Forums » Smalltalk » Cat troubles, input appreciated

Short version: Ruffles, my cat, has started peeing on my bed. She is litter trained, 9 years old, and has multiple litter boxers at each of the house. I do not have the funds to get her to the vet. Temporary solutions?


Longer version:

Alright guys, I'm to that point where I'm turning to the Internet for help. My cat, Ruffles, has started urinating outside her box. There was a point recently where I could not afford to get new litter every week or two weeks, and discovered she had urinated outside her box. I remedied that by reallocating my funds, getting her a second litter box at the other end of the house and making sure she has a ton of unscented litter in each box.

Recently, however, she has taken to peeing on my bed. This had happened for 4-5 days in a row now, ruined my mattress (which is less of a big deal than it would be, it is 6 years old anyway), and making my room reek. Growing up, I always had a cat. As they aged, they would start urinating outside the box, or because they were territorial. I can't live in a place that smells like cat pee again - I just can't do it. I'm 27, I'm not putting up with it forever.

I don't want to give up my cat. It destroys me to even think about but I'm running out of options. I want to get her to the vet, but can't afford it (my money is tight ). I've cleaned the areas as best as I can, but she keeps going back - I know I need an enzyme based cleaner for it to break down the urea and bacteria, but it's out of stock everywhere in town, and I can't afford it anyway.

Is there anything I can do? Is my cat just getting old? If anyone knows anything I can do, please tell me. I've tried everything, and it's not working.

Use vinegar (just the regular kind you cook with) to clean the mattress with. It breaks down enzymes! Just dilute some in a spray bottle with water and spritz it on the bed. The vinegar smell will air out pretty quickly.

If it's not a medical condition, it may be an issue with her not feeling secure in her environment. You can help her claim her household again by playing with her. Use a dangly toy on a stick or something else that she will play with in your bedroom. Get her to the point where she 'kills' it (kicking with the back legs while clinging on to it, biting lots) and then reward her with a treat.

I remember you have an open litterbox - she may be wanting privacy as she gets older, or a litterbox with a lower instep. Is it an option for you to get a top for the litterbox, maybe make it easier for her to get in?

Cleaning all the litterboxes every single day helps too. If you can, get the clumping litter so that you can scoop out both the poo and pee so it retains as little scent as possible. (This litter also tends to last pretty long because you can keep going for 2-4 weeks without dumping all the litter out and getting new litter.)

Check her paws if you can for any sign of injury. If it hurts to dig into the litter, she will choose a more comfortable option - like your bed. A vet visit is definitely something to save up for though. A urinary tract infection can cause this behavior as well, and left untreated can be fatal to a cat.

Edit: You can also try Feliway (synthetic facial pheromone spray) to spray on and around your bed. It helps to mark it as 'hers'.

Her litter boxes are open air, but her main litter box is tucked away in my walk-in bathroom closet, and in a corner. It doesn't get much circulation, so I got a scentless deodorizer to try and help - maybe she finds it stinky. Ruffles is a bit snooty and will voice her opinion, as well as kick litter out of the box, if it is enclosed.

I try get her new toys every once in a while and play with her, but she becomes disinterested after the third or fourth time playing with it.

She is not declawed, so I might try trimming her nails myself. She doesn't like it but will hunker down and take it once she realizes she can't escape . I've always left her to manage her claws, and it's worked fairly well. She has four or five cardboard claw pads with catnip in them she goes to and uses.

I don't know what she could be stressed out about. Ruffles is a very anxious cat, and has separation anxiety when I am not around, as well as a tendency to get easily lost in my apartment - even when I'm right there. I had another cat, Sophie, that was a long haired orange tabby but had to get rid of her because she was territorial and peed EVERYWHEREEE. Once Ruffles was a single cat (that happened about 7 years ago or so), she never went outside her box. She poops in her box, she even urinates in it fine. She KNOWS where her boxes are, I've watched her and praised her for using them. Maybe it's just a case of [ANXIETY INTENSIFIES].

Oh, poor little Ruffles I don't have any other advice than the one Sanne came up with - she is the RPR Catspert after all!

But I hope she'll feel better soon! Hug her from me

How to play with your cat is a good video that helps you keep Ruffles interested. The point of her 'killing' her toys is that doing so makes the place her own, which can really help if her peeing is the result of insecurities and anxiety. A confident cat is less likely to urinate outside of the litterbox.

