Need help with cat behavior problem

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Not sure where to post this...

Pee. The problem is pee. My husband and I are in the process of finishing our basement - the current project is two bedrooms down there. The problem? The cat has turned the closet in the one bedroom into his own personal bathroom. No carpeting yet, there's just an insulated wood subfloor on top of the concrete. The carpet's coming later this week.

The cat's had bladder problems a few times before (he's 9 years old) - blockages from struvite crystals. His behavior was totally different those times so I'm sure this isn't a health problem. I think the first time he peed it was a protest, voicing his opinion about all the changes downstairs. Now that the scent is there, he keeps going back to it. I don't see much point in blocking his access to the room (no doors on the closet itself yet) - we can't close the room forever so wouldn't we just be delaying the inevitable? I've tried saturating the area several times with liquid enzyme Pet Urine Odor Remover stuff that's supposed to clean and neutralize the area so he won't go back to it... it's not working. Or maybe there's a lot of pee soaked into the wood and I just haven't used enough of this stuff yet? I even painted over the spot on the floor, thinking that if there was any residual scent the paint would seal it in so he wouldn't smell it anymore... no luck. He just peed in the same spot on the painted surface. Replacing that section of subfloor would be really difficult because of the way everything was constructed, definitely not Plan A. There's gotta be an easier solution. The cat isn't peeing in any other inappropriate places and he's still using his litter box too - his fancy new closet-bathroom is just a luxury once every couple of days.

We're having new carpet installed on Friday and we definitely don't want the cat christening it... any suggestions?

Try priming the area with an oil-based primer. Latex paint and/or primer won't block odors, but an oil-based primer will...especially on porous material like wood. I would at least try it.

When my cat decided she wanted to go behind the couch I did a few things and eventually she got over it.

1) I covered the area in cardboard or otherwise blocked access to the carpet she liked there.
2) Sprayed the area with a citrus scented cleaner. Don't use anything with ammonia!
3) Switched to a different type of kitty litter.

I think it was a matter of her not liking the litter I was using and that she tried the other spot and liked it. Once I found a litter she liked and got her out of the habit of using the other spot it was ok again.

Your mileage may vary - no two cats are quite the same

Have you tried those animal repellants to discourage urinating? They have them at most pet stores. I think one brand is called Stop! Basically you put the repellant on a towel of cloth and palce where the cat is tempted to urniated (anchor it so the cat can't move it). I actually have found this works, although not 100%.

Another things is give your cat extra litter boxes, espeically one outside that closet, at leat until you feel he's broken his habit. If you just have one cat, this wouldn't be all that much more money, since one cat with 2 or 3 litter boxes actually doesn't use anymore litter, if you clean them out only accoridng to how dirty they get. Having extra litter boxes around the house sounds like a pain, but at least you can clean them up and remove them with little sacrifice - unlike urine-soaked wood or carpet.

As a norm., the standard recommendation is to have one more litter box than cats. With male cats with past urinary problems, it might be wise to have 2 extra boxes in different places. If you're ever had a UTI or bladder stones you know how horrendously painful that is. For cats that experience this, they can learn to associate that pain with the litter box and turn to finding other places to pee. So giving them a different litter box in a different place may help diffuse any bad association and encourage your cat to continue using the litter box rather than not the closet.

Cats are supposed to be discouraged from peeing in a certain place if food is placed there,as they don't like to foul their dinner,never got to try this myself as my kits eventually learned how to use a litter tray.

Been there! I kept helping my friends with it too so I put all my tips and favorite products together on one page not too long ago. http://ponderethereal.com/blog/wp/index ... 5/07/2894/ Mine haven't relapsed since...

I know you've gotten a bunch of suggestions but here are my two cents:
1. Make sure her litter box is always scrupulously clean. Cats don't like stinky boxes and will chose to go elsewhere if they are offended.
2. Block access to the bathroom/any carpeted areas. If she can't behave then she can't go in those areas. Shut the door to keep her out.

We're puppy-training right now and have had to put up all throw rugs. It sure helps with clean-up.

You know I have a cat who is particularly fond of a certain spot in the carpet and I've found that cats really don't like the smell of Febreeze. Or at least my cats don't. I suggest you find a particular odor that your cat doesn't like and then spray it or spread it around. Cats normally won't urinate or defecate in an area which to them has an unpleasant smell.

Ohh, lots of clever people!

My cat's being a brat at the moment and breaking out mum's bedroom window through the flywire, and she's unstoppable! But that won't help you now will it?

Here's some questions and suggestions rather than answers!

Cats tend to change their routines when they are stressed or unwell, as you have noted. I understand that your cat didn't act this way last time she was sick with crystals, but just to be on the safe side, keep an eye on how frequently he goes to urinate and how much: if he's running off all the time doing not much, I would go get him looked at for a bladder infection. I *would* block access to the cupboad: if you can give him good alternatives for a little while he might just break the habit nicely! Aside from the stress of changing the house around, has anything changed? I think someone mentioned changing the litter: if you have started using new litter then I would say go back to the old stuff. Has your cat been getting less attention since you started renovating? If he's using the litterbox some of the time, it sounds like he's more using the cupboard to get your attention, so if he's getting less lovin', give him more! It's also possible that he's marking his territory: is he just urinating? This would be a bit more complicated methinks but just throwing in, cats that are spayed are less inclined to do such things, so if he is spayed then he may not be spraying and if he's not spayed then you are faced with a challenge! Also, you said your cat is 9, which is not overly old but neither is it the youngest of cats. Is it possible that he is having difficulty with incontinence and is unable to make it to the tray?

Finally, cats have a will of their own: at worst you could put the littler tray *inside* the wardrobe and thus have a hilarious tale to share with your fellow cat lovers!

Best of luck!

Phoenixkitten, good luck with your cat problem. I'm always afraid of my cat escaping out the window but it's never been a problem yet. As for your questions, my cat's still peeing lots in his litter as opposed to small frequent amounts. And I'm not using anything new. As for incontinence, he actually has to walk farther to get to the closet - the litter box is closer for him to get to. Both are in the basement and he spends most of his time on the main floor, and he's not peeing up here. As for attention, I'm pretty sure he's getting the same amount as always, but I'll have to make sure we give him some extra. My sister is moving in tomorrow and I know it's gonna be really stressful for the cat - he doesn't even like it when people come here to visit.

I've managed to completely get rid of the smell after several applications of the cleaner (according to my nose at least - I know cat noses are much more sensitive), and I've sprayed the area with a citrus cat repellent that he hates. I'd blocked his access to the room for a few days and now I opened it last night - so far so good. I'll spray the repellent on the carpet too when it's installed tomorrow.

I went to the vet's office the other day for advice and as it turned out, I knew more about this than the vet did because of what I read on the internet and everyone's suggestions here. Thanks everyone!

Hope it goes well: your cat sounds like a typical snooty cat! I think mine's just got *another* bladder infection... I'm supposed to give her a tablet morning and night to in effect make her eat more but she seemed to be doing fine so I eased up and then I started forgetting and now she's sick and I feel awful...

Awww.... poor kitty (yours).

Re: Snooty cat - lol his name is Toby but my sister calls him Snootypuss.