What am I going to do with Nicki?

Agghhh...He peed again (overnight) in the empty Rubbermaid container in the basement. His test results came back fine, no sediment or crystals in his urine, though there was protein (following up on that). 

I keep the boxes super-clean, it's not a dirty box issue.

I just don't know what to do. I've now ordered some PetCalm from PetAlive.com (needed to stock up on a couple of items anyway), and I've ordered a box of Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter to try. I intend to call our vet clinic on Monday, to ask if they have any anti-stress/anxiety products. I did pick up 2 bottles of Feliway for the diffusers I have; they've been plugged in since Tuesday. Apparently they haven't made any difference, at least not yet.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I have my dad and his wife coming for several days at the end of the month, and I plan to visit friends for a couple of days early in July, and I really don't want Nicki continuing to pee outside the appropriate litter boxes. (That said, I'd rather he pee in an empty Rubbermaid container than elsewhere! BTW, the last time it was in my empty plastic laundry basket--I've put that up high in a spot he can't access anymore.)

I certainly never thought I'd be dealing with behavioural issues with Nicki, not this kind, anyway. 😟

Comments

Rian said…
Kim, outside of removing that rubbermaid container from your basement... (and see if he returns to the appropriate litter box or finds another inappropriate spot) or put litter in that box and let him go where he seems to want to (since it isn't such a bad place - not like the middle of your bed or something). No matter how well you clean it, I think he will return to it if you leave it in place... (just my opinion).
June 17, 2018 at 10:35 AM
ANGEL ABBYGRACE said…
Can you put a litterbox where the rubbermaid container is and see if he just wants to use 'that space' as his litterbox? I have issues with Ping and peeing -- I have to use kitty pads all over. He got upset that there were cats outside the door and he started marking it.
June 17, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Annie Bear said…
I wish I had some advice. It's strange that this happens now after all these years, and there doesn't seem to be a medical cause for it. We were having a horrible time with Annie. We didn't realize it but she was peeing behind the litter box and to the side for maybe two months before we noticed. I know that sounds crazy but it was carpet. We had a terrible time getting it all cleaned up. The problem for her, though, was her back. It was causing pain in holding that pee position and I think she associated the litter box with that pain. Once she got on twice-a-day pain medication, it stopped. She still poops outside the box. She starts in the box but then has to walk and poop. Cats are difficult to understand sometimes. Did Nicki just decide he likes the Rubbermaid better? Is he still stressed about your absence? Is he stressed about neighboring cats? I know this may seem extreme, but if it's behavioral, I've heard that Prozac is excellent with pee problems specifically, and he may only need it for several months. Annie was on it for just under six months after Pierrot moved in. She didn't have a pee problem at that time, but it worked wonderfully for her fear of him and her anxiety. Well, I sure hope you're able to get to the bottom of it, or it just stops!
June 17, 2018 at 12:02 PM
Kea said…
Well, I HAD removed that container, but then last week he peed in the plastic laundry basket down there. So I cleaned and removed THAT and put the old Rubbermaid container back. If he wants to go there, that's one thing, but if this is only the start to further inappropriate peeing we're up a creek with no paddle. :-/
June 17, 2018 at 2:41 PM
Kea said…
Has Ping peed on any carpet? Or bedding? If so, how on earth did you clean it up without tearing everything up and disposing of it? This is my fear....And I can't smell, so if he starts peeing somewhere up on the main level, or even worse, upstairs, I might not notice it for a while. Acckkk!
June 17, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Kea said…
It might come to medication, truly. I can't have him--any cat--peeing over the textiles and carpeting. It started while I was away, happened once. Then about a week later (roughly) once again. And now again, 6 days after the last time. I just don't get it.

How did you discover Annie's back pain? I wonder if there's some other issue going on with Nicki, something we're missing.
June 17, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Mickey's Musings said…
We are not sure what to do.
Maybe have another(2nd or 3rd) box where the container is.
We purr he will settle down and be like his old self soon.
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
June 17, 2018 at 3:18 PM
Rian said…
" but if this is only the start..." THAT is the question... and only time will tell. There are so many reasons for inappropriate peeing that sometimes it is very difficult to diagnose. I'm hoping that he simply found a place that he'd prefer to use??
June 17, 2018 at 3:21 PM
Katie Isabella said…
Everyone has said the things that came to my mind as well. Perhaps a thin layer of Dr Elsey's Cat Attract to start IN the Rubbermaid container. See if he pees in that with that change. If so, then it's a preferable size and shape for Nicki. And of course one would make it into a litterbox. I know you know what many litterboxes are made from Rubbermaid containers for varying reasons. Easy for me to say but try not to feel worse is inevitable. It may not be. Hugs.

