke down the cat flap rather than use it!

How exactly is a litter tray "minging" if a cat refuses to use it ?

Not sure why some cats are so lazy and don't bury it when mine digs a big hole even for a pee then covers it and checks it's all been buried.

That's because you don't understand cats. Burying is a sign of submissiveness which most pet cats feel due to the owner-pet relationship that takes the place of the parent-child relationship - pet cats never psychologically grow up and mature. A dominant cat, specially a feral male, will mark their territory by peeing and leaving turds in prominent places for all to see, in much the same way as foxes. It is extremely effective. The issue has nothing to do with laziness.

Blimey! There are some genuine cat psychologists on here. This forum always amazes me.