I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

My cats keep peeing in the house. Its in one spot, in the corner by our DR table. And my other cat will randomly pee on my kitchen rug. I have cleaned it, Oxy Cleaned, Nature's Miracle, Feliway, you name it. I don't know what else to do.
We had to move their litter box from the laundry room to the garage. It seemed fine, they go in there anyway. I had their food in there too thinking that would make them go in there but it didn't. I thought maybe the food and the box were too close so I moved the food to another location.
Help!! I guess my next step is taking them to the vet but they have no symptoms of anything else and when I read about UTI's its seems like they would randomly pee over the house, this is always the same spot.
We can't afford to rip up the carpet and get wood floors yet so that isn't an option.
Please, I don't know what else to do. I am at my wits end. I have had my one cat for almost 14 years and the other for almost 9 but I am so angry with them right now I am ready to find another home for them, not that anyone would want them.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

First off, cats hate change, did they start peeing after you first moved the litter box? If I were you I would throw out the rug, you might not be able to still smell the pee, but the cats probably can and that is why they will continue to mark that rug.

Try moving the litter box back to its original position first. If that doesn't work then have a chat to your vet, who will probably ask you for a urine sample as they always want to rule that out to start with, getting a urine sample from a cat is always such fun!

I have had this problem with Bolly, but we know it is a "mental" thing. Her sister Chablis is now very sick (she has terminal cancer ) and as Chabs is getting so much attention Bolly has started to pee on the bath mat again, so she is back on kitty prozac.

Try moving the box first, get rid of the rug and then if it continues ask the vet. That would be my advice. Good luck, it is fixable, you just have to figure out why they are doing it

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

Thanks. Unfortunately its wall to wall carpet so getting rid of it right now isn't an option nor is putting the box back where it was. That is why I'm so stuck with this mess.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

Have you tried changing the litter? Adding another box?

I am in the same boat as you. My cat was peeing on the area rug. Currently we took the rug up and we have to clean it. She doesnt pee anywhere else b/c she only likes that rug.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

Unfortunately cat pee has a very strong odor that tends to stay trust me I know I've thrown out many a comforter and throw rugs that my cat has peed on.

Cats generally don't like change. If you changed the litter type you have to introduce it slowly.

You can have professionals come and clean the area and then ban the cats from that area. That is what I did...because my cat has peed on my comforter and on my sofa throws he's now banned from both rooms.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

I have a cat who does the same thing. She pees in one spot under my hallway table so I got myself a new table that she can't crawl underneath and pee.

It helped for abit but she started peeing next to it just 2 days ago.

This happened most like for several reasons which may be the same as why your cat started peeing too....

1. the box wasn't cleaned often enough
2. the cats want their own box (this is recommended)
3. one cat may be terrorizing the other one as she/he is using the box
4. the litter is different or box placement needs to be in a different spot.

Anyway, I would try to put a box near where they pee or get a 2nd box, one for each cat.

One good thing about your situation is that you have the option of leaving them outside.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

I would try multiple litter boxes and also moving it out of the garage... Cats do not like change and they can be very picky.
I don't understand why you can't have the litter box in the laundry room if your TTC?
If you are concerned about taxiplasmosis, you aren't going to get it from being in the same room as the litter box. If your cats are indoor cats, first of all the chances of their feces being contaminated is practically nonexisistent, and you contract it by handling the feces. So if you do get pregnant, just have someone else change the litter - you can keep it in the laundry room though.

ETA: here's a link about taxplasmosis
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/illness/180.html

Message edited 10/28/2007 9:55:01 AM.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

I would get Stanley Steamer or a company like that in to clean the carpet, then maybe get an area rug - you don't have to spend much - they have nice ones at Target and put that over the cleaned carpet where they used to pee. As far as the toxoplasmosis is concerned, either get someone else to clean the litter box or if you have to do it wear gloves.

I am just over 5 months pregnant, I do not do the litter box DH does it. I wouldn't worry about the litter box being in the laundry room while you are trying, I wouldn't even worry about it being in there once you get pregnant. If you cats are indoor cats as long as you wash your hands there is no reason to be concerned about toxoplasmosis.

I would also stongly advise that you speak to your vet and see what they suggest. I know its annoying, but you can get through it. One of mine has just started peeing on the bath mat again as the other one has terminal cancer and is getting so much attention it is upsetting her so she pees. I just put my rubber gloves on and put the mat in the washing machine. I even bought a new mat, but she peed on that too. She is back on her kitty prozac and will stay on it until it is time to say goodbye to my other baby. Is it an ideal situation? No but it is workable. I think once you clean the carpet and maybe chat to the vet you can work this out. Good luck

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them

My cat did the same thing again this morning! She peed in the same spot in the hallway. :P

I'm so fed up with it I think I may just move something heavy on top of it to prevent her from getting access to that area.

You can probably do the same with your dining area. Position a big box or piece of furniture over it.

Since you have a house, you can also confine the cats to a small area where you keep a litterbox, like your garage, and keep her there until you think she's fully trained again.

Re: I need cat help, I don't want to get rid of them