Cat Urinating on Sofa, Help!

Bitsy_Beans

I am asking for my mum who's at the end of her tether.
She took in a lost cat who's circa 6 months old. She started marking the sofa and my mum had to have 2 new base cushions made. Cat has slept on this sofa since but has started marking it again. My mum has doused the chair in surgical spirit and nothing has stopped the cat from doing it.
My mum is upset as it this continues she won't be able to keep the cat and since they've paid to have her neutered and chipped they'd really prefer to keep her.
Any advice regarding cats behavioural issues? Cat is not distressed, only an elderly lab living at home with my mum and dad, no other cats to compete with.

BitterAndTwisted

The most common reason for a cat soiling inappropriately is stress. Unfortunately once a cat has marked something it's a devil of a job eradicating the scent even if the cause of the stress has been resolved.

In the first instance I would advise your mother to wash the cushions and the sofa in solution of biological detergent and to get her thinking-cap on to see if she can work out why this has started.

How does the cat tolerate the dog? Does it have any perches high up so it can avoid contact with the dog if it wants?

Mayflower10cat

Agree about stress being a possibility. I'd suggest trying a 'Feliway' plug-in, it might help relax her a bit. Also, has she been checked out for any urinary infections that might be causing her to get 'caught short??'. Cat wee is so hard to completely clean off - I gather that you can use a 'black light' (ultra violet) to seek out any soiled areas that might have been missed. I've found 'Simple Solution' to be the best at cleaning up cat urine, it really does work.

I have friends with a cat that is so stressed by their dog, she got 'stress cystitis' which made her so uncomfortable, she tugged out nearly all the fur on her lower body - poor little cat. Now she's on an acidifying diet which has helped ease her discomfort. But she still hates the dog, sadly.

bufflebear

Had this problem recently with my neuter male when i had a new sofa. Cats get stressed at the slightest change - and my new sofa was his trigger!
Keep her confined to an area and ensure that she has a clean llitter tray at all times. Just reinforces that she has to use the litter tray to wee... the scent of the dog may be everywhere and she's trying to claim somewhere for herself...
i know its not easy confining them to a small area, but it re-educates them. This has worked for me

Bitsy_Beans

Annoying thing is she uses her litter tray with no problems. Not sure if she's actually marking as my mum reports when she's seen her do it she's actually squatting!
I've ordered some of the Feliway spray to use on the sofa so will see if that helps.
The cat is fine around the dog (who at 14 is quite deaf and sleeps a lot). My children do go round and visit but she seems used to children as when my daughter cries she goes over to lick her. She's not showing any other signs of stress, isn't weeing anywhere else, sleeps on the bed and on the sofa in question etc.
She's just been neutered so the vet said to let her out as soon as they can wound permitting so hopefully she'll perhaps be better when she's outside a bit more.
Unfortunately if she has to be rehomed declaring that she wees on the furniture will probably sentance her to a lifetime in a cage in a foster home

Thanks for all your suggestions.

picklepick

If I were you I'd take her for a check up at the vets to eliminate an illness from the equation. Sudden changes in toilet issues can be a sign that shes poorly. Does she wee in her litter tray still?

She might have some sort of cystitis etc so best to check.

Bitsy_Beans

picklepick wrote: »

If I were you I'd take her for a check up at the vets to eliminate an illness from the equation. Sudden changes in toilet issues can be a sign that shes poorly. Does she wee in her litter tray still?

She might have some sort of cystitis etc so best to check.

She still uses the litter tray and she went to the vets yesterday to have a check up about her neutering stitches. Mum discussed the issue with the vet who suggested she was let outside as soon as stitches are removed. lets hope that's the end of it