June 17, 2018 at 5:51 PM
The Island Cats said…
We're sorry you're having pee issues with Nicki. It sounds like you're doing all the right things. And everyone else has made suggestions that we would make as well. Yes, it may take a week or two for the feliway to kick in if it's going to help.
June 17, 2018 at 7:05 PM
Saku said…
I'm no help either, as I have no idea why Saku stopped peeing outside the box. Though I suspect he may still do it occasionally and I'm not aware. Every so often I get a whiff of cat pee..or think I do.

Good luck!
Eileen
June 17, 2018 at 7:33 PM
Kea said…
I picked up a box of Cat Attract, but haven't put it in the Rubbermaid container. That Rubbermaid container was used as a litter box for years, I recently "retired" it. Maybe he prefers it, though why he'd wait till I was away, instead of months before, seems rather odd if it is the case that he prefers it. (I replaced it a few months ago with a new, real box.) I have no idea what you mean by the last part of your post, though, Carole!
June 17, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Kea said…
There already are two in the basement, though, yes, maybe I need to move one beside it. Worth the experiment!
June 17, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Kea said…
Thanks for the comment, and for the info re: the Feliway. I used it years ago with Annie and Nicki, never found it much help, but it's worth a shot all the same.
June 17, 2018 at 8:06 PM
Kea said…
I hope Saku's issues have stopped! If I have to, I'll put Nicki on kitty Prozac or some such, though I'd prefer not to go that route. Actually, I thought he might have thyroid issues, because he's often so agitated, always wanting food, is endlessly meowing, but nope, his T4 was great -- I had it done on Wednesday along with the UA. Maybe it's early senility? I mean that seriously. He's not 12 until the fall, but who knows.
June 17, 2018 at 8:09 PM
Kathy said…
Our elderly cat started having behavioural issues. She would go outside the litter box on the floor and even on the beds. We'd heard that CBD oil for cats was effective in calming them down, so we thought we'd give it a try. It worked wonders. We haven't had an incident in weeks. Worth a shot. There didn't seem to be any side effects, except a heavier sleep at night.
June 17, 2018 at 10:41 PM
meowmeowmans said…
Kim, I wish I had something new to add, but it sounds like you've gotten some good suggestions and are doing all the right things. Maybe the Feliway has not "kicked in" yet?
June 17, 2018 at 11:31 PM
John Bellen said…
All of the suggestions are sound, and I can't add to them, except perhaps to put a litter-box on each side of the Rubbermaid container. I would leave used litter in those, so that they smell of his, or Derry's, urine. If the Rubbermaid container used to be a litter-box, then he may be going in exactly the right spot, at least by his way of thinking. Perhaps turn it into a litter-box again and then replace it one day. It sounds like a bit of stress, not enough to cause him to go anywhere HE thinks is wrong. It occurred to me that the Rubberaid container and the laundry basket are both plastic. I assume your real litter-boxes are, too, though...
June 18, 2018 at 1:28 AM
Kea said…
Thanks for the suggestion, and for stopping by!
June 18, 2018 at 8:52 AM
Kea said…
Maybe! Mr. Nicki, my problem "child"...LOL.
June 18, 2018 at 8:53 AM
Kea said…
Yes, the litter boxes all are plastic. I did put another Rubbermaid container down last night (also used to be used as a litter box), and put Cat Attract it in. I left the empty Rubbermaid container he's been using beside it. Nicki went in all three litter boxes (with litter) last night, and then used the litter box on the back step this morning. So it's not that he won't use the boxes. That cat drives me nuts sometimes. Okay, often. LOL.
June 18, 2018 at 8:55 AM
SuziQCat said…
Cousin Georgie is a stress pee-er sometimes too. He takes prozac to help him stay calm and it helps a lot. He has had crystals in the past and had the PU surgery a couple of years ago too, but now it seems to be stress or being upset if he doesn't get enough attention from Auntie.

