https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:19:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2178064 Thu, 14 May 2015 11:25:35 +0000 catlady 2178064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! We have a cat that went through something like this (she would also pee blood and it was really scary...and it was never a UTI). I was going to ask if something had changed around the house that was stressing her out because in our case, that's definitely what it was. Looking back, I should have figured it out sooner, but the stress that caused our cat to do this was me! I was so stressed out with my grad program, and in particular with finals, that my cat would pick up on it. And then when she started doing that, it would stress me out even more, etc. My cat did this literally three years in a row, and it always happened in the late fall and would stop around the holidays (when I was on break). If the problem is your LO, I would try to maybe give the cat more loving attention away from the baby and also maybe try to segregate them a bit if you can (maybe get one of those cat trees so she can hide in it or climb up high). </p> <p>Just fwiw, my friends have a crazy cat who is now on prozac. They also decided to let him go outside (not sure if that is an option for you). With those two things, he is now a completely different animal. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2178018 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:53:03 +0000 Eko 2178018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: I completely understand! That is definitely a larger expense then just having the carpets cleaned. Hopefully the with the cleaning and tips the vet provided are enough to do the trick! Literally, the previous owner of my moms house had about 5 cats who would pee everywhere all the time, that's quite an extreme. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2178011 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:49:20 +0000 littlebug 2178011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: We do have carpets and pulling them up and replacing with hardwood floors is what we want to do eventually, but unforunately NOT in the budget right now. Previous owners had a dog but no cat (that we know of). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2177999 Thu, 14 May 2015 10:45:13 +0000 littlebug 2177999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: We took her to the vet last night. Based on what I was telling the vet, she's 90% sure it's behavioral, likely from stress/anxiety. She has lost some weight, which is a little concerning, but the vet would like to see if the behavior stops within a week or so, and if not then bring her back in for additional testing. </p> <p>She suggested getting a 2nd litter box and replacing the one we already have. We put one new box in the same spot as the old one and the 2nd one is in our dining room because that's where she's doing the majority of the peeing (we hardly use the DR, and this is not permanent, because, ew). She also suggested leaving her crate out and available to her so she has a "safe place" to hide. Her theory is she is probably feeling stressed out as D becomes more mobile and more interested in her, and then turning on the dehumidifier a week or so ago was the straw that broke the kitty's back. If it doesn't get better within a week or so, we'll go back in for blood tests and then maybe start her on kitty Prozac. </p> <p>In the meantime, the first floor of my house reeks! I think we're going to hire professional cleaners because my best friend and her family are coming to stay with us for a week in a few weeks and ohmygawd it smells!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174190 Mon, 11 May 2015 11:08:19 +0000 Eko 2174190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also second watching my cat from hell if it is a behavioral issue. There are many episodes with this issue. </p> <p>Also, do you have carpets in the house? When my mom moved into her new house, her cat started peeing everywhere. Turns out that the previous owners animals would pee on the carpets to the point where the sub flooring was stained. She had to replace the sub-floor and carpet before the cat stopped peeing outside the litter box. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174185 Mon, 11 May 2015 11:03:39 +0000 Tanjowen 2174185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our cat did this when we set up all the baby gear, and peed on my clothes and DH's car in the garage every day. The nursery and playpen apparently rocked her little world. We ended up making sure she was only downstairs (hardwoods) by closing all doors during the day, kept her litter super clean, the vet put her on anti-anxiety meds, and made sure to clean all spots with vinegar to kill the smell so she wouldn't mark a favorite spot.</p> <p>Probably not what you want to hear, but it took a few weeks to stop because she adjusted to all the change in the house. Thankfully she didn't start up again when LO arrived. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174172 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:56:11 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2174172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Prozac, once UTI is for sure ruled out of course. It's fairly safe, usually once a day, and you can taper the dose once they've been on it a while. I was able to wean my dog off of it completely. Oh, and if you can't pill her, it is available compounded as a liquid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174108 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:33:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 2174108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes, sounds so tough! :( I'm so sorry. I don't have any advice but just wanna say I feel your pain - we have a Yorkie who is CONSTANTLY peeing in the house and it drives me insane. Anything that is on the floor - toys, books, socks, her own food bowl - she will pee on immediately. It was so frustrating and I had more than a few meltdowns over it :( in the end, we took her to the vet and it turned out she had urine crystals. She's on a special food and while it's not 100% better, it is somewhat better -.