I know she's not declawed but she may still have something wrong with her feetsies, so if she'll let you examine them, you can at least rule that out. Dette had a small wound on her paw once that made her not want to use the litterbox until I put some vaseline on it.

Because of her history with territorial behavior issues and your work schedule, it may be part of what's causing her behavior. That's what the spray I mentioned works well for.

I know nothing at all about cats, but I wanted to express some sympathy! This sounds super frustrating and ill timed.

Are YOU more stressed out than usual? Is that something that cats react to? I know dogs and guinea pigs do, but again, no concept about whether it applies to kitties too.

Owner's stress can affect cats too, yes!

Well, for about a two year period I was working seven days a week except for the random day off, about 110-120 hours a week, then my mom lost (and recently got another) job, and until recently I was giving her several thousand every month to help her with a medical bill that was dozens of thousands of dollars, and I whittled it down from around 85k to... Like 14k. There are other, less pleasant things that have been effecting me recently, so I've chosen to cut back to around 35 hours a week which should help immensely. A big sign of it was getting that 103f fever on epic week

My gut tells me she is trying to say she's sick, or she somehow feels like she needs to make it very apparent that I am her human (she intensely dislikes my mom for some reason).

I picked up a vinyl bed cover tonight and am airing it out, so I'll see where this goes. If I have to wash my sheets everyday, then that's how it'll go, I guess.

My husband says that because your cat is a girl, it's most likely a urinary tract infection, which means she probably does need to see a vet.

I hope she gets better soon!

It's usually one (or possibly more) of these:

• Anxiety, fear and/or stress
  (which may include your mother or if you're frequently not around)
• Lack of feeling safe in her litter box
• Litter box the cat doesn't feel is clean
• The type of litter
• Urinary tract infection

It's worth adding that treats can work wonders in reinforcing how you want the cat to act.

If a cat deems its litterbox too dirty, it might pee outside of it. At that point, it might gravitate back towards where it has been peeing, even if the box has been cleaned. My cat Gandalf did this when I used clay litter. I switched to clumping and he started using the box again. It's possible that her problem is behavioral and not medical! Good luck with it. I know how stressful it can be

it is just one cat. my experaince with this issue 9 years is alittle out of the norm when it comes to the incontenace issue. Having multi boxes help in area where you go. they can sense and react to stress. if you have a fit when your cats dose this also will not help the situation and just make it worse. I would watch her closely and take in any changes in your house. if it is not a health problem and she is unintating on your bed because she cannot leave it.
the viniger thing dose help. so dose plain old baking power in the litter box. is the yerm smell is extermly amonia smelling or sweet in it's smell chould be a health problem. ((there are vets out there that do work with limited incomes some charing only 10.00 for first vist.) it is not health related or Stress Related it chould be boredom related and insecurity of wanting to Claim your space. it is odd that she starts doing it but never done it before. my cat from hell http://jacksongalaxy.com/learn/ guy has lot of good stuff. when it comes to all this stuff.

I just Recently adopted a 14 year old cat Named Grumpy old man. he been living out side for 4 years. he is a sweet hart loves to cuddle. but dose have his grumpy side he moves very slow and cannot jump on to anything. i made sure my litter box is a comfortble hight for him

I have had all kinds of cats since I was 8. Any from strays to abused cats.

From what I have gathered by scanning this thread while watching my grandson.

Here are my suggestions.

Try to make the environment as close to the environment that Ruffles was happy in. It may not be possible.

Next like others said, a change in litter, where it is placed, if it is cleaned even the brand could be one of the problems. ((It happened to mine after my daughter moved in with us. Hers like a different kind than mine do. Both fuss about the 'other litter box'. Hers like the automatic one and mine does not.))

If for some reason, it could be the litter irritating her kidneys. Daughter's cat has to have scented while mine stick their nose up at it. The chemicals might have splatter against where she pees from resulting in an infection. Very rarely happens though.

How clean is the water she drinks? Is she getting 'potty water'? 'sink water'? Water that is soaking a burned on stuff in a frying pan or dish? Watch where she goes to get a drink when you can.

In any case, take her to a vet. It is worth the money for little friend. Rule out that possibility fast!

