Expert: Norman Auspitz - 7/25/2011

Question
QUESTION: I have 2 Himalayan cats and 2 rescued cats all neutered.  The cats are all around the same age 5 and 6 years old. Out of the blue 1 year ago we came home from vacation and pee was all over the house and especially on the couch in the basement and other spots in my house.  I got a spy camera and found out that the most easy going and calmest of the Himalayans is the primary culprit Although the other Himi has sprayed once .I have been to the vet at least 10 times in the last 9 months. I have tried different litter, closed litter boxes,open litter boxes, Feliway spray, collars and room diffusers,valium which just knocked him out,clonocalm which did the same thing. Now he is on prozac 2.5 mg once a day for the past 4 days and I just found pee on the sofa again.The sofa was cleaned with an enzyme cleaner. I just don't know what to do anymore. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Shari

ANSWER: Shari,

How long have you had the Himalayan who is peeing inappropriately?  How long has he been doing this? Have you tried confining him until his litter pan habits have improved?

Sometimes once they pee on furniture, it is almost impossible to get out and you might have to think about getting rid of the couch?!?!?!? If you replace it, you might want to think about putting a plastic cover or slip covers on any furniture in this particular area.

Is there anything you can think of that might have started this behavior, another addition to the house (2 legged or 4 legged variety?A change in the brand or type of litter? Is there a cat, new to the neighborhood, that has started spraying on the outside of your house?

Do you have at least two litter pans in different parts of the household?

Have you tried Cat Attract litter?  Sometimes this entices them to stay in the litter pan.

Please let me know if any of this helps?

Best regards... Norm.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have had all the cats since they were little. I did confine him for about 3 weeks. I have plastic on the couch now and he has gone on the plastic. No new additions to the house,we also have 2 dogs and he loves the dogs rubs against them ect. I have5 litter pans all over the house some with cat attract litter. I have always had cats and himies since 1983 and never had a problem like this. What else can I do.
Shari

Answer
Shari,

I have no idea what to suggest at this point.  You might want to confine him in his own space with a litter pan and see if he gets the idea. 3 weeks may not be enough time.

Is there a neighborhood cat peeing (spraying) on the outside of your house? This could also cause this type of behavior in a neutered male cat. There is also a type of boxwood plant that gives off an odor much like cat pee and has been known to cause indoor cats to pee inappropriately in marking their territory.

I am still not entirely sure if your vet checked for a mild urinary tract infection, which could also cause inappropriate peeing. It is not uncommon for 5-6 year old male cats to begin to have urinary tract problems.  He may not be blocking and may be able to concentrate his urine, but that does not rule out something like a mild bladder infection, which would make him want to pee everywhere almost all the time.

I am out of ideas for now, but I am betting on a low grade medical problem, if there have been no changes to the household inside or out.

Best regards... Norm.