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-   -   Cat peeing in my house (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=258935)

  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:33 AM
    lyricking06
    Cat peeing in my house
    I got a female fixed cat at my local humane society and everything was fine. A few months later I found this stray cat outside my front door. Now I know he used to live with someone because he was VERY friendly. He came right up to me so I took him in. He's not fixed and I believe he's no older than 2 years. He uses the little box, but if I leave my or my baby daughter's bedroom door open he'll pee in there. And I don't know if he's peed in my living room. Sometimes it smells like he has, but when I sniff around I can never find the smell. I want to know if I fix him if it is worth my money. Will he stop peeing in the house? Help... Jen:confused: I would really love to keep him.
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:36 AM
    lmangileri
    How many litter boxes do you have?
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:37 AM
    lyricking06
    I have one, but he uses it a lot
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:44 AM
    lmangileri
    I have a few ideas for you. First, I've been told that you should have more than one litter box. My sister-in-law just got a kitten and before she had 2 litter boxes for him he would start to pee in other places. Second I would get a squirt bottle and if you see him start to pee anywhere spray him. I would also recommend shampooing the carpets so you can get rid of the smell. If pets can still smell they're scent in a location they're more likely to keep peeing there.
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:52 AM
    lyricking06
    I never actually see him. And I only knew that he peed on my bed a couple of times because there was a wet spot after he left the room. Like I want to be able to open my bedroom doors without worrying about him going in there. I will definitely try the 2 litter boxes. Will the cats literately only use there own litter box or will they both share 2? And is it worth it to get him neutered?
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:57 AM
    lmangileri
    Here's a link I found on benefits of getting your cat neutered:
    What Are The Benefits Of Cat Neutering?.

    I couldn't tell you for sure if the cats would use the litter boxes like their own separate ones or what they would do, but we have 2 cats and 2 litter boxes and I've never known the cats to pee anywhere else.
  • Sep 10, 2008, 11:59 AM
    lyricking06
    Thank you so much I will definitely try it out;)
  • Sep 10, 2008, 12:02 PM
    lmangileri
    Keep me posted! Let me know how it goes. :)
  • Sep 10, 2008, 12:22 PM
    simoneaugie
    Usually when cats pee on your bed, they are trying to make a statement. Since he does use the litter box, he knows how. You will have to catch him in the act which takes time and watching him. Then use the squirt bottle of water and scare him with your voice and/or a loud noise.

    He may be jealous of your child or the other cat. Twenty minutes a day of one-on-one with him can make a difference. Devote this time to only him, petting and talking to him.

    For cat pee, which is alkaline, neutralize it with acid. Steam and lemon juice are both acid. I like to use vinegar. It goes in the washer after the bedding has been run with soap, then you run the load again. You can also pour it directly on carpet. The house may smell like a tossed salad for a couple of days but when it dries out, no cat pee odor.
  • Sep 10, 2008, 07:16 PM
    tiggerella
    Good suggestions from all of the above, but I would like to add a little observation from my line of work (I'm a receptionist at a cats only veterinarian):

    Male cats who haven't been neutered have a definitely different smell about them whenever they come into our office. The doctor calls it "eau de Tom Cat". Even if the Tom hasn't urinated in his cage, he will often smell like he has - and when he gets a look at the old neutered male we have as an office cat, he will spray a little to mark his territory. This isn't really urine he's spraying, but to the human nose, that is exactly what it smells like - and it is usually on the walls of the carrier that he'll do his "marking".

    I can't promise you that having your boy neutered will stop this behavior entirely, as there are rare cases in which we send in an animal behaviorist to get the kitty to understand why this isn't acceptable, but in most cases, neutering helps.

    As to cleaning out the smell, you'll not only want to treat your floors and bedding, but also the walls and woodwork . There is actually a cleaner on the market that is an enzyme that neutralizes the odor and is safe on all your walls, woodwork, etc. We've also had very good luck with a mix of Oxyclean and Peroxide, but you wouldn't want to use it on wood (it bleaches some woods and strips off the finish on others).

    As the others have said, good luck in getting your little boy to understand that he's doing something wrong. (And just so you know, you shouldn't totally discount the female as your culprit. The females are typically the ones in charge of protecting the young from the males, so they can be even more territorial than the males... )

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