Desperate situation...need advice!

[moosmom]

The more cats you have, the higher the chances are that it might happen. HOWEVER, rule of thumb is one box per cat. So if you have 14 cats, you need at least 10 boxes.

First rule of business is to rule out any kind of medical problem, like UTI, crystals, stones, etc.

[Purr-tender]

Well, I don't have 10 litter boxes, I have 3 large ones in the house and 3 in the cottage (4 of my 14 are just 9 months old). As far as ruling out any medical problems, that's tough. What we did do today was buy a security camera. My husband is mounting it where we have the biggest problem. If we find that it is always the same cat or cats doing the inappropriate peeing/spraying, then that will be the one who is checked by the vet. Last fall I did take 2 of the cats that I had caught peeing to the vet. One did have crystals and was treated. It's just hard to imagine that so many would have medical issues. Also, all have been spayed/neutered.

[Taz_Zoee]

I only have one cat, but I recall reading that many cats do NOT like change. My cat is an exception to that. But maybe because you moved those cats out to the cottage, this is their way of telling you......we don't like this!
I hope the camera will show you who it is and you can get them checked.

[Purr-tender]

I know cats don't like change. I didn't move them to the cottage until the peeing got completely out of control in the house. I wish you all could see their cottage. It is one large room. I painted the walls a cheery yellow and the upper portion a soft sky blue. They have a nice big couch and chair, a large window with a padded shelf to bird watch from, another long shelf to chill on, a big condo, their own stereo, and these 2 great cottages from Drs. Foster and Smith. I put up a white bifold door in the rear with their litter boxes for privacy. Sorry, got off track.
We are definitely hoping the camera will work. I don't want people to think that I don't keep a clean house and that the cats are just rebelling. I am anxious to have our house back and would love to have all my kids back in here with us. It is so hard to look out my back door and see my kids looking out the window of the cottage at the house. They don't understand.

I use an enzyme cleaner (OUT) and follow up with Mr. Clean. I have had my carpets professionally cleaned numerous times using products for cat urine and it didn't help.

[Freedom]

For 14 cats you do not have nearly enough litter boxes! You need 15, or 10 and clean multiple times per day.

Cats do not like having many of them living in close quarters. I am at my lmit here with 8 cats in rooms. Have to keep the cellar door open a lot sothey can go down there. So it may be territorial but if it is, then they are not going to stop. Spreading them out to the cottage was a good start.

Please add some boxes for them!

[Purr-tender]

WOW, 15 litter boxes!! I wonder if it matters how many per space? Like in my laundry room, I have 2, then the guest room I have another. Would I need one in every room? That's not a pleasant thought...although neither is cat pee everywhere . Out in the cottage I have one by the front door and 2 in the rear. They use the big, long, open one by the front door more than the others. There is an open box and a covered one in the rear. That is something else I was experimenting with...whether they preferred covered or open litter boxes.

[catmandu]

I HAVE 7 FOR THE TEN FOUND CATS, BUT 3 OF THEM ARE EXTRA WIDE RUBBERMAID BOXES.
WE ARE SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH SPRAYING
AND WE ARE PRAYING THAT YOU CAN FIND A SOLUTION. THERES NOTHING THAT RUINS A HOUSE MORE THAN THAT SMELL THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GO ANYWAY.
GOOD LUCK FROM US ALL.

[Purr-tender]

Thanks, Gary. I bought a couple of those extra long and deep boxes the other day. That's one of the boxes they use the most out in the cottage.

I try so hard to make sure that my house doesn't smell like cats live here. There isn't much that smells worse than cat urine.

Your cats always look so content. That's a sweet pic of the three sharing the chair.