Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 5/7/2011

Question
My two year old spayed female cat does not like to be alone, and I live alone. I am around usually when I'm not at work, but she doesn't seem to like when I leave. She has recently started to pee in inappropriate places, such as my clean laundry, my book, my lunch bag, and her food and bed. I have taken her to the vet and they concluded that she does not have a UTI (urinary tract infection) and that it could be purely behavioral. Unfortunately they offered no further assistance. I have been to many websites and haven't found anything that will help, please let me know what advice you have on this issue because it's getting to the point where I feel she might need another home.

Answer
Well, my question is this: does she pee on things when you are around? Sometimes cats do this to tell us something; ie; I'm hurting, I'm lonely, I am scared, I am sick.

There are thousands of websites online about inappropriate elimination in cats, so I don't understand why you haven't found anything to help. What have you tried to do so far? One website I use often is this one--> http://petplace.com
The vet writes hundreds of articles on cats and dogs. Here is one on your issue:
http://www.petplace.com/article-printer-friendly.aspx?id=1891
The vet gives many reasons for this problem, and a lot of solutions.

Since the vet didn't find a LUTI, then really the simplest solution is one you will not like: get another cat. Most cats do much better when there are two of them. While they certainly won't like each other to start, they will get used to each other. A neutered male might be a better choice since there is less territory issues.If this were my cat and I had a shelter nearby, I would go down and get a male cat around a year old and give him a home, make your other cat less lonely and most likely stop this peeing.

But if that is not an option, you will have to work hard at cleaning up the house, changing the style of litter box if that is a problem and trying to work with her. I would get another opinion about her bladder issues as well, and a full check up- since most of the time these issues are related to a medical problem.

I know this is really frustrating but I have seen small changes make huge differences. Do a search through the answers on this site and you can find many of the same topic. Many have follow-ups saying the problem was resolved.
Good luck and let me know how she does.