- Hopefully your vet will have some advice for you. </p> <p>I'm sorry again- I know how incredibly frustrating it can be :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174095 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:26:34 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2174095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsHansen82: this is the one i bought:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-NJP-1006-24-Gauge-Stainless/dp/B0029T31HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1431357971&#038;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-NJP-1006-24-Gauge-Stainless/dp/B0029T31HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1431357971&#038;sr=8-1</a></p> <p>perfect size! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174085 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:21:14 +0000 turquoisemama 2174085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Stainless steal! Why have I never thought of this?? Buying now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174073 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:10:22 +0000 avivoca 2174073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it possible that the previous tenants/owners had a cat as well? Cat pee is notoriously hard to get rid of, so maybe the cat is smelling something in the carpet padding.</p> <p>I echo the advice of getting a second litter box. And as much as it may not appeal to you, would you consider putting a covered box in your dining room? We are cat people and so we are okay with having boxes in our dining area (both are in our kitchen), but we've had them in our office and bathroom too. Once we kept one in our bedroom.</p> <p>I would also take the cat to the vet again to rule out health problems since it started again recently. Is your cat spayed/neutered? That tends to help with the territorial marking. Also, how often are the boxes cleaned? My cats get antsy if you go more than a week without cleaning the boxes. I try to get to it twice a week, but sometimes it's longer and they will go outside of the box if they aren't clean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174059 Mon, 11 May 2015 10:01:00 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2174059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>our cat randomly pees out of the box too. i just did a ton of research on this, and found out that plastic litterboxes retain smell so they should be thrown out once a year. i actually just bought a stainless steel steam pan off amazon to use as a litterbox because they don't absorb smells.</p> <p>also is the litterbox covered? most cats prefer noncovered boxes. i would definitely get a second box, even a third.</p> <p>try different types of litter like cat attract.</p> <p>we did prozac when we moved, and it was awesome. talk to your vet?</p> <p>so sorry about this! i know your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174048 Mon, 11 May 2015 09:55:50 +0000 Keybee 2174048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds annoying, I'm sorry. Here's another vote for watching an episode or two of My Cat From Hell. It sounds like he's reacting to something in the new environment. Cats can be so complicated... I think it's totally fine to keep him outside while you have guests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174047 Mon, 11 May 2015 09:55:47 +0000 Ajsmommy 2174047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, so sorry about this! When we moved our cat did this in our basement and we had to pull up the carpet and get new. </p> <p>Do you know if the previous owners had cats/pets? The prior owners of our house did and we think our cat was marking his territory. The basement had carpet which probably held in the other animals scents. </p> <p>We ended up having to keep the door closed to the basement at all times and not letting him down there and as I said we had to replace the carpet. I also added additional litter boxes so he had 3 total and we were very diligent about scooping them so they were clean.</p> <p>ETA: he only did the peeing in the basement where there was carpet, the rest of the house is hard wood and he didn't do it there. (not sure I was clear enough about that) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2174040 Mon, 11 May 2015 09:52:15 +0000 edelweiss 2174040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>other folks have good suggestions on how to try and correct the behavior, i just wanted to chime in about getting a professional to get rid of the smell. one of our dogs was constantly peeing on the carpet in the family room, and even though i have tried a rug doctor from the grocery store, multiple spot bot cleans, oxyclean, biokleen, vinegar and baking soda and everything in between, it still smells. i wish i had gotten a professional cleaning service earlier. i'ts now on my to-do list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2173933 Mon, 11 May 2015 08:37:51 +0000 MenagerieMama 2173933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went through something similar with one of our cats a few years ago, and while he still will occasionally pee in the dog bed (maybe a couple times per year) it's