Comments on: The Most Frustrating Case of Feline Inappropriate Elimination: My Own

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:36:07 +0000

*sigh* I am the same point with one of my cats. Inappropriate urination has become frustratingly habitual for him now. As soon as we save up some $$ we will be constructing a secure outside cattery area.

By: Dr. K

Dr. K — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:45:49 +0000

Amanda:

You’re in a really tough situation and I don’t wish it on any cat owner. I think, when faced with the alternative of euthanasia, permanent confinement to a small room (that seems to work, no?) is a better option. Also, have you tried Feliway, enzymatic carpet cleaner, and prolonged confinement? I usual recommend two weeks to start but some cats will need it for months.

Big and sometimes seemingly little changes at home can certainly lead to urinating outside the box. In cats deemed healthy by a vet, my experience is urinating outside the box is a stress response. I think “2 kids, 2 dogs, 10 fishtanks, and a chameleon. Oh and a husband sometimes too” could certainly be stressful for 2 senior cats. Rehousing 15 yr olds is difficult, but if you getting a good response with small room confinement, that’s the direction I would keep heading.

Good luck. I feel your pain.

By: Teri and the cats of Furrydance

Teri and the cats of Furrydance — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:09:55 +0000

I am a new follower to your blog (via Dr K at Doolittler) and this is an excellent post. I have rehabilitated almost every cat I have taken back from homes where they have had sometimes years of inappropriate eliminations (usually urine) and I go through a rigorous rehabbing protocol with all of the things you have mentioned, but it seems like what works in the end is finding the right home and environment for them. If not a medical issue, then they are trying to tell us they are unhappy and it’s up to us to figure out why…

By: Dr. K

Dr. K — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:49:46 +0000

Excellent point Julia! I’ll add it in! This post was to document my own personal struggle with my cat (whose history I know well) and am rightly chastised for not including all the work-up that went into my cat’s case.

For the record, Winston has had repeat urinalysis and blood work in the past four years. When the first urinary issue reared its ugly head, the first thing I did was a UA, then bloodwork, then behavior modification and environmental enrichment, and finally placed him on prozac for 6 months.

For cats with inappropriate elimination issues, predominantly urination, I recommend a urinalysis, CBC/CP/T4, and abdominal radiographs to rule out bladder stones.

By: lin

lin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:20:43 +0000

A couple of years ago, Mr. Kitty urinated in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Since he was chronically good about not peeing inside, we took him to the vet. Mr. K. checked out fine, and the vet asked if there had been any change or disruption in the house. Aha! A college-age niece and her friend had been over for the weekend. Mr. Kitty had met the niece before, but evidently, two giggling, chattering creatures had been too much for our very quiet, very small house. Ever the good host, he had saved his displeasure until they left.

A friend adopted a sweet declawed cat who had a terrible problem of peeing on her bedclothes. If I knew what I knew now, I would have suggested switching litter to something softer (Swheat or World’s Best) and Feliway. Expensive, but not as expensive as constant laundry!

By: julia

julia — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:04:00 +0000

I feel you missed a huge step in this post. Blog posts can be read out of context and by not stating that a lot of inappropriate elimination stems from medical issues and you should seek out medical attention first before attempting behavioral changes, you could lead some cats to be subject to behavior modification when there is a medical issue behind it.

talking to the vet should be the first step, not the last

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:52:05 +0000

I wish you all the luck in the world. I have 2 older (15-ish) cats that started urinating and defecating in the house 4 years ago.
I have tried almost every litter known to man. I have bought self scooping boxes, hooded, open, and most recently modified 115L totes for boxes. Currently I am using a Multi-Menu Eucalyptus litter.
I have done retraining: starting with crate sized, then small room… By the time they worked up to a full time room, they were peeing all over again.
I tried anti-anxiety drugs.
They have had thorough examinations and bloodwork with no reportable conditions.
I have even tried switching foods!
Finally now they are locked in their own room of the house, with no access to the rest of the house.
I am at wit’s end – I have tried re-integrating them into the rest of the house as they are *mostly* accident free at this point, but the minute they get out of their room, they head to a corner or a rug and let ‘er rip!
They are too old to rehome (and let’s face it, who wants someone else’s problem). I don’t spend a lot of time with them as I also spread my time with 2 kids, 2 dogs, 10 fishtanks, and a chameleon. Oh and a husband sometimes too
At this point it seems cruel, but the only other option as I see it is a one way vet trip
Any suggestions you might have??

By: VMDiva | Update: Located Rogue Testicle!

VMDiva | Update: Located Rogue Testicle! — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:07:53 +0000

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