At a Loss on What to Do About Cat

Take her to the vet. Older cats sometimes become incontinent just like older people do. If she's spayed, it could be a hormonal imbalance that is treatable.

I agree with the other answers-I would also take her to the vet. It could be kidney problems. I had a cat who did that, and it was because he was sick-he actually had leukemia.
Anyway, there is most likely a reason. Hope you are able to find out what it is.

My cat started to do this when her liver began to fail. Take her to a vet if you have the money. See if she had some other thing wrong. There could be a cheap fix like diet change or you could find out that kitty is terminal.

I also say take her to the vet... she's getting old and her normal body functions are slowing down (thyroid, kidney, diabetes, UTI, etc).

I'd also start closing all your doors and maybe try to contain her in one specific area while you are home and giving her a very large crate/cat condo cage with litterbox and water/food for overnights until this is resolved.

Well first things first. You can't take her back to a shelter. She's not adoptable. She's too old and she pees everywhere. Who the heck would want to adopt that?? Don't try to give your problem to someone else.

The only humane options are to fix the problem or euthanize her. I'm sorry, but taking her to a shelter where she will eventually die alone is not a humane option.

How can you be so sure it's not a bladder infection (or that she's not blocked) if you haven't taken her to a vet recently? Only they can diagnose that. I would say I'm 100% sure she has something wrong with her.

Vets can work with you if it isn't a bladder infection and instead is something behavioral. There are behavioral medications (like kitty prozac) for cats that work wonders. You're doing yourself a disservice (and your cat one too) if you don't take her to the doctor to find out exactly what's going on.

Yes - our cat was very old as well. I put her down within hours of her peeing in my husband's suitcase because she could... That was the last straw for me.
Call me mean.
Call me nasty.
I cannot and will not put up with cats that don't pee where they are supposed to pee.
LBC

First of all - thank you for rescuing a shelter pet - clearly you know how important that is, and you made a great choice!

I understand your frustration as I went through months of "clean-up" with my 18 yo cat before she died (we were treating her for decreasing kidney function). I totally understand why you are upset. BUT I think you have some pretty straight-forward solutions available to maintain this little one - who is dependent on you for care and is trying to tell you *something - as a happy and healthy part of your family. You just have to figure out what the *something is!

You mentioned "daughter's interest in" the box. This could be the entire source of the problem. If you put the box somewhere that the baby can't get to, it may immediately resolve your problem. (I know that can be hard depending on your house set up. We installed a cat-door in our basement door to allow the cat but not children basement access. Just an idea... or maybe at least find a place to put it that you can keep your daughter out of?)

However - I agree with the other posters that a trip to the vet should be done immediately along with moving the box - a course of medication may also be an immediate solution to your problems!!! Any vet will affirm that peeing in the wrong place is a very common way for a cat to say "I am sick - PLEASE help me!!!"

PLEASE do not take her to an open door shelter (ie Humane Society - they tend to simply euthanize these pets rather than try to find the problem because they are so overwhelmed with animals and want to spend their resources on pets that will be adoptable - understandable but heartbreaking if she is otherwise a sweet and gentle pet). And PLEASE do not release her - she stands no chance out there especially if she is sick - the weather is getting cold, she won't know where to find shelter, and food is about to get scarce, among many other reasons.

If you get to a point where you feel these are your only options, please message me and and I will help you find a place to take her that she will not be immediately euthanized. But I really think this problem is fixable if you just work with her a little bit. If she's otherwise a loving pet (ie not aggressive with the baby, etc), please give her a chance, and give her the care that your committed to when you adopted her. Please let us know what happens!!!

Our cat was 10 and started peeing in weird places. He was sick. He had pancreatitis and cancer. She could be sick. I'd take her to a vet. Also discuss with him/her signs of cat dementia. Or even arthritis...my grandmother's cat was too stiff in the AM to go downstairs to use that litterbox so she wouldn't...when they added a box upstairs and got her meds, she stopped.

Also, if your daughter is more mobile now, make sure that your cat can easily get away or get to the box without a toddler in the way. Try feliway (also from the vet) to help her if it's stress.

Good luck.

I would take her to the vet.

:)

Time for a check up at the vet. At her age she could be developing some kidney issues which could cause her to urinate more and she ends up going wherever. I would also make sure that you are properly cleaning up the areas that she's been peeing on because they can still smell it much better than we can and will continue to be attracted to it. A product that is designed to get urine odor out, like Nature's Miracle, would be best. Sometimes carpeting has to be replaced if it's totally saturated.