Invite your baby to sit behind you on the chair and give it attention while reading the laptop, doing mail, ect. Mine does that and he loves the quiet attention when I can't think of the specific word I want.

How old is your kitty? Mine is 10 years and rarely plays. Usually watches me play like a fool.

The best way to figure out what is wrong is to first a vet check up then do you detective work.
Keep a diary about Ruffles. Make a note in the diary daily even if it is only to check in. This will make it a habit of writing in it. Anytime you or someone else thinks of something-- like I just did now. The food may be part of the problem. Butterscotch can't eat dry because he has lost all but 3 teeth....-- jot it down and observe to see if whatever might be a problem.

I only hope that your little buddy will soon be fine and once more a happy kitty!

Daughter just remembered when the cats started peeing at the back door. It was a stray cat that caused the problem! No more stray cat, no more peeing there. Clean the area with vinegar to get rid of the scent.

UTI will make cats not want to use litter box. Put 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cranberry juice or chamomile tea in 2 cups water might help and won't harm kitty.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone ! I appreciate you all taking time out of your days to read my troubles. I just woke up (about 2:30am my time) and sadly she had urinated on my bed again, although this time I was in it - I didn't touch it because I sleep at a weird angle and I bought a vinyl bed cover yesterday.

Somewhat recently - a few months ago, maybe 2-4 at most - I switched from tidy cats blue (I forget the actual name of it, it's the one with blue labeling and a blue cap) to fresh step unscented because my mom lives with me and has a really sensitive nose. She may have started going outside her box then as I discovered a few spots on the floor, so I'll switch back and see what happens.

I guess I just need to get her to the vet. Waking up to wash all my bedding for the 6th day in a row has me a tad grumpy - I put Ruffles in the bathroom with her food and water for the moment simply because I need some time away from keeping a 24/7 watch on her whenever she goes into my room. ... Probably not the greatest solution, but it is what it is. So I will see about putting aside money from my next paycheck to get her checked out.

Semi related question: Does anyone here have experience with Nature's miracle, Nok off, or Anti icky poo? I've been looking into enzyme based cleaners to add to my cat pee cleaning collection but have never used one before. I get the concept of how and why they work, I just don't want to burn 30 or 40 bucks on a few gallons and then just be left with a chemical smelling carpet after its done it's thing.


Thank you again, guys.

My family uses Odo-Ban for cat "accidents" (I think that's how it's spelled), and it works pretty great as far as I have used it myself.

Short version: Kittun.

Long version: Kittuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun cat.

Also, what Sanne said.

Well, I finally broke down, moved some finances around (HAH HAH I DIDN'T MOVE JACK $&#% AROUND) and made a vet appointment for tomorrow at 3:30pm.

If this doesn't solve it, I have no other options but to give her away. She has destroyed about $1,200 worth of bedding, shows no signs of stopping and I have cleaned the areas repeatedly. Vinegar doesn't work. I've dumped straight vinegar onto my carpet and former mattress as a last resort and it didn't work. I haven't been able to even be in my own room or bed for about a week.

Uuugh. It's like beating my head against a wall.

It also depends on the kind of vinegar you use. White cooking vinegar (ironically, you should avoid cleaning vinegar) is great for breaking down the enzymes in cat pee, and mixing it with baking soda assists with masking and absorbing the scent. You can make a paste by mixing white vinegar, baking soda, and water. Let it sit on the effected area for about 45 minutes before scrubbing it away.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as an after scrub, as, like baking soda, it assists with taking away the smell.

My Noir is a brat and hates the litter box after two to three uses. I've had to look up my own DIY cat pee cleaner since it's hard for me to get around, and I'm usually on a budget myself. Though, the method I put up has helped me and seemed to work.

I used white vinegar, mixes if vinegar and baking soda on top, and other things, as was suggested by everyone on the Internet and beyond. Nothing really worked.

My cat was always kind of peculiar and I've been wondering if this wasn't just the natural progression of things. She gets legitimately lost in my small apartment and has to be called to where I am to calm down, things like that.

Despite how much effort I put forth into this, I still live with my mom for financial reasons (we don't make enough separately to live on our own, and I was until recently helping her pay off some medical bills). Unfortunatelyyy I kind of have to abide by what she says - to a point. In the end, if the vet visit doesn't help, Ruffles might get the boot. Or I might tell my mom to shove it right up her poop shoot. Guess we will see