Expert: Ali - 10/5/2008

Question
Hi Ali,
       I have 14 cats in my home.  I didn't intend on having that many cats, but I have gotten a few of them from abandon homes, and picked up a few strays, found a tiny kitten in my back yard, had a few cats come to my porch hungry and pregnant.  I have gotten every cat spayed and or neutered.  They have all been vet checked, and given shots, etc. Most of them get along fairly well.  Only 3 of them show signs of fighting/aggression towards each other.  My real problem is that I have 2 female cats spraying on the wall, and 2 cats (one male and one female) peeing on the floor.  And these are not the cats that fight with each other.  They were spayed by the time they were 4 months old. I didn't think cats spray if they were spayed.  I have checked them for urinary tract infections, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  I have even given them a dose of anti-biotics to be sure.  I have 15 litter boxes in the house, so there is no shortage.  I clean them every day.  I have tried the "cat attract" litter.  I have tried the "bottled blessings" flower essence.  Nothing seems to work.  They don't do it all the time, just once in a while. I have 9 food/water stations, so they don't have to fight for food either.  I have tried everything that I can think of.  I am now trying the pheremone sprays and feliway, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference.  Do you have any suggestions at all?  I've heard of the "redirected aggression", but I don't think that is the problem.  Regardless of the problem, I need to find a solution.  I have spent thousands of dollars on these cats, and I love them alot.  Don't want to get rid of any of them.  I have bought them large cat towers so they can climb and sit up high, lots of cat beds, toys, etc.  We have a large house, so there is plenty of room for them to spread out.  I am willing to try anything, if you have any advice..................

Answer
Michelle,

Given that the cats who are urinating outside of the litter box are only doing it from time to time I would suggest that you try to see if there is a co-relation between the inappropriate urination and different circumstances. Things like changes in the household, scented kitty litter, territorial disputes, litter box not cleaned a minimum of once daily, too few litter boxes for the number of cats in the home, changes in litter, changes in your schedule, threats from an outside cat (whether real or perceived), physical discomfort in entering or exiting the litter box or medical issues. There really isn't a way to check for urinary tract infections or things like crystals in the urinary tract at home - these conditions require a urine sample from each of the cats who are urinating outside of the box to be sent to a lab and examined. Having tradespeople in the house to do renovations or repairs can upset sensitive cats and cause the issues that you are having. Some cats are sensitive to the harsh perfumes and dyes commonly found in kitty litter so avoiding scented kitty litter and consistently using the same brand of litter can sometimes be helpful. It's very important that the litter boxes be cleaned a minimum of once daily, preferably twice given the number of cats in the household. I routinely recommend that pet parents have a minimum of one litter box per cat plus one, in cases where one or more cats are using the toilet in locations other than the litter boxes I normally recommend one litter box per cat, plus one per level of your home, at least while trying to deal with the issue and establish a cause. If you work a job where your schedule changes frequently your cats may be reacting to the shift changes. Some cats are very territorial and will react to seeing neighborhood cats, wildlife or other animals in the yard through the window. I have found that the best suggestion in this case would be to use a removable privacy film commonly sold in home improvement/hardware stores. Removable privacy films come in a variety of designs and price ranges so it's best to shop around. If any of the cats have undiagnosed medical issues that may be causing discomfort when they eliminate or get into/out of the litter box that could be what's causing the litter box issue. As I'm sure you are aware cats have a far more sensitive sense of smell than people do. Regular household cleaners won't permanently remove the smell of organic substances like urine, feces, vomit, etc. Enzymatic cleaners work by using beneficial bacteria to digest the components of organic substances that can cause odors and stains. I would strongly suggest that you try cleaning any areas that the cats may have urinated in outside of the litter box with an enzymatic cleaner because sometimes the issue of inappropriate elimination could be due to the fact that cleaning products used to clean up accidents are just masking the odor, not permanently removing it. I have found that a product called Petzyme is very effective, well priced and has so far proven safe for removing vomit and a small amount of feces from my carpet and upholstery. It's a good idea to test Petzyme out on an inconspicuous area before using it elsewhere just in case it does change the color of fabrics, flooring and upholstery that you have within your home. Petzyme is available in pet supply stores. If you are unable to find Petzyme be aware that any enzymatic cleaner will work, that means that whether it comes from the dog section of a pet supply store or you purchase your enzymatic cleaner in bulk from a local janitorial supply store they should all be as effective.