Grr...we have 3 cats and for whatever reason one of them has started peeing on our bathroom rugs. I find them so stressful to begin with, that and our overly neurotic border collie, all in combo with an adorable and curious 1 year old, but now this! WHY? Has anyone ever had this happen to them? What can I do to stop this from happening? I really feel the need to have rugs in the bathroom, to step on out of the shower as well as cover up the loose litter from the box (Grrrr....) but what can I do?
p.s. on on unrelated note, anyone want to adopt a cat? (I know which one is the naughty one if that helps?)
Thanks,
S.
Step one, take the cat to the vet if it is a physical thing.
Step two, get Feliway. It is a cat hormone that is supposed to ease anxiety (it is a plug in similiar in style to an air freshner). Put it in the bathroom, just in case it is behavioral. Good luck.
One of my cats did that. Come to find out it was an infection. She never seemed to get over the infection and months later she started doing it again and throwing up. I took her to the vet thinking they were going to tell me she had a urinary infection but they said she had cancer. Don't wait to take your cat to the vet. I would also clean the area and the rugs really well with something strong to keep it from returning.
One of my cats starting urinating on the rugs when my son started moving around on his own. I guess it was nervousness? Anyway, I have very little patience for this, so out the door the cat went. He is an indoor/outdoor cat now. Oh and the peeing on the rug thing stopped.
A vet tech told me that the bathroom rugs have a scent on them that attracts cats and makes them think they need to pee on them. Something in the rubber backing I guess. I had a similar problem and now I have to hang my bathroom rugs up after use. It's a pain, and I forgot a couple of times and of course the cat peed again. But now I've got it figured out and the problem was solved. And they don't pee anywhere else so I'm sure it has something to do with the smell of the rug. Good luck!
Our cat did this, except for she chose to pee on our bed...lovely right? We took her to the vet and found out she had Cystitis. The vet put her on meds and a special diet (food we bought from him). We also added fish oil to her food. The vet also had us try to figure out what could be stressing her (the new baby, another animal, change of homes). We found out that there was an stray outside cat that would sit by a window and meow at her. Once we ran that cat off (nicely) and with her change of diet, she never did it again. Good luck!
When a previously behaved pet suddenly displays "bad" behavior it is usually biologically based. I agree that you should take kitty to the vet. Cats who start urinating inappropriately may have a UTI or cystitis.
S.
Grrr...is right! We also have 3 cats (My DH is a huge cat person, I am so NOT, I am a dog person) and we have a cat that does this as well. It is infuriating! With us it is only our main front bathroom, which makes it that much worse because it's the guest bath as well! I have just try to keep the door closed at all times. Can't wait to hear what other advice you get!
~Keeping the door closed is something that helps with the babies and making sure they don't get in their and "play"!
Have you taken the cat to see the vet? Sometimes inappropriate urination can be a sign of a underlying physical problem such as a UTI.
It sounds like you're pretty frustrated with your pets and animals are very sensitive to human emotion. The cat who's peeing on the rug is probably rebelling for being neglected and/or is expressing her resentment. If you can't handle all the pets, you should try to find them good homes. Best for them and you! Good luck,
PS. Make sure it's not a physical problem too...take them to vet if you don't think resentment is what's happening ;)
