Please help with my cat....

I have 2 cats....and we got a puppy about 5 months ago. While they are not best buddies...they seem to stay out of each other's way for the most part. 1 of the cats has taken to peeing on everything...except in the littler box. She has gone on the mat by the front door.....and most recently, she went on my bed! I cleaned the bed....and she did it again the next day.

What can I do? When she did this, I told her know and brought her to the littler box....but I don't know what to do. DH says if she keeps it up, we have to get rid of her....any advice? Thanks.

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Posted by tp329

Does she have to walk near the dog to get to her litter box? Maybe if you move it to somewhere she knows hte dog can't get to, she will go in it. she is probably too nervous to relax and go in the litter box in fear of the dog coming after her.

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I agree, or she caould be doing out of spite.
It took a year for my cat to walk in the same room as the dog. They are not the best of buddies, but they get along. They will rub up againts each other and the dog licks the cat.
It may take a long time.
Try moving the litter box.
Lots of luck

A few things could be happening:

1) Stress weakens the immune system and a cat is more likely to get sick (just like humans). PLEASE take your cat to the vet to make sure he/she doesn't have a urinary tract infection or crystals in the urine.

2) Make sure the cat has a place to go to the bathroom that is private and the dog isn't around. Dogs love to sniff and if your dog is bothering her in the box she will find other places to go.

3) Your cat is stressed by the new dog. Find a place she can go without the dog, but with you. Perhaps sit her on the bed and play with her with the door closed.

Unfortunately, when people get a new animal, especially a young one, they naturally spend less time with their original animal friends. So, again, spend lots of time with her - alone. make sure to play with her as you normally did, and cuddle with her etc. Or, whoever she is closest to should do this (though I doubt it's your husband since he's willing to 'get rid of' her).

Other options: talk to your vet, they may have some advice. A behaviorist is another option as well. E-mail me if I can be of further help.

Just know that giving away an animal affects it for the rest of it's life, as it would a child. It should not be done for convenience.

Thanks for everyone's responses. Actually...her litterbox is downstairs and the dog is in his crate all day while we are at work. She does have to pass him to get downstairs....and she was doing so just find until about a week ago. Yesterday....when I took her downstairs to the littler box...she came back upstairs....then came back down, went to the litter box...went back upstairs and that's when she pee'd on the bed....so she knows where the box is and the dog wasn't around.

Perhaps I will take her to the vet to see if there is something else wrong. Thanks.

My cat did this when he had a urinary infection. They associate the litter box with pain, so they go in other areas. Definitely go to the vet, and please, please, exhaust all other options before you get rid of him. I think it is so sad when people get rid of older animals because of new ones. I know it is a last resort, but it may be summoning him to death.