Urinating outside the potty box out of defiance

[crazy4cats28]

My cat Princess is becoming very defiant lately. She has decided that if she doesn't get her way she will urinate outside her litterbox. Her perfered spot is right in front of the TV in the living room.

Let me start off with a little background. Princess is 15 years old and does have numerous health problems. I adopted her when she 7 weeks old from the SPCA. Less than a week after I got her she became VERY sick and almost died. She had to spend a week in the hospital but luckily she slowly recovered. From that point on she's had issues with her health. There have been numerous times since then her Doctor wasn't sure if she would survive. Needless to say, I do baby her and she does get her way 99% of the time. I know that not using the litterbox can be a sign of illness but I'm positive thats not what's going now. That has been a problem in the past since she has chronic UTI's and early kidney failure that are being treated. I am also going to contact her Doctor in the morning again, just to be safe.

What I'm seeing now is 100% defiance. For instance, she will be mad because I won't let her outside (She's been an indoor only cat all her life) or a door is shut and she can't get in a particular room at the exact moment she wants to. She will make sure someone watching her and then start to potty. The whole time she is looking at you like "How dare you not let me (fill in the blank). Yes, she does have quite an attitude but she is normally a really sweet girl (She is not a cat in her mind LOL).

I'm not sure how to best handle the situation. I have told her "NO BAD KITTY" and taken her to her potty box, praising her when she does use the litterbox and blocking her access to the area among other things. Nothing I've tried seems to be working. I was think of trying to find some type of repellent but Princess has allergy issues quite a few things. I very scared about an allergic reaction because the last time she had a reaction it caused a seizure. I know that probably won't happen but after I seen her have her last one I don't ever want to chance it again. If anyone has any ideas I can try I would really appreciate it.

 

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by crazy4cats28

I know that not using the litterbox can be a sign of illness but I'm positive thats not what's going now. That has been a problem in the past since she has chronic UTI's and early kidney failure that are being treated.

You're a vet now? Cats do not do this out of defiance, spite, or because they're mad. It's just simply not within their tiny cat brain to have these human emotions and behaviors. They can pee outside the box do to health, a problem with the box/litter, or anxiety.

Given your cat's history and age, I wonder if what you're dealing with may be CRF.. Hopefully it's a UTI at worst.

You also have the possibility that her memory is not very good at her age.

Update with what the vet says, please.

 

[crazy4cats28]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

You're a vet now?
.

I know I'm not a vet but I do know Princess very well. She just had a urine test/culture about a week ago and it was clear. She is currently on antiboitics too. She goes on them 10 days a month to try to prevent recurrent infections. That is working very well. She hasn't had an infection since this was started (about 9 months). She also had blood work and her kidney function values haven't changed in over a year. That is why I don't think it is related to her health. She only does after she doesn't get her way, usually within minutes. Other than that she uses the litterbox. She has acted out of defiance before. In her younger years she would do things like stealing my keys from my purse and hiding them or going in the kitchen cabinets and dragging certain items in the middle of the room.

 

[darlili]

Ok, I do admit that while normally cats really don't not use the box out of, ah, spite, my little girl has twice in her life deliberately made sure I was watching and she pooped (because I had brought in another cat and locked off the 'segregation' room) and once peed in a waterford bowl because I dared put Revolution on her. Otherwise, never once in four years has she failed to use the box.

That said, my boy has had box issues - in his case, I am sure it was due to either my using litter he didn't like (I know use Cat Attract); using a covered box at one point (not any more, I don't); he had a UTI; and at one point his tummy was upset due to food.

With Dante I tried to remain calm (he really does pick up when I'm angry/frustrated), went to Cat Attract, and added a couple of boxes in different areas. He honestly wants to be a 'good' boy and go in the box - it was only when he was hurting for some reason that he didn't use a box.

With your girl, I'm glad you're checking with the vet, and can only suggest offering her another box or two, maybe with an assortment of differing litters (including Cat Attract) - it could be that the texture of her current litter is bugging her now for some reason. Or she's having a bit of problem getting to a box quickly enough. Does she have any issues getting into the box? Some older cats develop arthritis, just like people.

I'd try to first rule out all physical (either health or litter/box/location) issues - but it could be she's like my Dharma and really is communicating with you in the most obvious, drastic way she can!

Good luck

 

[crazy4cats28]

https://statich.thecatsite.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Good luck

I actually have tried quite a few litter options and have added 2 more boxes. I have 5 total boxes and 2 inside only cats. When she started having the UTI's (over 18 months ago) she associated them with pain and quit using the box temporarily. She would go right in from of them. At that point, at her Doctor's suggestion, I tried different litters and litter boxes and she always prefered her normal litter and box. Once she felt better the problem stopped. Princess' behavior was TOTALLY different then.

