I just discovered pee on the couch :(

[Nomilynn]

Bassett has struck again, this time she peed on the couch. She is on meds, I have feliway, and I'm doing everything I can. The only weird thing is, she lays in it??? :confused: I could smell pee but I just thought it was dirty litter. I cleaned and cleaned but I could not get the smell out, so I finally started doing a mass sniff. I never suspected the couch because I see her laying in the exact spot where the pee was. Does anyone have any ideas about what this could be? I really hate living in a litter box :(

[Fallon]

How odd that she would be laying in it. I'm not really sure what could be wrong though. How old is she? What is she taking the meds for?

[Nomilynn]

She is five, and she's taking meds for her pee problems. She has always peed outside the litter box. It's not an infection or anything, I just had her at the vet about it. I don't know what to do :(

[shais_mom]

I wish you the best Nomi. Only having one cat and Kylie being my first I can't offer any advice, but I can offer support.

[slick]

:eek: Oh no, not Bassett again. I'm so sorry about this. It's weird that she would lay in it, then again I know of some kitties who would lay in the used litter box so I guess it's the same difference.

Please don't take this the wrong way but I wonder if there could be something going on inside the brain. It's just a thought because you've ruled out all physical problems.

Hugs to you and kissies to the furfamily.

[Nomilynn]

I really believe there IS something more wrong with Bassett than just a behaviour problem, but how would I even begin to diagnose a brain problem!? Sigh.. she's worse than a kid!!!!! :p

[rg_girlca]

Oh Naomi, I am so sorry to hear that Bassett is giving you problems. I really don't have any adivce either but i'm sure someone will give you some input on what to do.
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers that the situation will clear up soon.

[NoahsMommy]

I'm sorry honey. :(

I think PT needs to form a "peed on couch" group! ;)

[PayItForward]

What about a feline behaviourist ? Worth a try ?

[catcrazylady]

Seems like lots of us are having pee issues this year! A few are peeing on the couch, some are peeing everywhere, and mine were peeing in the bed! What's up with the kitties?
I can relate to how upsetting it is when have to deal with this. It's awful to try to clean up and get the smell out. I was lucky that my mattress pad was not allowing it to go through to the mattress.
Do you think if you put some kind of pad there that was water proof she would sleep on it? I mean maybe she would make that her own little bed/pad. Then you could just pick it up and wash it off and on or do you think she would start peeing somewhere else?

[Nomilynn]

Thanks for the replies.. I've been busy all weekend but I wanted to respond to a few questions here.

I would LOVE a feline behaviourist but I just don't have the money. I can't afford to take her to a kitty head doctor.. because it's a specialist I'm pretty sure a visit alone would cost lots of $$$ and that wouldn't guarantee any results.

The couch is not a place the cats normally sleep. They have lots of trees/chairs/window seats that they use, and I hardly ever see her on the couch. The only time I saw her there was after I got home from a trip, and the pee was already there (I hadn't discovered it, but there was a smell in the room that I couldn't pinpoint).

Bassett has ALWAYS peed outside the litter box, always seemingly random (ie I never really know why) and there are certain places that are a sure place for a pee mess. Any time there is a pile of clothes/blankets/pillow/etc on the floor, she will pee on it. Any kind of box, either empty or not, on the floor and even sometimes on the counter, she will pee on/in it. I can't have any box anywhere in my house, unless it is closed and up off the floor.

Today though, I saw something that might be part of it. Bassett went into the litter box, was doing her thing, and Nutmeg shows up from the other toom and just started attacking her IN the litter box! I don't know what that is about, but I might have to start medicating Tilly and Nutmeg too, because they are both agressors in this situation. Sigh. I live with a buncha mental freaks :p

[krazyaboutkatz]

Naomi, I'm sorry to hear that Bassett is having peeing problems again.:(
Since she pees outside of the litter box, have you ever tried putting some puppy training pads down around the litter box? They're supposed to be scented so they attract the animal to them. I use them behind my covered litter boxes because my furkids spray in the corner of them and it leaks through. This way it only leaks onto the pad and it absorbs the pee. Good luck and please keep us updated.

[Nomilynn]

When Bassett chooses to use the litter box, she has no problems. She doens't pee over the edge or anything. When I say outside the box, I mean somewhere IN the house.

Because Bassett pees outside the box when she's mad, I don't know that making the litter box more "attractive" would work. It's not that she doens't like the box or refuses to use it, she just gets in bad moods and messes the house sometimes.

It's SO frustrating! :) I wish I could get in her head and understand what's up in there.

[catmandu]

Sam, the Siamese sprays as well! You should check with Jen Luckenbach , who is an expert in this matter!

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Nomilynn
Today though, I saw something that might be part of it. Bassett went into the litter box, was doing her thing, and Nutmeg shows up from the other toom and just started attacking her IN the litter box!

This caught my eye. Maybe Bassett is not the problem at all? Would it be worth a try at medicating Nutmeg? Yes, and maybe Tilly as well just for awhile to see how it goes?? You don't have mental freaks:D Somebody just sounds stressed - and who wouldn't be?? For YOU, I would prescribe a nice toddy:D

[Nomilynn]

I may have to start medicating the other two, as they are both very agressive toward Bassett. However, Bassett has always peed outside the box, even before I got Tilly and Nutmeg. My vet suggested, though, that medicating the "aggressor" might be the only way to get this under control.

I really don't think anyone can become an "expert" in this - especially in a case like this where the behaviour is random - and I've been dealing with this problem for a very long time. I've had Bassett for over 5 years; therefore pee problems for over 5 years. However I am very thankful for the support, and I am taking all these suggestions into consideration! :)

[CatMama78]

Oh no, what a dilemma. I'm so sorry for your problem. And poor Bassett too.

I agree with the others that a helpful solution may be to medicate Nutmeg, or another thought.....maybe get a separate litter box for Bassett? You may already have thought of this, but it's the only other thing I could think of. Maybe part of the reason Nutmeg is hounding Bassett is cause she doesn't want to share....

Good Luck!

[Nomilynn]

Thanks for the suggestion :)

I have 5 litterboxes for the three of them, so there are lots of choices. Tilly and Nutmeg are just mean :p

[lynnestankard]

Poor you Naomi - I can't think of anything else to suggest but I've sent you a PM.

Lynne

[rosethecopycat]

Hav you always used the same litter? Maybe you need to change it, especially if it is scented, go to unscented.

Have you got a Feliway? It will work on all the cats, aggressors alike.

I would also get on of those Pee finders from the pet store, it's like a black light.

This will give you an idea of the extent of the problem, and help you correct her as you go.

The only other thing I can think of is to isolate her and retrain her with the box.

I'd hate to have to go through this, as it is so disruptive to life.

You could aslo se how receptive she is to actual toilet training. Ther are kits for sale that transition them over to using the toilet. She wouldn't have to compete with the other cats for this, I don't imagine.

In any case, it is a long road.

i'm sorry you have to go through this.


Rose

[Catsnclay]

Yoshi is my pee-boy. Anything and everything upsets him....why? We just don't know :confused:

We have him on kitty Prozac and there is a Feliway plug in going constantly.

I happened to be looking in Cat Fancy magazine and I came across this ad for Cat Attract Training Litter. There was also a coupon. :D I have no idea if this really works, but I am always willing to give something a try.......can't hurt! :rolleyes:

Sounds like Bassett just doesn't like change at all. :( Have you ruled out any kind of infection?? Sitting in her pee doesn't sound "normal" to me.

Don't you wish that they can talk.........sometimes??!! :D :eek: :rolleyes:

Good luck with your problem.