How do I get my cat to stop urinating on the carpeting?

[Fox Mulder]

I've had a cat for about five years now. She was adopted from the humane society and took to us almost instantly. Up until recently, she's been very good about using her cat box to relieve herself. But lately, she's been urinating on the carpeting. It's always on the same spot on the carpet. I clean it up, but she keeps going there. She has never done this before. I am wondering what I can do to stop her from doing this and also what may be the cause of it. I adopted a new dog a couple of weeks ago...could that be a problem? She uses her catbox to go #2...so that's not a problem.

I don't know what to do. I can't keep her if she keeps urinating on the carpeting. I definitely don't want to get rid of her either. Is there anything I can do?

Thank you in advance. :hi:

[underpants]

1. Get rid of the carpet

SOLVED! NExt?!?!

[Fox Mulder]

3. Haha.

But I like the carpeting!!!! :evilfrown:

[eyepaddle]

4. Damn, you beat me

to it!

[Left Is Write]

24. That's my answer too.

If it's a medical problem, replacing the carpet won't be enough, of course.

If it's not a medical problem, it's likely that the cat smells the urine in the carpet - no matter how well it's cleaned - and will continue to think it's a place to go pee.

[eyepaddle]

Get rid of the

Carpet! ;)

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Probably because of the dog

Hopefully, she'll adjust soon.

And try moving her litter box over the spot she's peeing on.

[Fox Mulder]

5. I just did that.

Thanks. I'll see if that works. :)

[AirmensMom]

6. Take her to the vet.

She could have a urinary tract infection. Also, try using Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter (you can get it at Petsmart).

[jobycom]

9. Good point. Make sure of this first! nt.

[Fox Mulder]

11. If she has a UTI...

then why does she only go in this one spot? If she was in pain, wouldn't she go all over the place? :shurg:

[AirmensMom]

22. I don't know.

My kitty was doing the same thing, and a friend of mine who is a vet suggested she could have something going on with her health. But she also suggested a change in the litter and that fixed it for us.

Also, I used to have a kitty with FUS (the blockage thing) and he always went in the dining room ... until we caught on and took him to the vet for treatment.

[MissMillie]

7. take her to the vet

she may have a urinary tract infection and is avoiding the litterbox because she associates it with pain.

Also, try spraying some cat pheromones (sp?) like Felaway (sp?) near the offending area.

[jobycom]

8. To stop her from using that one spot

put some bleach or strong scented laundry detergent on the area, and she'll avoid it. But she'll probably move somewhere else. I have a cat who ruined two couches by peeing on them constantly, instead of her litter box. She started this when we took in two male kittens she hated. We never did break her of it, but when my spouse and I separated, I took this cat to my new place. She was perfect after that until I got a new kitten to keep her company. Then she started using the furniture and floor again. I got her a separate litter box from the other cat, and put it in a different area, and she started using the litter box again, but the stress of several factors made her stop eating, which led to a near-fatal liver problem which she is just now recovering from. The good news is she and the other cat have reached an equilibrium now, and she uses her box and eats fine and seems rather happy.

The meaning of this is, cats are really weird. She's upset about the dog. I'd suggest making sure she has her own space away from the dog, without the dog's smell, and make sure he can't get near her litter box, and that he can't keep her from getting to it. She's either avoiding the dog, or showing you her displeasure, and you are going to have to do something to make it up to her.

[Fox Mulder]

10. She's been away from the dog for a couple of days now...

and yet she still goes in that very same spot. :shrug:

[jobycom]

13. Hm. Definitely take her to a vet to check for urinary infection

As others suggested upthread. It's usually a male cat problem, but I've had two female cats, including the one I described above, who have had the problem. In fact, a factor in her starving herself was me changing her food because of a urinary tract infection. Also, she did not react well to the penicilin I gave her for that.

Also, look for other changes. Have you changed litter? Are you cleaning it enough? Is it an enclosed box that she may have grown to fear?

If none of that, it's an emotional/rebellion problem, and then it becomes getting her to accept the dog, and making sure she feels safe and wanted until she does. Maybe give her the whole house and lock the dog up in one area, until she gets used to his scent and sounds? I don't know, just more suggestions. My cat and yours may be totally different.

One other thing--my cat's urinary infection caused her to pee a clear, odorless liquid at times. And to drool a lot. Just to give a couple of other symptoms to look for.

