Cat issue 😬

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poiuytrewq

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We have developed a problem in happy cat land.

Arlo cat has started weeing where he shouldn’t. Mainly in the dogs beds.

We had to get rid of the log basket a few weeks ago as it smelled of cat pee. We blamed the younger two as it was new and had loose dirt (bits of bark etc) in the bottom, thought they were confusing it with somewhere they were allowed to wee.

More recently wet patch had been appearing on a dog bed, tbh I kind of assumed it was our elderly dog leaking a bit, so just washed it without much thought.
Then we actually saw Arlo just casually wander in and wee in Spuds bed.
He’s done it a few times now. Different beds, there’s a few dotted round, as far as I know it’s only been on dog beds though.
He has been seen to spray outside which I’d never noticed him do before either (but that’s not to say he doesn’t)

There are two litter trays upstairs and they have access all the time to them. I don’t really want one down stairs as it’s then a race to get to it before a dog 🤮
I’d swear he gets on really well with both cats, he’s less interested in Polly but seems to actively engage in playing and grooming with Wotsit.
He had plenty of safe spaces, time outside etc.
Gets on well with all the dogs.
I will add another tray. Maybe feed him separately?
I realise it’s probably stress related but not sure why now.
All cats are done.
 
No I don’t have one, never felt the need but have been googling and looking. Apparently spray actually applied to the cat can help 🤷‍♀️
I’ll look into it more and buy some.
I don’t know what area a plug in would cover.
 
It could be stress related, not necessarily from the new cats but maybe one who’s visiting the garden. It can manifest as weeing where they shouldn’t and often mimics cystitis without an actual infection. In the past I have used Zylkene which is a natural calmer you add to their food. It’s available either online or from your vet and might help him.
 
One of our girls did stress spray for a little while when the fat kitten arrived, but she stopped when she got to know him better (she really didn't like him at first) so it seems odd that it would be happening now. Maybe as above, other cats. Is he a litter tray user even when he has access to the outdoors? If so, the smell of the others in the tray may be putting him off using them, so scrupulous cleanliness may be needed. The ideal is 1 tray per cat plus 1 (which I appreciate isn't easy, or easy to justify if they can get outside). Can you fence off a room corner downstairs with a pet pen near a table or chair something to make access for cats easy and put dogs off, or a covered one with a microchip cat flap (some diy may be required)? Use an enzyme cleaner for cleaning. Lots of hiding places. Separate feeding areas.

Watch out for any signs of a blockage/straining to go as well.
 
I would try a few Feliways in the house (I have one in the bedroom where the cats like to sleep and one in the lounge where they tend to play).

I know you don't want another litter tray but depending on the size of your dogs, a covered one might stop a dog from using it (although not all cats like covered trays). I have three trays for two cats and they will use them all and I keep them very clean (dog poo bags are brilliant for a quick scoop).

Do your cats have spaces they can be on their own? Putting a cat bed up higher will help them to feel secure and less likely to worry.
 
I don’t mind another tray, just prefer it not downstairs but will have a think. I suppose if it’s in the room
I work in I’ll know straightaway if it’s been used 😬 and at night the dogs are shut in a room anyway.
Before we got the kittens he always had a tray in the house because he stays in over night. He rarely used it though.
I have an enzyme cleaner already so have been using that.
Yes there could be other cats around outside. We have seen the odd few in the past. He usually seems to get on with most things though.
There are several places he has that the others can’t get too. Tops of wardrobes and the spare bedroom has a stair gate which he can get over but the other two can’t. He also had a bed in the tack room which he is often in.

I’m shocked all these wet patches are him!
He’s 7/8 and never sprayed or p’d indoors (other than in a litter box)

A UTI would almost be preferable!
I’ll make an appointment for him. Can’t do tomorrow as I have an X-ray late morning and have no idea how long that may take (waiting and traffic wise)
He’s now hassling me for love while I try and muck out and sleeps on his back dotted round the room so stress seems weird.
Photo is how he lies in the room with us, dogs and other cats every evening. He’s not screaming unhappy is he!

IMG_4686.jpeg


If he were a dog I’d get a wee sample and take
It with us to the appointment- how on earth do you get a cat sample?
 
poiuytrewq said:
I don’t mind another tray, just prefer it not downstairs but will have a think. I suppose if it’s in the room
I work in I’ll know straightaway if it’s been used 😬 and at night the dogs are shut in a room anyway.
Before we got the kittens he always had a tray in the house because he stays in over night. He rarely used it though.
I have an enzyme cleaner already so have been using that.
Yes there could be other cats around outside. We have seen the odd few in the past. He usually seems to get on with most things though.
There are several places he has that the others can’t get too. Tops of wardrobes and the spare bedroom has a stair gate which he can get over but the other two can’t. He also had a bed in the tack room which he is often in.

I’m shocked all these wet patches are him!
He’s 7/8 and never sprayed or p’d indoors (other than in a litter box)

A UTI would almost be preferable!
I’ll make an appointment for him. Can’t do tomorrow as I have an X-ray late morning and have no idea how long that may take (waiting and traffic wise)
He’s now hassling me for love while I try and muck out and sleeps on his back dotted round the room so stress seems weird.
Photo is how he lies in the room with us, dogs and other cats every evening. He’s not screaming unhappy is he!

View attachment 170959


If he were a dog I’d get a wee sample and take
It with us to the appointment- how on earth do you get a cat sample?
Click to expand...
Poor little guy. It is weird because he does look so relaxed so getting him checked out is a good idea. You can get plastic cat litter (our vets give a tiny amount, I'd be inclined to ask for more) and then just strain the wee off. Obv need to keep him in a confined place until he goes (and hope he goes in the tray). If he won't the vet can extract urine from the bladder.
 
What is his outside access like? How often are the trays cleaned? I've had problems this year with several cats weeing in places they shouldn't - I have binned countless umbrellas, crinkly tunnels, washed the Lego in the shower after someone used the Lego box! Mostly now sorted by cleaning out the trays more often (twice a day for mine), and letting one outside much later than I'd like as he'd really rather wee outside and will do a protest somewhere inappropriate if not allowed. Plus quite frankly removing everything they might wee on from the floor. Obviously less practical for dog beds, but do they need access all day or could you shut the door to that room? No criticism, just some thoughts!
 
Mine won't go in a box that he's already 'been' in, so I have to change the litter after every use (he also likes to mix the wee in well, so it can't be skipped out 🤦‍♀️) otherwise he starts weeing in other places- often shopping bags, for some reason. He has two litter boxes, so that I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to change litter.
Are the kittens neutered? If not, could it be that they're starting to smell like entire cats and so making him more territorial?
 
just to add in something not mentioned could he actually be marking his territory as in the dogs are his and the other cats are being told they're out of bounds? Already been mentioned about cystitis and uti and feliway/zykelene type calming options. Another thing to note is does he have one space he can call his own away from all the other animals as that's another possibility that he's scent marking because he is trying to do just that
 
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