what's UTI
-- Urinary tract infection....

I'm going to assume that messes = poops.

We had a problem with Edwina doing this some time back. Don't know what started it. Most cats are regular in elimination. If you don't free feed you can expect about 30 minutes after feeding or as was discussed on another thread -- right after the human returns home.

In any case -- on the advise of my sister-in-law -- who is a vet -- we started putting Edwina in her litter box at the "regular" time (or any time we thought we saw that look in her eyes. ) Then we would stand there and coo "good girl -- go potty" and other totally embarrassing things. Not holding her in the box but blocking her departure.

In any event it worked. She returned to using the litter box. She now only has accidents if she feels the need to give us a message about our vacations.

Oh yes...we still "coo" if we see her in the box doing business!