Asked on the Cat Forum by timsmom on 10/24/02, 1:05 pm
Q: cat urinating
I have 2 cats. They both share a litter box that I clean at least once a day. A few times my male cat has urinated in the tub. He seems perfectly healthy and active. What could be causing him to do this? Nothing has changed regarding the litter. It is the same as always. Could he have a urinary infection?
Answered by xengab on 10/24/02, 1:19 pm
A: cat urinating
Most cats prefer having there own litter box rather then having to share one..Male cats like there own area so he may be telling you he doesnt like having this other cats scent in his litter box..
Since your worry is about infection the only way to be fully sure is to take him for a check up at the vet.
Neutered male cats seem to be more prone to Urinary problems.
So get him, his own litter box (just put it next to the old one or in a he likes to go in..maybe next to the tub if possible).
ANd get him checked by your vet
Mostly cats who have urinary problems seem to either not pee at all or always seem like they are trying to pee but along a few drops come out..If your male is doing either of these things then there is a problem..Also blood can be present in his pee so check the next he goes.(can be very hard to check if you use clumping clay cat litter)
SInce you stated nothing has changed in regaurd to the litter box thats ruled out but changes in the household routine can upset a cat..spending more time away from home or changing times when you normally leave for work..New furnature or even a new neighbor can get a cat upset and it expresses it thru urinating around the place.
Answered by raffles on 10/24/02, 1:22 pm
A: cat urinating
> I have 2 cats. They both share a litter box that I clean at
> least once a day. A few times my male cat has urinated in
> the tub. He seems perfectly healthy and active. What could
> be causing him to do this? Nothing has changed regarding the
> litter. It is the same as always. Could he have a urinary
> infection?
Signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease usually are straining to urinate, bloody urine etc. If the cat is a male, he is at risk for an especially life-threatening complication of this syndrome: the urinary blockage.If the blockage persists 3-6 days, the toxin build up will result in death
Signs to look for are
bloody urine
straining to urinate
urinating in unusual places
urinary blockage (almost exclusively a male cat problem)
licking the urinary opening (usually due to pain)
Some medically proven facts
It is a medical fact that cats prone to urinary problems must take in more fluid. You cannot make a cat drink but you can change it's feeding habits thereby increasing the liquid intake. Research has shown that cats who eat primarily canned food have a reduced incidence of blocking. The reason being canned food has liquid in it as opposed to dry. You can also help this by adding chicken broth to the canned food and instead of feeding once or twice a day increase the amount of feeding times using the same total amount only giving in smaller portions.
Stressed cats will alter their respiratory pattern in such a way that will alter blood pH and thus urinary pH. also. Therefore stress by moving,changing environments, ect is best to be avoided as much as humanely possible.
it may well be if none of above applies merely that the other cat has soiled the tray and this one does not want to go into it until you have cleaned it. It is better to have a litter box each and if possible a spare too.
I hope this has helped you.
>
Answered by used_to_be_red_kitty-cat on 10/25/02, 7:53 am
A: cat urinating
> > I have 2 cats. They both share a litter box that I clean
> at
> > least once a day. A few times my male cat has urinated
> in
> > the tub. He seems perfectly healthy and active. What
> could
> > be causing him to do this? Nothing has changed regarding
> the
> > litter. It is the same as always. Could he have a
> urinary
> > infection?
>
> Signs of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease usually are
> straining to urinate, bloody urine etc. If the cat is a
> male, he is at risk for an especially life-threatening
> complication of this syndrome: the urinary blockage.If the
> blockage persists 3-6 days, the toxin build up will result
> in death
>
> Signs to look for are
> bloody urine
> straining to urinate
> urinating in unusual places
> urinary blockage (almost exclusively a male cat problem)
> licking the urinary opening (usually due to pain)
>
> Some medically proven facts
>
> It is a medical fact that cats prone to urinary problems
> must take in more fluid. You cannot make a cat drink but you
> can change it's feeding habits thereby increasing the liquid
> intake. Research has shown that cats who eat primarily
> canned food have a reduced incidence of blocking. The reason
> being canned food has liquid in it as opposed to dry. You
> can also help this by adding chicken broth to the canned
> food and instead of feeding once or twice a day increase the
> amount of feeding times using the same total amount only
> giving in smaller portions.
> Stressed cats will alter their respiratory pattern in such a
> way that will alter blood pH and thus urinary pH. also.
> Therefore stress by moving,changing environments, ect is
> best to be avoided as much as humanely possible.
>
> it may well be if none of above applies merely that the
> other cat has soiled the tray and this one does not want to
> go into it until you have cleaned it. It is better to have a
> litter box each and if possible a spare too.
> I hope this has helped you.
>
> >
>
Believe it or not, the bathtub and sink are very common places for cats to urinate, much to their owner's dismay. It's not necessarily indicative that something's wrong with either their health or their litter box. For purposes I don't believe anyone understands, some cats have a fascination with the tub/sink, and peeing it in seems to entertain them. My PERSONAL speculation, although not based on fact and only according to my own understanding, is that the cats like the idea that the urine goes down the drain and leaves no waste behind. Some actually AIM for the drain! Also, it leaves their feet clean, unlike litter, and it's smooth on their feet, also unlike litter, which can be rough. ANYWAY, the best solution is usually to keep the bathroom door closed at all times, or to leave an inch of water in the tub and sink when you're not around.
