Who knows about cats? (long)

My cat Snapple recently decided to stop urinating in the litter box and instead, every morning goes in the hall outside the bathroom. I wake up every morning lately to hear FH cursing that 'he did it again' (and threatening to get rid of him ), and with bleach and scrub brush in hand, I roll out of bed and burn my eyes and choke on the bleach fumes just so my apartment doesn't get condemned. Thank God I don't have carpet or wood floors or anything like that....

We've tried so many things to get him to stop. FH says he's just being spiteful. At first I thought I wasn't paying enough attention to him as I was to the other cat, so I make extra effort not to ignore his cries (he's a loud cat, always has been) and spend an extra few minutes playing with him every morning and night. No good.

Then we thought maybe because his dish was empty and he was just being nasty - so we make sure his dish isn't empty. That's not it either, although it worked for a few days.

I moved the litter box to the spot where he goes and he just moves about a foot away.

Yesterday, I left the house for school at 6:00 - FH was walking up the block and saw me pull away and when he got upstairs at 6:05, Snapple did it again! I don't understand why? Except for this behavior change, he seems healthy, he's eating, he's still fat as ever, his nose is wet and cold, he still purrs like a madman whenever I pet him...I just don't know what to do. I am bringing him to the vet on Monday to get him checked but I wonder if anyone has any advice???

Looks like Snapple is in need of a little spanking!

Did you change litter?

Maybe try seperate litter boxes for each cat?

It's unusual for cats not to use a litter box, so the vets appointment is a good move.

Good luck

possibilities:

he's either literally pissed at you for some reason...

or

urinary tract problems? one of my parents' cats has this problem and my father threatened to get rid of her after she peed on the leather couches

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Posted by WhatNow?

Looks like Snapple is in need of a little spanking!

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Cats don't respond to that type of reprimand.


My dad's cat was doing this - wound up being a urinary tract infection...which is common, I've gathered, among boy cats.

Your best bet is to do what you have planned - take Snapple to the vet...

ETA: Just wanted to add that I hope all goes well...

I am sure that this is not the case with your cat - but you never know....
My old cat (who is now in Kitty heaven) was having the exact same symptoms and it turned out she was very sick.
We had no idea b/c the only thing she was exhibiting was a defiance to go in her litter box.
Apparently she was trying to tell us something....

We took her to the vet after trying and trying many things to change her behavior and it turned out she had a tumor in her abdomen and was having kidney failure....

We had to put her down b/c the vet told us she was in a great deal of pain.

(I am tearing up just writing this...)

My only advice is to take her in ASAP....there could be nothing wrong and she could be reacting to ANYTHING....
But after that happened to my kitty, I always err on the side of caution....

I hope everything with you kitty is ok!

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Posted by WhatNow?

Looks like Snapple is in need of a little spanking!

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Cats don't understand spankings....
They don't associate bad behavior with hitting and instead of correcting their behavior, they will just act out more or be terribly afraid of you....

Have you changed the litter brand lately? Cats are EXTREMELY finicky about litter... if they like one kind, they ususally don't appreciate it if you try something new! One of our cats will pee on anything she can get her butt on if we don't completely change the litterbox every Sunday (besides the typical daily scooping!)

If that's not the case, definitely take Snapple to the vet. Has he been drinking normally? Try to watch his eating and drinking habits... if they seem to be lacking, he could be having kidney trouble.

Good luck!

We also had a cat that did this, and it was a urinary tract infection and he was crying when he had to go to the bathroom, this was with his kidneys and he had to have an operation and he was fine after that. Please keep us informed when you go to the vet. My prayers are with your kitty.

Oh boy..do I feel your pain! I have a cat who does this....
Everyone is indicating the possibilties of urinary tract infections and I concur..it could be FUS. Does he appear to be straining? Does his urine have any discharge or blood in it?
This could also be a sign that he doesn't like your litter box-so get another box along with the one you already have. A big one is good and make sure the litter is clean. I sometimes feel like cats are like people-you won't use the toilet that hasn't been flushed but you'll use a clean one!
Keep us posted!!!

My moms cat was doing this..
They took him to the vet and they said there was nothing wrong with him that it was totally out of spite!
I would go to the vet to be sure though.

My mom found that putting tin foil on the floor where the cat is making works. They are affraid to walk on it. Good Luck!

You are doing the right thing by bringing him to the vet to rule out any medical problems.