It can be challenging, but like you said, at least it is in a rubbermaid container! Good luck to you!
June 18, 2018 at 10:11 AM
da tabbies o trout towne said…
K;

you've ruled out medical, and if the above suggestions don't work; check out this
article; https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-wont-pee-litter-box

we used to be at the catster site for years, so it's info I trust; the one suggestion,
maybe he and derry got into an altercation of sorts and nicki's taking "revenge"

is there or was there any way he can see the neighbors cats? weren't they out and
about and giving your crew grief a few weeks back ? just a thought; sorry it's not
much help ~~~~ L ♥
June 18, 2018 at 1:40 PM
Katie Isabella said…
It meant it is easy for me to say any thing about what may help...because I am not the one on the spot as you are. Hope that's better to understand. And to not feel things will get worse.
June 18, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said…
Back to the medical side of things, did the vet tell you what the PH of the urine is? Vets often discount it (not all so you might be fine) but if the urine is 7.0 or higher it might be uncomfortable to pee. Cats are designed to have acidic urine 6.0-6.5 range.
June 19, 2018 at 7:32 AM
Maggie from Stillness at Cherith said…
I hope these suggestions help with your situation. I've never heard of PetCalm. It sounds like a useful product.
June 19, 2018 at 11:42 AM
Ivan from WMD said…
Barring illness, we've had only one pee problem, and that was with Gracie (appropriately nicknamed Pee Queen or PQ). If you've followed our antics forever, you may remember this. She refused to use the box to pee, but she would pee in one place, on a rubber mat. She and Mom came to an agreement and the mat became part of the cats' toilette. So, not a solution to your problem but one we finally succumbed to. Sometimes you just have to give in.
June 19, 2018 at 11:59 AM
Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said…
Ugh Kim I am so sorry. I wish I had advice. I was thinking though, did this all start when you started traveling? You never used to leave much...could Nicki be acting out because you weren't home for a bit? As for Feliway...they have it in our Vet's office and to be honest, I don't think it does ANYTHING. Praying others have some good suggestions!
June 19, 2018 at 7:40 PM
Kea said…
Nicki's PH is 6.0 and Derry's is 6.5 -- Derry was tested in May, Nicki last week. So that's good, knock on wood!
June 22, 2018 at 9:28 AM
Kea said…
I'll consider kitty Prozac if nothing else works. A few years ago I would have been dead set against it, but age/experience gives you a different perspective. LOL.
June 22, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Kea said…
Because he started it while I was gone, I think it's related to that, not to Nicki or to other cats that roam outside. That said, when he's out in the garden and a strange cat jumps up on our fence, well, that that DOES cause aggression and stress!
June 22, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Kea said…
A US-based company called Native Remedies/Pet Alive carries it. I think the results with Derry were so-so. They're also the company that makes UTI-Free and that has been a godsend to me for about 7 years now.
June 22, 2018 at 9:31 AM
Kea said…
You're right, sometimes you do need to find a workable solution. In other words, give in. LOL. Thanks for stopping by!
June 22, 2018 at 9:32 AM
possumlady said…
Good luck! I really have nothing to add but that I’m putting up with much more than I ever thought I would. Sweet Pea, my eldest at 18-19 years old went blind in one eye last June. He went blind in the other eye over Thanksgiving. Being as old as he is has been a struggle. He started pooping outside the box. Certainly not pleasant but easily picked up. Starting in April he started peeing outside the box on my bedroom floor. I have no idea why. As with you, no health issues. Vet seems think the blindness exacerbated a bit of dementia. So now my bedroom is layer upon layer of pee pads. Sometimes I’ll catch him walking around my room and I’ll pick him up and put him in the litter box where he promptly pees. Go figure.
June 22, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Kea said…
Frankly, Caren, I think that's it exactly. Nicki the problem "child". LOL. I'll give the Feliway a try for a couple of months, but I don't think it does much either, though I read the summary of recent study that suggests it does!
June 22, 2018 at 9:36 AM
Kea said…
Poor love. He's lucky he has a wonderful human caretaker (you!).

I suppose if it comes to it, I'd have all the carpeting torn up and have waterproof vinyl plank flooring put down, for easier cleaning.

Good luck with Sweet Pea!
June 22, 2018 at 10:18 AM
John Bellen said…
Cats are such sensitive creatures, and Nicki more than many, it seems. Anything could give them stress - if not a loved one's absence, then something else. I hope your solutions for Nicki work.
June 22, 2018 at 10:53 AM
Kea said…
Thanks for posting the additional comment, John, I got the email notification this time. Hurrah! :-)
June 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Post a Comment