Hope it works out. This cat has literally cost me more than a car over her lifetime. I've spent upwards of $3K on her medical bills (the liver problem alone was over $2K, and no, I didn't have it, it's all on credit card) and the coaches were $700 a piece. After a lot of cleaning and new slip covers ($100 a pieace) they are still usable, but not like they once were. Also, we've had to get the carpet cleaned a couple times. So I feel for you. With me it became a question of how much I loved animals. Not even how much I love this cat, because at times I really hate her. But she's good now, after two years of hell. So, good luck.

As a last resort, I'd suggest locking her in a room without carpet and just her litter box for a while.

[Fox Mulder]

14. I'll try to take her to the vet when I get money...

I'm really broke right now.

Her catbox isn't closed. I removed the top of it a couple of days ago and no change. I'll change the litter again tonight.

As for the dog problem, I'll try to get her to accept the dog.

She hasn't been drooling or urinating a clear, odorless liquid, so she doesn't have those symptoms.

I don't know. I'll try what you've suggested.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. :)

[jobycom]

16. Anything for the cats!

Be careful about waiting too long. If it's an infection, it can cause kidney failure, and it is extremely painful. The symptoms I mentioned are periphery. Try and catch her urinating, and see if she's in pain. Another symptom is that she'll search around trying to find a spot to pee, or she'll squat like she's going to pee but won't, or she'll just leave a small amount at a time. Those are more clear signs than the others.

If she's not showing those signs, it's probably the dog.

[LynneSin]

19. As for UTI - check the cat food you're feeding him

Most of the low-end brands you find in the department store are high in magnesium and other fillers that just go in one end of the cat and out the other. And some of them can cause UTIs especially in the male cats.

My cats eat Royal Canin Indoor which is low-Mg/low-fillers to help prevent UTI. And there are other cat foods out there for UTI. Try some of those for now until you can get him to the vets!

[kick-ass-bob]

12. We had to rip out that part of the carpet and put in fake tile stuff.

Seriously.

Luckily it wasn't in the middle of the living room or something. :P
(It was a semi-hallway to the "master bathroom")

[Harley Quinn]

15. A private question for your kitty

Is she spayed? I have three little ones (two females and one male). One female and the male went through periods like you are describing and in each case getting them fixed stopped all their episodes.

HQ-could NEVER get rid of her babies...

[Fox Mulder]

17. She's been spayed ever since we've had her...

So it's not that.

Her urinating on the carpeting is a very recent thing, like I posted above.

[Harley Quinn]

18. Hmmm

Then I'm with jobycom. It's probably an infection. There's a small chance she's reacting to the new arrival, but unless she's especially fastidious, I would expect pee and poo to be everywhere! She may be marking her territory (I have learned females will do that too! Who knew?), but again, you would be finding it everywhere!

Try finding a clinic that works on the cheap. The Humane Society or County Animal Control folks can probably recommend someone.

HQ-would hate to see kitties be given away!

[politicat]

20. 1) use an enzymatic cleaner - not bleach or something smelly -

on the spot she's been using. Petzyme is a good one. Really saturate the area. You may have to do with a few times. (This is all assuming there is no physiological reason. Petsmart vets have an insurance concept that won't cost you anything for the initial visit. You might want to take her in there now.)

2) designate a room that is the dog's and keep the dog there for a while. She's really upset about the dog most likely. She feels like you don't want her anymore. Let her know that she was there first and you still love her. Spend time with her only and don't let the dog interfere in that time.

3) Do not punish her for this. She's hurting and won't understand what you're doing or why. She'll just know you are acting like you don't love her.

4) Cats are very sensitive to humans and even though they seem independent, are very emotionally dependent on their people.

5) Make sure she has a space where the dog is not allowed when you finally reintroduce the dog into the common areas.

6) If all else fails, get rid of the dog. The cat was there first and you made a commitment to her first.

[texanwitch]

21. I had this problem with a cat and I mixed cranberry powder which you

can buy from drugs stores, health food stores. Worked very well, I mix some in the cat's food every week now.

A bottle of capsules should cost maybe $6.

[SoCalDem]

23. Bladder infection? stones?

Cats soimetimes do this to get your attention. She can;t tell you if something hurts..Take her to the vet asap..

and then you might need to remove the carpet since it's stained and scented by now. You can try the pet store odor agents..lots work, but in the end your carpet is still ruined.

you might try tile..I have never regretted removing all the carpet in the house and putting down tile.. It's easier to clean, and all carpet comes with and attracts stuff you shouldn't be breathing in anyway..

With tile, when someone spills or a cat "oopses", all that's needed is a mop :)