Yet another cat pee question

August 2, 2023 6:52 AM

My unwanted temporary cat (10m) looks permanent. She will pee on specifically my pillows or folded soft blankets on my bed - not bladder issues but marking type peeing. She waits until I’m near the pillow/blanket and then comes over to me and pees on me plus pillow. Never very much and she knows she’s in trouble but she is driven to it.

She’s spayed and healthy. I got an additional sited litter box with clear lines of sight and feed her separately. We are now blocking pet entry into my room but long term - what can I do?

My oldest cat has made his peace with her but the two (4y) high strung ex-feral kittens now evil twins in our house hate her. She’s bigger than them and very friendly and affectionate. She hides in my room a lot but has to be locked in a big crate overnight because the twins hunt her and jump attack.

The last deliberate marker cat I had, we had to rehouse. This cat has been listed for months with no takers - I think she is ideal, but she has a weird face apparently. Rehoming the Evil Twins is not an option.

posted by dorothyisunderwood to Pets & Animals (9 answers total)

Couple of things you might try if you haven't already:

1) Find an enzymatic cleaner specifically for cat pee. Nature's Miracle is one that I've used. You can use it on surfaces and in your wash. That way you'll neutralize the urine odour which will hopefully tell her that this isn't the place where we pee.

2) Feliway is a cat pheromone that is supposed to have a calming effect. Mileage seems to vary. It comes in a diffuser (like a Glade plugin) or spray and it can help with territorial issues like scratching and marking.

Good luck! Litterbox issues are among the toughest and most stressful issues to deal with in cats, especially if they are behavioural. So at the end of the day if things aren't working out, be kind to yourself about it.
posted by eekernohan at 9:04 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

It sounds like a very stressful environment for her. Is there any way you can separate her from the twins 24/7, or if not, give her more hiding places and ways to get away from them?
posted by wheatlets at 9:59 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]

As you seem to be nearby, you can try and interrupt this process by physically picking the cat up and putting her at the edge of the bed. Maybe make it more enticing with a kitty heat pad and a treat or two. You can do this over and over so she has a nice place to settle that's warm and not a pee spot.

You could also drop her off at the litterbox, but the edge of the bed is likely closer.

The longer she goes without participating in the behavior the more likely you are to break the habit.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:31 AM on August 2, 2023

Keep her out of your room forever! But make sure she has a separate space from the other cats that she can retreat to.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:48 AM on August 2, 2023

Best answer: We had a similar marking-pee problem when our young female cat turned 1 year old; our resident older female kitty decided that the kitten grace period was over, young kitty was to go find her own territory, thankyouverymuch, and the two of them started competitively resource-marking, by which I mean peeing everywhere my WFH partner spent time. He was apparently a very valuable resource.

We tried all the recommendations, but what actually fixed it for us was low-dose kitty prozac for both girls. We've been able to get them down to one teeny dose 3xweek. At this dose it doesn't seem to have any noticeable effects on their activity levels or personalities, but it fully eradicates their need to take turns peeing on his shoes (and his spot on the couch, and his pillow, and his feet, and his head while he's sleeping...). Good luck!
posted by wind_up_horse at 2:10 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]

Your kitty sounds unhappy, is finding her another foster situation or working with a rescue a possibility? You don’t want her, 2/3 of the other cats are attacking her, the kindest thing is to get her out of this situation.

Until then, keep her separated from the twins and out of your bedroom as much as possible, maybe trying Feliway to enhance the calm, safe atmosphere you’re creating for her.
posted by momus_window at 3:10 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My kitty behaved similarly in the first year I had her (including peeing on soft blankets on the bed while I was under them). I worked through all the behavioral and health stuff with the help of my vet — a thorough exam, more/different/differently arranged/uncovered litter boxes, diet, Feliway, etc. When none of that worked, my vet agreed to medicate her for anxiety, and that solved the problem immediately. The drug she prescribed was Clomicalm, which is a dog drug used off-label for cats. My vet says recent studies have apparently shown it’s slightly more effective than Prozac for anxious cats with urination issues. It worked a charm for us — there have been no urination issues since my kitty started the meds, and she is much more relaxed and happy overall.
posted by ourobouros at 4:22 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

I think it's the stress. Get a medium sized sturdy box, put a cozy towel in it, cut some holes for getting in and out, and put it someplace where she can get to it, but that seems sheltered. Under a desk, maybe. Put some kitty treats in it, maybe a catnip toy to be sure she knows it's hers. Having a safe space away from her aggressors is just a good thing. Feliway or other interventions sound appropriate.

Maybe find a photographer to take some better photos would help.
posted by theora55 at 6:50 PM on August 2, 2023

Response by poster: She has a lot of hiding places and we separate them regularly for extended periods. Rehoming has been pursued for months now without success, and foster and boarding options are harder or worse.

I’m going to try feliway in my room and make an appointment for kitty drugs. Thank you!
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:31 PM on August 2, 2023