 

[ldg]

Our Spooky pees outside the box when her teeth hurt. So a UTI is not the only health reason a cat will pee outside the box. It is one of the few ways they have of saying "HEY SOMETHING'S WRONG!" And it is most likely not because a door was closed.

 

[strange_wings]

A cat shouldn't need to be on antibiotics that much. Doing so does have harmful effects on health.

Have you ever sought a second opinion for her? A specialist? Has FLUT been ruled out completely? Something isn't right here..

 

[crazy4cats28]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

A cat shouldn't need to be on antibiotics that much. Doing so does have harmful effects on health.

Have you ever sought a second opinion for her? A specialist? Has FLUT been ruled out completely? Something isn't right here..

She has been seen by 3 different doctors at different practices. Her normal doctor is a feline specialist. They have also discussed her case with the teaching hospital in the area.

As far as the antibiotics, they are necessary. Without them she would get infections averaging every 6 weeks that would take 2 courses of antibiotis to clear. I would take her to the vet at the first sign of illness but she would still become quite ill sometimes dropping almost 2lbs in about a week. The stress on her was much worse from that than receiving pulse therapy with the antibiotic. I have discussed that with her Doctors on several different occasions.

 

[otto]

Originally Posted by LDG

Our Spooky pees outside the box when her teeth hurt. So a UTI is not the only health reason a cat will pee outside the box. It is one of the few ways they have of saying "HEY SOMETHING'S WRONG!" And it is most likely not because a door was closed.

It's not defiance. She looks at you when she is doing it because she wants you to know something is wrong. She looks, because she is saying to you "see me doing this, something is wrong".

Cats do not pee or defecate out of "defiance" or spite.

I hope you can get to the root of her problems, perhaps she is having some pain. Arthritis pain, maybe. Or urinary tract pain. Or mouth pain as mentioned in the above post.

 

[crazy4cats28]

I thought I would post an update to Princess' potty issue. I'm happy to say that the she hasn't had anymore "accidents". The solution to the problem was to just let her back in the room she was shut out of. Her Doctor did suggest Princess try a new medication but I wasn't to give it to her until Monday in case she had a reaction to it. So I know the meds had nothing to do with the solution because the accidents stopped Friday night when she was allowed back in the room.

 

[darlili]

Great news! Long may it last!

 

[dusty's mom]

I disagree with those that say cat's can't be defiant. I've experienced it with Dusty on more than one occasion. I also know it can be a health issue. But once a few years ago I was gone for about a week visiting my husband working out of town, and when I returned and was unpacking my suitcase, she jumped inside and peed. She has never done that before or since, but then I've never left her alone that long since. I did have a friend come over every day to feed her, but that's not the same!

When I have been gone, even for just a day or so, she gives me hell when I return, meowing as loud as she can non-stop for hours!

 

[otto]

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

I disagree with those that say cat's can't be defiant. I've experienced it with Dusty on more than one occasion. I also know it can be a health issue. But once a few years ago I was gone for about a week visiting my husband working out of town, and when I returned and was unpacking my suitcase, she jumped inside and peed. She has never done that before or since, but then I've never left her alone that long since. I did have a friend come over every day to feed her, but that's not the same!

When I have been gone, even for just a day or so, she gives me hell when I return, meowing as loud as she can non-stop for hours!

That's not defiance, that's communication and claiming. Something was not right with her world, and she told you so in the only way she knew how. You were gone a long time and came home with a suitcase that did not smell like home. That suitcase represented you being away. She peed in it so it would smell right, and keep you home where you belong.

My cats too will react if I have been away from home longer than normal on any given day. They will sit around with their backs to me so I know I am in disgrace. And if I come home smelling like strange cat, or worse, strange vet (which happened once when I was at my mother's and she had an emergency situation and I went with her to her vet,) OH my, am I in trouble.

 

[addiebee]

Originally Posted by otto

That's not defiance, that's communication and claiming. Something was not right with her world, and she told you so in the only way she knew how. You were gone a long time and came home with a suitcase that did not smell like home. That suitcase represented you being away. She peed in it so it would smell right, and keep you home where you belong.

My cats too will react if I have been away from home longer than normal on any given day. They will sit around with their backs to me so I know I am in disgrace. And if I come home smelling like strange cat, or worse, strange vet (which happened once when I was at my mother's and she had an emergency situation and I went with her to her vet,) OH my, am I in trouble.

I have to agree with Otto on this one.