Sad news!

[mocha200]

So our cat Emmett was diagnosed with a UTI infection after we caught him peeing in the house. The vet put him on special food to prevent crystal/stones in his bladder. It seemed to be getting better but today he sprayed all over out wall and brand new carpet on our stairs (its the only place in our house that doesn’t have carpet)! So my mom says we can’t have a cat in the house that pees as it can ruin and make things and especially when we are trying to sell our house we can’t have it smelling like pee! The problem is, is that he LOVES people and we are afraid he will run away if we keep him outside! I am really upset! I want to keep him in the house but we can’t let our house be ruined! I am just wondering if you guys could help me through this. I am having a LOT of other stressers right now and this just pushed the limit.

[LBJ10]

Is there a room you can keep him in when no one is there to watch him? I assume he’s being treated for the UTI, so it wouldn’t be forever.

[KytKattin]

I agree. Try limiting him to a bathroom. It is better than him going outside, especially if he is an indoor only cat.

Is he actually being treated for his UTI or is it just the diet change? He could likely do with some antibiotics to clear it up. If he has already been on antibiotics and those have ended, he might need to be retested and put back on. Or of course, if he is still on them they probably haven’t actually started working yet.

My other questions pertain to his litterbox:
Have there been any changes in litter or box type? How many boxes does he have? If one of the boxes is covered, does he have the option of a non-covered box? Have you tried different litter types? Has the box been moved? Is he neutered? My sister has a cat that will poo in the covered box, but won’t pee unless there is an uncovered one (she uses the bed if there is only a covered one!).

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I agree as well limit him to a room since he is peeing everywhere if you can. I hope things get better!

[mocha200]

Try limiting him to a bathroom. It is better than him going outside, especially if he is an indoor only cat

He isn’t a indoor only cat. He is indoor outdoor and LOVES to be outside. The day he peed he wasn’t allowed to go outside because my dad sprayed some weed killer on the lawn and Emmett was really weird about it and wanted to go out so bad. I hope it wasn’t a behavior thing because he did it in the same room my mom was in.

Is he actually being treated for his UTI or is it just the diet change?

He has been treated twice for it. First time it didn’t go away so they gave him more. It is a shot that has all the antibiotics in it so we don’t have to give it to him.

Have there been any changes in litter or box type? How many boxes does he have? If one of the boxes is covered, does he have the option of a non-covered box? Have you tried different litter types? Has the box been moved? Is he neutered?

No changes in litter or boxes. We have 4 covered litter boxes. My mom doesn’t want to have uncovered because of the smell. We have tried different types of litter in the past but one of our other cats (we have 5) Started pooping on the floor because he didn’t like the new litter. No they have not been moved. Yes he is neutered and the rest of our cats are fixed as well

[CandyMan]

How about keeping him in the garage with a litter box.

[mocha200]

That is what he is now. He sleeps in the garage and is allowed to go outside in the day time. I just went outside and held him and started crying for awhile. I can’t stand him looking into the window with those sad eyes!

[Stickerbunny]

They sell diapers for elderly cats that have bladder control issues, you could put one of those on him while he’s inside and take it off to let him out if she won’t let him inside at all.

[Eepster]

When male cats have crystals in their urine, it becomes extremely painful to pee. After the initial problem is addressed, they will often stop using the litter box that they used to use when they had the problem, b/c they associate it with pain. When he has regular access to the out doors, he can just hold it till he gets outside to pee, but on the day he peed in front of your mom his only option was to either pee in the litterbox he associated with pain or someplace he wasn’t supposed to.

Is it possible to get him a new box, with different litter, placed in a new location that he won’t have the pain association with?

[mocha200]

My mom let him come in for a few minutes if I watched him and he just wanted to eat and then went back outside! I think he really likes it out their so that’s good.

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