Urinating Cat

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

My 11 yo cat has recently been noticed to be urinating in places other than her litter box.  She does this very frequently now.  Up until recently she has never done this before.  Her diet is dried cat biscuits, she drinks and eats normally - though she does throw up if she eats a lot at once.  We don't notice any change in her behaviour.

I am prepared to take her to vet for checkup - but she is not a very friendly cat (except with me) and so she will be difficult to handle / examine.

Is this problem likely a medical, or a behavioural one.  If it's behavioural I'd guess it's just something have to accept as part of being older at.

Thanks

[Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM]

I agree with all above comments and once you've seen your vet and he or she has ruled out important potential underlying medical issues, with a full set of blood tests and a urinalysis, you might ask your vet about arthritis which is very common and easy to overlook in older cats like yours. If your cat has a bit of arthritis and your litter box is of the type where she has to climb in and out of it she may be urinating outside her box because it hurts her to climb in and out and therefore it is easier for her to just relieve herself next to her box. If this is the case there are many natural vitamin supplements you can discuss with your vet that are effective for this.
Elimin-Odor available for cats and dogs is another great product excellent for to removing urine odors and in my experience Elimin-Odor for cats is the best I have found and we use it in our veterinary hospital. A diet adjustment also sounds very appropriate and your vet can help you make the correct choice.
Thank you
Dr Carol Osborne, DVM
Thank you
Dr Carol Osborne, DVM

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Look for Simple Solution, Nature's Miracle, or any ENZYME Stain and Odor Remover!  Those work best.  

Physically block off those areas after they dry if you can.  Urination is both smell and location driven.  

So your THREE main points are:
1) Bladder problems
2) Proper Diet for the Cat
3) Clean up and block urination sites.

good luck

[Super_sally888]

Thank you very much for your input.

I'll take her to the vet for checkup. And look at possible change in diet suitable for older cat.

Don't know if the odor removal stuff is available here.  will go looking.  Would also be useful for my dogs who tend to pee in the wrong places too.

THanks

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

No, this is probably not something you have to live with.  It is very common for cats to urinate outside of their box, but it is not normal.  There is always a cause.  Bladder infections is probably number one so YES you should get her to your vet soon.  Also I would want you to feed the very best diet you can for a senior cat.  Diet alone can cause such problems.  Ask your vet for the best food you can feed an older cat, especially one that may be prone to bladder problems.  

Behavioral causes are also common.  This is a much longer discussion.  Many, Many reasons for cats to stop using their box.  Environmental, Smell, Litter type, competing cats, and the list goes on.  The correction takes time and some very correct behavioral modification techniques.  .  

Let's be sure you are not facing a bladder infection (cystitis) first (trip to the vet), then look at behavior modification and diet.  

Finally, see if you can find some enzyme odor and stain remover at a local pet store.  My favorite is Simple Solution.  Use this by lable directions in all areas where the cat is going outside of the box.  You must clean these spots very well or she will be attracted back to the spot from the smell alone.  Block those spots off if you can.  

There should be a great deal of information online about getting cats to return to the litter box.  First rule out the bladder infection, then fix the litter box problems.