My other thought is that if this started about a year ago and your daughter is 11 months old if this is her being stressed out by having a new baby in the house. They will urinate inappropriately because of stress. If your daughter is trying to play around with the litter box, that might be disturbing to kitty when she wants to go pee. Again, you can talk to your veterinarian to first rule-out a medical issue, then if behavioral, discuss treatment options. Some cats do really well on anti-anxiety meds for this type of problem.

EDITED TO ADD: Cats don't get jealous like people do, and they don't "get back" at us - they get STRESSED. She could have issues with crystals in her urine, which again could be detected if the vet runs a urinalysis on her, but being a female cat, she's not at risk for being obstructed from crystals. Male cats get obstructed because they have longer, more narrow urethras to have to pee through and the crystals more easily plug it up. Female cats are not considered at risk for this problem since their urethras are shorter and wider.

I have have had reoccurances with this type of problem (I have 8 cats). Try using Feliway (look it up and how to use online. You have to use it properly to work). I've had success with it. Second, give your cat extra attention (this worked for me) and third, since your daughter is interested in the litter box, move it or create a corner where she can't get to it. Everything in your question points to jealousy. Feel free to message me if you need help. I know just alot about cat stuff. I'm always the cat lady friends come to when they have a question.

Yes!!!! I went through the same thing 1 year ago!!! I found out that my cat produces too many crystals in his urine and it almost causes an inflammation in his urinary track.... My cat was particular where he went also. It was HORRIBLE... Your cat probably needs a more water-based "wet" food... My vet said dry food has too many crystals in it... My cat can ONLY ONLY be on Prescription CD from the vet.. KNOCK ON WOOD- never had an issue since......

Take her to the Vet.
She is an old cat.

I had a cat. When he was about 14 years old... he started to do that too.
He had, medical problems.... as well as just general breaking down of his body etc.
He got sicker gradually.

Anyway, maybe your cat has a urinary problem.
Take her to the Vet.
That is the only way to find out.

If you get rid of her and someone else adopts her... why on earth would someone keep a cat, with peeing problems? They would probably get rid of her too.
She is an old cat.
It would be just putting the problem cat, onto someone else.

Has she been evaluated by a vet recently? Our cat was litter box trained with no problems until he suddenly started peeing elsewhere. Turned out he had FIV (kitty AIDS, basically), and an opportunistic cancer. Makes the euthanasia vs putting the cat outside question easier...

I know EXACTLY the frustration you are feeling! As soon as I read your question - I had to respond - I haven't even read your other answers yet so I'm sorry if I'm repeating. We have two cats (the only pets we have) One is 19 the other is 8. We have both of them all their lives. Suddenly the older cat started going everywhere except their litter box. I knew she had no trouble getting to it. Took her to the vet - she's fine. Finally we added another litter box to the house. (I hated to do it) but the problem is gone. Totally gone. And she still does occasionally use the original box too. We put the second box in the closet in my master bathroom. I really hate it but its MUCH better than constantly cleaning the carpets! Good luck!

It may be something physical, she is an older cat. Another idea is she is getting back at your daughter for messing with her toilet.

Have you tried moving it to somewhere where the cat will have more privacy?

You've heard it a lot here already. She needs to see a vet.

A shelter is not the place to be taking an elderly ill cat, neither is putting her out in a PA winter! Do the right thing and take her to a vet, you owe her that and it is your responsibility as a pet owner. Of course I have been through this but your solutions were never on my radar.

I would have the vet check her out. The urinary crystals are a problem with male cats, not usually with females. I had an older cat do this and it turned out to be jealousy. Unfortunately, in my case she had to be put down, I tried for the longest time to find her a home. I couldn't have her continue to pee on everything of my daughters, the toys, bed etc.

You could restrict her to an area of the house with an easy to clean floor while looking for a new home. Our last cat and the one we are getting soon are both cats that needed new homes for one reason or another.

Try a pheromone collar. They cost about $13 and last for a month. Supposedly it calms them. It's worth a shot.

Like many other people replied take her to the vet and have her checked out. I have 2 cats and the male cat began peeing around the house when my oldest was born. It was behavioral and medical. He needed surgury on his uretha and takes amitripoline (sp?) to help calm him down. Cats International is a good resource too. As for taking your cat to a shelter they would probably put her down as your cat is unadoptable. Good luck with everything.

I am hoping too that you have scheduled that vet appointment. Cats often pee in the same place outside the box when they are sick(a friend of mine had a cat that did this and turned out he had a problem once he got the medication he stopped). They are not like humans, they can be sick and look just fine. And they can do odd things like pee outside the box, and they often pick certain places to do it. Please take her to the vet.

My cats have either been close to dying and couldn't control it or had a bladder infection. Check for an infection first I dont know how you could be 100% sure she didnt have one without taking her to the vet and having her checked out.