Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/21/2008

Question
I have a 8 year old Calico cat.  She started about 6 months to a year ago ... urinating on everything.  The Vet has prescribed her Prozac, this just makes her sleepy. Yet she still urinates everywhere.  I thought she was spraying.  But she is spayed.  I have tried changing the litter box and food.  I have to get my carpets cleaned frequently. I have grandchildren and was hoping that her behavior issue was not because the children are upsetting her.  They don't bother her, yet they are loud.
Any help would be greatly appreciated .  I do not want to have to give her to a quieter home, she is part of the family.

Answer
Chris,

Calicos are one person cats. The children could possibly be upsetting her. I know my 2 don't like kids! Does she have an area that she can go that is quiet to get away from them?

One of the most common feline responses to stress is inappropriate elimination. The bladder is the cat’s stress target. People are often surprised to learn that these acts performed by a cat are designed to help them calm down. At 8 (she is approx. 48 years old in human years) cat don't take stress and change as well as a younger cat can and it can reflect in inappropriate elimination and even health problems.

Sometimes too, cats don't like where their litterbox is located. They like privacy. They also may decide they don't like the litter you are using or the litterbox becomes too small for their liking. Try getting some children play sand from Home Depot or a buiding supply store and see if she prefers that, and a bigger litterbox with deeper litter in it. That will tell you if it is a litterbox problem. In addition, using litter boxes with lower sides and placing the litter box in the area in which the cat spends the most time may be helpful.

A female spayed cat can spray or pee inappropriately if there are stray cats outside that she can see but can't get to to defend her territory. Especially calicos who are VERY territorial and protective of their areas. Blocking a the window she can see them out of would help that behavior.

It also could be related to a medical issue instead of a behavioral problem. She could have a kidney or urinary tract infection, or urinary crystals. UTIs and urinary crystals are very painful and the cats associate that pain with the litterbox and go elsewhere. You might want to have a vet check her for that. Also she should have an 'older cat checkup' to check the function of her kidneys, liver, and thyroid. It would be good to find a vet that specializes in geriactric cat care and their problems. Not all vets do.

There is a very popular cat calming spray and plug-in you can use called Feliway. It is available at pet stores, from a vet (they use it too), or on-line. It copies relaxing pheromones that cats produce from rubbing their faces on things.

There is also a calming product that you can add to your cat's food or water that reduces anxiety called Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is available on-line and in health food stores. Here is a link about it: http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

Here are some helpful links about older cat care that you may find informative for the future:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=610

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And here is some helpful (I hope!) information on cleaning cat urine:

HOMEMADE CAT URINE REMOVER

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid soap

3% hydrogen peroxide can be bought at most grocery and drug stores in pint and quart bottles.

Gently mix all ingredients in a non-metal container. Do not mix or shake vigorously! The mixture is best used when fresh but can be stored. Do not keep mixture in an airtight container as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together release loads of oxygen. We don't want an explosion on our hands on top of the mess we already have! You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle (Home Depot, etc.) but on old plastic liter soda bottle works just a well. Just remember to keep the cap on loose.

HOW TO REMOVE CAT URINE ODOR FROM CARPETS

FOR INDIVIDUAL URINE SPOTS ON CARPET:
If fresh, sop up as much cat urine as you can with a paper towel first. Use a spray bottle to saturate the spot completely with the recipe - do not blot. The recipe must penerate the padding and possibly the floor boards underneath, where the urine has penerated for it to work. Wait 24-48 hours until dry then vacuum. If the urine odor is still present - repeat the procedure. It usually takes 2-3 applications to completely neutralize the cat urine odor.

FOR LARGE AREAS OF CARPET:

You can use a carpet cleaning machine  using the recipe instead of the shampoo. You will need to make several gallons of the recipe depending on the size of the carpet. Don't use the vacuum part of the machine - you will want to let the solution soak and dry for 24-48 hours before vacuuming. Most carpet cleaning machines are not made for this use and baking soda can clog the nozzles of the machine.

A 1 gallon garden bug sprayer (Home Dept., etc.)  works great too.  Rinse the nozzle out frequently by filling the tank with hot water and spraying it in the  bathtub. If using the sprayer, saturate the entire carpet with the recipe, let dry for about 24-48 hours, and vacuum. You will have to probably repeat the procedure again. Areas heavily saturated with old urine may take 3 applications over a week.

If the cat urine is old and dried, the smell will probably be worse a day or two later. This is because you are rehydrating the uric acid crystals in the urine to neutralize them. The smell will get better with each application!

MATTRESSES:

You must saturate the spot throughly to get deep down into the padding and springs to neutralize the urine. If the cat has urinated alot in one spot, the mattress can be soiled all the way to the other side! Let the area dry for 24-48 hours without bedding then reapply if necessary.

SOFAS:

The same directions as above  but always check for color-fastness in a hidden area before using. Cotton is used in alot of upholstery fabrics and is easily bleached. If your sofa pillow cushion covers can be unzipped and taken off (must be color-fast and washable) you can put them in the washing machine using the instructions for clothing and bedding.

CLOTHING, COMFORTERS, AND BEDDING:

Put the items in the washing machine and pour in enough of the recipe to cover throughly. This might take a few gallons depending on the size of the load. Soak for at least 24 hours. Rinse and rewash using normal washing detergent. If any of the odor is still present, soak again for 24 hours, rinse and rewash.

A small area on a comforter can be spot treated by saturating the area throughly, letting it dry for 24 hours, then washing the comforter normally in the washer with detergent. Always check for color-fastness before using.

AREA RUGS:

They can be spot treated with a sprayer or put in the washer. Test for color-fastness before treatment.

I hope this will be helpful in solving your cat's problem.

Tabbi