10 weeks into fluoxetine for an anxious cat/urine marking.. cat is more friendly and affectionate but still spraying

[Hungryboi14]

im at my wits end. im glad that shes more affectionate with me and giving her the tablet is soo much easier now but she is still urine marking. do you think i should talk to my vet and request a stronger strain? i really dont want to rehome her because i know nobody is going to want a urine marking cat but she is destroying my TV ( spraying on the screen) and furniture and is costing me alot of money. thanks in advance

 

[F+V]

Have you increased the dosage in the last 10 weeks? It's also possible that it's taking a while for the full effect to kick in.

 

[Hungryboi14]

im at my wits end. im glad that shes more affectionate with me and giving her the tablet is soo much easier now but she is still urine marking. do you think i should talk to my vet and request a stronger strain? i really dont want to rehome her because i know nobody is going to want a urine marking cat but she is destroying my TV ( spraying on the screen) and furniture and is costing me alot of money. thanks in advance

It's been the same dosage since the beginning. 15 "8mg" tablets. Half a tablets every 24 hours. So that would be 4 mg daily . I knew it took a while to see full effects but more than 10 weeks? Geez. I really hope that's the case and I'm able to see more improvements in the future because this is stressful

 

[F+V]

How much does she weigh? Maybe the vet can increase the dosage a bit if they can compound it. 10 weeks is usually enough to see the change though.

 

[Hungryboi14]

How much does she weigh? Maybe the vet can increase the dosage a bit if they can compound it. 10 weeks is usually enough to see the change though.

Hmm about 5 pounds I'd say? I mean the way she acts has definitely changed . He used to not let me approach her. She would run away whenever I'd try to pet her. Now she let's me pet her and doesn't run away and is much more affectionate.

 

[Hungryboi14]

She's 4 years old. He's not a very big cat. She never grew much like her dad and mom for some reason. They are much bigger. Her dad is a big boy lol

 

[Hungryboi14]

She's 4 years old. He's not a very big cat. She never grew much like her dad and mom for some reason. They are much bigger. Her dad is a big boy lol

She's *

 

[F+V]

It sounds like the fluoxetine has helped with some of her anxiety or behavioral issues. She's tiny, so you are giving her the max dosage already...

Is she the only cat/animal in the house? Have you reevaluated environmental stressors? Feliway plug in? Ruled out medical issues?

 

[Hungryboi14]

It sounds like the fluoxetine has helped with some of her anxiety or behavioral issues. She's tiny, so you are giving her the max dosage already...

Is she the only cat/animal in the house? Have you reevaluated environmental stressors? Feliway plug in? Ruled out medical issues?

I have 3 other cats but she gets along with them. I do think it may be my dogs that are making her spray but they don't make contact with them since they're big dogs.

I took her to get a urinalysis and that was negative. I also give her food that's supposer to prevent urine crystals

 

[Hungryboi14]

What are the chances the spraying doesn't stop? Is it low? Give me some reassurance lol

 

[F+V]

Even though she gets along with the other cats and doesn't interact directly with the dogs, living in a multi-pet household can still be a source of stress, especially for sensitive cats. Some cats are more territorial and may mark to establish their space, even if there doesn't seem to be obvious conflict. The mere presence of other animals, especially the larger ones like dogs, can create underlying tension.

Territorial Consideration

• Increase Resources: Make sure there are enough resources (litter boxes, food, water, sleeping areas, etc.) spread out throughout the house. A good rule of thumb is one litter box per cats, plus extra.
• Separate Spaces: Create areas in the home where the cat can have time away from other cats and dogs. Cats sometimes feel overwhelmed and benefit from safe, quiet spaces where they can retreat.

Managing Dog-Related Stress

• Visual Barriers: If the dogs are in areas that she can see or hear, placing visual barriers like baby gates or screens can help the cat feel more secure.
• Desensitization: Gradually desensitize the cat to the presence of dogs by rewarding calm behavior and providing safe spots where the cat can observe the dogs from a distance

Pheromone

• Feliway Multicat: This can help reduce overall tension in a multi-cat household. It mimics feline calming pheromones, which can help the cats feel more secure and less likely to mark, according to the manufacturer

Litter Box

• They should be in quiet, easily accessible areas that the cat feels safe using

Anxiety Reduction

• Calming Supplements: Consider adding supplements like L-theanine or pheromone collars. CBD oil under veterinary guidance could also be an option to reduce anxiety. Symptoms are different to our boy, but another calming supplement is Zylkene. It takes weeks or even months before you see improvement.
• Structured Playtime: More interactive playtime with her, away from other animals, may help her release energy and feel less stressed.

Even if the cats and dogs aren't actively interacting, simply sharing space and create underlying tension for a cat, which may lead to spraying.

If everything fails to resolve the spraying, several additional steps can be explored:

Medication adjustments: Switching to a different med or combining fluoxetine with another treatment, such as buspirone or clomipramine, both of which can help with anxiety and inappropriate elimination behaviors

Behavioral therapy: Working with a feline behaviorist might help identify triggers or unrecognized stressors. I once made an appointment with one at veterinary teaching hospital but they didn't offer me more than I already knew... but your case may be different

Environmental enrichment: Adding more enrichment activities, such as puzzle feeders, interactive toys, or even regular playtime to redirect energy. More vertical space, hiding spots and calming pheromone products may help too

Elimination of marking triggers: Identify and eliminate specific triggers of spraying. For instance, if she is marking due to seeing other animals outside, blocking windows or using frosted glass can reduce stress. A book called Cat Whisperer mentions something to that effect as well. I will have a look if there's more useful info

Dietary interventions: Some cats may benefit from diets formulated to reduce stress. Has she ever had crystals in her urine since you are feeding her urinary food? What urinary food are you feeding? Some urinary diet should not be fed long term.

Medical recheck: Ensure there's no underlying medical issue like bladder inflammation, pain, or even hormonal imbalances, as these can exacerbate or cause inappropriate urination behaviors. Is she desexed?

Alternative therapies: Some people have success with more holistic approaches, such as acupuncture or homeopathy.

 

[Hungryboi14]

So even fluoxetine may not solve this issue?

 

[F+V]

You could talk to your vet and ask if dosage could be increased but it's been over 10 weeks, so fluoxetine alone may not be enough in your environment.

 

[F+V]

FYI I'm not sure your vet warned you but if you want to discontinue the fluoxetine, you will need to talk to the vet and slowly decrease the dose over time.