been way better. But at it's worst we had the entire carpet and padding stripped from our (rental) living room and the floor sealed when we moved out, oye! Things that helped:<br /> - vet r/o UTI<br /> - extra litter box (despite having done fine with one for years)<br /> - we did the Feliway stuff as well and didn't notice a difference<br /> - Prozac - this actually helped a ton but then he became un-pillable (long story)<br /> - controlling his ideal pee surfaces (we don't rent places with carpet anymore or keep him out of rooms that have it, no dog toys unattended on the floor, and we put the dog beds up when not in use)<br /> - figuring out his anxiety trigger and controlling it - we had thought it was the dog, as this started within a few months of our (at the time) new dog, but it turns out it was due to the diet we'd put his fat kitty brother on and secondarily had restricted his free access to food and despite not eating much he is super anxious if he can't get to his food at all times. We didn't even think of this until months in because he wasn't the cat on the diet, but he did only have certain times he could eat due to the other cat. So we stopped the diet (eventually found a solution to control the fat cat intake while letting skinny eat whenever, but it took a few years!) which helped a lot, of course after his bad habit was firmly cemented.<br /> - using a really good cleaner and a black light to find spots we missed</p> <p>Good luck! Cat pee is one of the worst things in the universe. We actually shipped the misbehaving cat off to my in-laws for a few months while we cleaned up the mess, moved and we (half joking about this) repaired our marriage from the stress. We don't live somewhere safe for outdoor cats and in general I feel pretty strongly about keeping cats indoor only, so that was a hard call. He was very nearly rehomed to the in-laws, but DH looooves the kitties, particularly this one (that I now call Satan) so we made it work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2173882 Mon, 11 May 2015 08:09:02 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2173882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Even if she's always used one box that's the first thing I would do. My cats shared a box for years and when the older one started having behavioral problems, adding a box was one of the things that solved it.</p> <p>Also, if I remember right from the show, there can also be issues if she can see outdoor cats from a window. Cats get all territorial and pee everywhere to assert their territory. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2173862 Mon, 11 May 2015 07:59:21 +0000 littlebug 2173862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: She just has one box. She's always had one and this was never a problem, short of that week or so after we moved into our new house. But we've been in the new house for 9 months, with the box in the same place. </p> <p>Funnily, we saw that show on the guide yesterday and joked that we should watch it. Maybe I'll try to find that episode. Thanks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2173851 Mon, 11 May 2015 07:51:25 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2173851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you just have the one litterbox? If so I would add one or two more. Some cats like to have more than one. Does she have a clear exit from the box or is it kind of in a corner? </p> <p>Cats are so horrible at dealing with change, especially moving to a new house. I've gone through crazy behavioral problems with one of my cats and working through it was so hard so I feel for you. But I definitely would not suddenly make her an outside cat...</p> <p>Eta: if you've never seen My Cat From Hell, start streaming immediately, especially the episodes where cats pee where they are not supposed to. The guy "fixes" the behavior on every single episode. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-dont-know-what-to-do-about-our-cat#post-2173843 Mon, 11 May 2015 07:46:41 +0000 littlebug 2173843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shortly after we moved in to our new house, our cat started peeing in random places around the house. I took her to the vet and they didn't think it was a UTI, so we added a nightlite in the hallway near her box and just kept taking her down to her litter box and standing there while she used it until eventually (within a week or so) she was using it all the time again.</p> <p>Within the last week, she's been peeing outside the box again. She's also pooping, which makes me think it's behavioral, not health-related. It's usually in the dining room, occasionally in D's room. I've gone through absurd amounts of Nature's Remedy spray. Last night I laid down plastic shower curtains along the walls of the dining room in hopes that it would deter her. She actually moved the shower curtain and pooped underneath it, and then peed in D's room when I went in there to get him up this morning. This morning, we locked her in our bathroom with her food dish and litter box for the day.</p> <p>I'm at my wit's end. The house smells like cat pee when you walk in, especially in the dining room. We have guests coming to stay with us for a week in a few weeks and I'm horrified that it smells like this. Not to mention, if I were a guest at someone's house and their cat was peeing all over the place? Ew. My husband is ready to throw her out and make her an outside cat. </p> <p>I've been cleaning with Nature's Remedy, the formula made for cats. I also got a Feliway diffuser, but the package says it takes up to 4 weeks to change behaviors. Since I plugged it in, she's peed 2x and pooped 1x directly under it, so... I don't know what to do. Any tips? </p>