My cat has a urinary tract problem. The warning signs started when he began peeing outside the litter box, usually in the same place. We thought he was being spiteful. It wasn't until one day that he was crouched in a corner with wild wide eyes and wouldn't touch his food that we knew something was seriously wrong. We immediately brought him to the vet and he had a urinary tract blockage. He needed emergency treatment and we were told that if he hadn't been brought in, his body would have poisoned itself. He now has special cat food and is healthy, but we always need to be watchful of him to make sure he doesn't get blocked up again.

The vet explained that when a cat feels pain when it urinates it can associate the pain with the litter box. So, to avoid the 'painful' litter box, it will urinate somewhere else. (Other warning signs are blood in the urine and straining when urinating.)

I don't want to scare you - it may just be a simple urinary tract infection that needs antibiotics to clear it up, or, it might be that he's upset. Again, you're doing the best thing by bringing Snapple to the vet to get him checked out.

I hope everything is worked out soon!

And I love his name!

I can only add to what the other ladies said, and that is often cats act out when there is a medical problem, i.e., the aforementioned urinary tract problems.. so the vet is a good 1st step.

ALSO i agree wholeheartedly with the changing of litter .. most cats really don't like change, and if you have recently change the litter it could be driving Snapple away.

I read once that whenever you change a cats dry food or litter (for whatever reasons), that the only way for them to adjust to the new product is to gradually start mixing it into the product they are used to.

But as we all know, some cats are too smart for that and just demand the litter/food/etc they know and love best.

Good luck and I hope kitty is behaving soon!!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm in tears at my desk because I feel like I'm such a terrible mommy to my cat...I feel should have taken him to the vet sooner and trusted my instinct that something was wrong, and not listen to FH saying he's just being spiteful. I'm going to see if I can take him sooner. I know he's not just being spiteful. At first it could have been but I know him, he doesn't act spitefully after I brush him and give him treats and stuff.

But to answer a few questions, no there has been no blood in his urine. Although he has had a history of UTIs but not in more than 4 years and his symptoms were different then...he totally would avoid me (and he's always right up my a$$) so it was obvious.

Maybe I'll see if I can take him sooner...

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Posted by eroxgirl

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm in tears at my desk because I feel like I'm such a terrible mommy to my cat...I feel should have taken him to the vet sooner and trusted my instinct that something was wrong, and not listen to FH saying he's just being spiteful. I'm going to see if I can take him sooner. I know he's not just being spiteful. At first it could have been but I know him, he doesn't act spitefully after I brush him and give him treats and stuff.

But to answer a few questions, no there has been no blood in his urine. Although he has had a history of UTIs but not in more than 4 years and his symptoms were different then...he totally would avoid me (and he's always right up my a$$) so it was obvious.

Maybe I'll see if I can take him sooner...

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YOU'RE NOT A BAD MOMMY AT ALL.....
Afterall - you're on here trying to help her aren't you?
I'll pary for kitty....and you just get her to the Vet and he'll get her all fixed up!
You're a great mommy!!! Snapple is lucky to have you!

Is he doing his other business in the cat box, or is he avoiding the box all together? If he's just peeing outside of the box, I agree with the other ladies, it sounds like a urinary tract problem. One day a few months ago, out of the blue, my little cat would not go in the cat box. It turns out that my mom had used the plunger earlier in the day and had left it next to the toilet rather than putting it in the closet. The cat was petrified of the plunger. I didn't realize it until I saw him peeking around the bathroom door to get a look at it. He wouldn't even go into the bathroom. Once I put it away, and took him into the bathroom to show him that everything was fine, he was fine and started going in the box again.
Anyway, my point is, have you changed anything in the bathroom? Cats are weird like that, especially when it comes to their food and litter box.

Oohhh..don't be hard on yourself!! It says so much that you even asked!! A LOT of people who have just gotten rid of their cat when they saw this type of behaviour!!!
Keep us posted!!!

Maybe he's sick, urinary tract infection...this is just my guess. I've heard my DH say a lot of people think their animals are being spitful for having accidents or not going in litter boxes, meanwhile the animal is sick, usually urinary or kidney problems.

I'll ask my DH what he thinks, and if it is behavioral how to 'fix' it.

I'd get him checked out at the vet just to be sure he doesn't have anything infections.

YOU ARE A GREAT KITTY MOMMY! Most people get angry at their animals for doing this, you are more concerned than anything. That's a good mommy!