Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/11/2009

Question
I have 5 rescue cats ranging from 10 yrs to 6 mos.  I've had the older cats since they were kittens; I know the 10 year old is potting outside the box.  Since introducing the 6mos old, I have noted urinating problems in parts of the house.  I have hardwood floors, so the problems have been noted on throw pillows, throws, suit case left horizontal, basket w/clothes in plastic bag, etc.  How can I determine which cat is the 'naughty' one?

Answer
Patricia,

One of the most common feline responses to stress is inappropriate elimination. The bladder is the cat’s stress target. A solution veterinarians use to help identify a problem cat in a multicat household is to give a fluorescent dye to one cat at a time. The dye will pass in the urine and can be detected through what's called a Wood's Lamp.

Older cats do not take stress as well as a younger cat and having a kitten in the household could be causing the inappropriate elimination by your older cats. Stress in older cats can cause behavior, emotional, and/or physical problems.

I would suggest finding a vet that specializes in geriatric cat care and their conditions. Not all vets do which can be detrimental to an elderly cat. At 10 years old your cat is approximately 56 years old in human years. At that age things start to slowly go wrong. I would guess that she either has a urinary tract infection, urinary crystals, or kidney problems. All are painful when she pees, so a cat will associate that pain with the litterbox and go elsewhere. Also elderly cats commonly get arthritis which also makes it painful to get in and out of the litterbox. It may be helpful to have a 'puppy pee pad' for the cat next to the litterbox, or get a container, like plastic or foil, with very low sides on it.

Take her to a vet that specializes in geriatric cat care and conditions (not all vets do). She needs to have an 'older cat checkup' to check the function of her thyroid, kidneys, and liver. If she has a urinary tract infection she can be given antibiotics for it. As a cat ages this checkup should be done about every 6-8 months. In doing that, a lot of age related problems can be caught early. They can be given treatment or medication that can continue their quality of life and ease any pain, and give you more time together.

Being prepared and knowledgeable about elderly cats will make things easier for the cat and for you. I am including some very good links about elderly cats. Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:

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

http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

I hope this will be helpful. Here is a 'recipe' for cat urine odor removal:

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.  Have a VERY loose lid as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together will release oxygen and an airtight container will explode. You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle (Home Depot, etc.) but a plastic liter or 2-liter soda bottle works just a well.
Always test for color-fastness. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent in stronger concentrations.

CLOTHING, COMFORTERS, AND BEDDING:

Put the items in the washing machine and pour in enough of the recipe to cover thoroughly. 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 thoroughly, letting it dry for 24 hours, then washing the comforter normally in the washer with detergent. Always check for color-fastness before using.

I hope this helps.

Tabbi