Buster is urinating outside the litterbox.

I have been away for a week now, visiting my bf, while my friend that I share apartment with, has been taking care of the cats.

Today she told me that one of the cats has been peeing on the floor several times. She hasn't caught any of them in the act, but she's guessing it's Buster since it's mostly in the room where "his" litterbox is. Also: most of the accidents has happened during night, and Kyrre usually spends the night in my bedroom where he has his own litterbox.

So asuming that Buster is the sinner: What could be the reason? I don't think it's behavioural since he has never done this before, and there has been no changes to his environment. I know UTI can cause cats to pee outside the litterbox, are there any other symptoms I should look for? My friend also mentioned that some of the urine had a redish color, at first she thought he had puked, but she couldn't be sure.

A couple of moths ago I took Buster to the vet because I found blood in his stool. The vet took both urine- and stool samples but couldn't find anything wrong, so they told me to keep an eye on him and to call them if it happened again.

I only foster for Buster, and I havent been able to reach the Animal Protection Organization yet; they have their own vet they use for all their cats to keep the costs down. I have left a message on their machine and sendt them an e-mail, so hopefully they'll get back to me soon. I won't be home until tomorrow around midnight, but i'm hoping they can pick him up and take him to the vet anyway.

And before I submit this: How do I get rid of the smell? According to my friend it smells pretty bad, and she can't seem to get rid of it... :?

 

Hi Bente. For the smell just go to your local pet shop and ask them what they recommend. I know you live in Norway so I don't know what products they have there. If it's saturated deep into the carpet you may have to buy a lot of the cleaner and totally saturate the area all the way down to the pad. I also think you did the right thing by calling the foster organization. Just ask your friend to keep an eye on both cats and if she thinks one of them is really not doing well, then she can give you a call.

 

Thanks Chessmind

Buster turned out to have a UTI, so now he is on antibiotica for two weeks, hopefully that will solve the problem. Does anyone know if it's easy for a cat who's had a UTI once to get it again? If so, is there anything I can do to prevent it?

My biggest problem now is how to get rid of the urine/smell. I have parquet floors, not the kind of real wood but of plastic. (I don't know if it's called parquet when it's made of plastic, but you know what I mean). It usually has a shiny surface which is easy to slip on, but in the room where Buster peed it's a mat layer all over the floor. It almost looks like I've just dragged the pee around when I was trying to clean up, and now I can't seem wash it off :|
It doesn't smell unless I put water on it, then it smells really bad: a strong, sour scent. I have ordered a product that is supposed to get rid of the smell through the pet shop, but it won't arrive before next week sometime. If anyone else have experience with the combination cat pee-parquet floors I would love to hear from you :lol:

 

I'm glad the Vet found the problem. Socks has had a UTI and it has come back but Socks is not good at cleaning under her tail so a little poop sometimes sticks to her fur back there and the Vet says that can cause problems. Socks has a lot of fur under her tail. Now we shave her to keep the fur back some. That helps a lot.

I know there are products out there that are supposed to get rid pet odor but I don't know what they are. Maybe someone else can help.

 

Hi Bente. Before your enzyme cleaner arrives, you can try this:

http://www.petplace.com/cats/select...ol-products-for-home-and-furniture/page1.aspx

I'd probably stay away from the moth repelant spray as it might be toxic to you and the kitties.

Hopefully Buster is on the mend and won't urinate again outside the litter box. :m10:

 

My vet says that male cats don't really get UTIs but rather they have crystals in their urine. He never gave me antibiotics when Copper had blood in his urine but I switched him to an urinary tract health formula food and it has done the trick.

As for the pee smell...I have laminate floors. That sounds like what you're talking about. I clean them with diluted vinegar and it works great.

 

Thanks for all the replies I'll try some carbonated soda and/or diluted vinegar tomorrow and see if that helps.

coppersmom: have you experienced that mat layer after you have cleaned up the pee? Btw: laminate floor is exactly what I meant. Guess what it's called in Norwegian? ... Laminat :mrgreen:

 

Bente,
If I clean up the pee with any type of urine-out type of cleaner it will leave a film. Sometimes I use that first and then go over it with the diluted vinegar. Also, the pee may have gotten in the cracks of the boards or even under any trim. I have replaced the 1/4 round trim moulding and sealed then sealed where it meets the laminate. Good luck!

 

Thanks for great advice everybody. I first tried the carbonated soda, and the mat film was history right away!
coppersmom: that sounds like a lot of work..! Hopefully I won't have to go through all that. He has had only one accident after I first posted, but I think he was just confused bc I had moved his litterbox in order to clean the floor...

 

Similar problem to you

My Reggie has recently been hospitalised for a UTI as well. Since he has been home he has found using the tray a hit and miss exercise. I have been cleaning my floors with eucalyptus diluted in hot water which seems to work at removing the smells. Problem is he keeps finding new places that are a bit hidden.

He is also passing blood every now and again. The animal hospital don't seem overly concerned, main thing is he is passing urine and he has had two courses of antibiotics for infection although no sign of anything there.
He has a new diet which is supposed to help reduce crystals. The vet told us that a UTI can reoccur every six to twelve months.

Our last cat was 17 when he passed and never had a UTI so this is new territory for us. Have you had the same problems?

 

It turned out Buster had more than "just" an UTI. His kidneys were failing (plus something else I can't remember the english word for), so he had to be put to sleep.

I didn't have Buster for very long (he was a stray that I took in) so I don't know if he had UTI several times, but I hope everything works out for you and Reggie. Let us know how he does. Maybe someone else here have more experience with UTI in cats, and can give you some info?

 

I hope Reggie will be okay.

I'm so sorry about Buster, Bente. That is so sad. :cry:

 

:m23: and welcome Alleebee! Ihope Reggie feels better soon. Does he like his new food? We'd love to see pics of your furbaby!

 

Thanks for the welcome

Both Reggie and I thank you all for the welcome. He is loving his new food, hears the bag rattle and is at his bowl in record time. Hopefully he will recover fully in time, could not imagine him not being around even when he does leave puddles everywhere. He has now taken to jumping into the bathroom basin and relieving himself there....at least easy to clean if not too desirable. Hope to hear from everyone again soon.