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katrina_ellen

Problem with cat marking indoors

7 years ago

I posted previously about a cat that had been left behind by a neighbor who was feeding the cat and letting him live in her garage. He was never let into her house. She fed him approx. 10 years. Before that another neighbor had taken him from a friend who had him as a barn cat. I found out he is approx. 13 years old, so a senior cat now. Anyways, he used the litter box now and all is good except that he keeps marking in my house, which is mainly new carpet I had installed. He has no idea he is doing something wrong and I have not been able to stop him. I really cannot afford to replace my floors with something that is not carpet over this, so unless there is a solution out there I am either going to have to try and find another home for him with someone who is ok with the marking - maybe no carpeting, or take him to a no kill shelter I know of. Anyone out there experienced this and knows how to keep the cat from marking? This is the first cat I have ever had, I have no other animals and live alone. I still let him out at night when he wants to go out but other than that he is in all day when I am at work and he is good with it, he just wants to go out at night to check and see if any "bad kitties" have invaded his territory, lol. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Comments (5)

  • 7 years ago

    I can't remember from the previous posts......is the cat neutered? Also, is he peeing only outside the box or does he use the litter box sometimes? If he's not using the box or is peeing only small amounts in the box, then he needs to see a vet. Older males can have urinary tract/bladder infections.

    My first thought is he may be wanting to go out during the day while you're gone and is marking due to stress, but it can due to many factors. Personally, I would put in a cat door so your cat could go out during the day, then you could keep him in at night while you're there (In my areas, the night has many more predators). He may adjust better with you around every evening. In addition, provide him with a cat tower, toys, and a scratching post, and sprinkle cat nip on anything new to the home. I won't get into a discussion of 'totally inside cats vs outdoor cats' since I have both. My older cat was found as a stray and it became apparent he had spent his life outside and loved it. After 4 months of keeping him indoors, his health and our sanity became a major issue, so he is now allowed out during the day (if he wants) but is closed in at night. He stays on our property and never ventures further.

    Do you have other outdoor cats in the neighborhood? If so, your cat is probably marking due to those cats marking the outside of your home. If an outdoor cat senses a cat indoors, they will mark around your home. To correct this you'd have to block off areas so your cat can't see outside and you'd also have to try and keep the other cats away from your home. There are ways to do this with motion-activated sprays that use water, air, or other liquids.

    If you haven't already done so, purchase a black light and clean all the pee spots. For now, I prefer Jackson Galaxy's cleaner from Petco. With 3 cats I find it cleans the odor and stain much better than Natures Miracle.

    Here is a must read: Litter boxes, etc.

    katrina_ellen thanked annztoo
  • 7 years ago

    annz-He goes just fine in the litter box, he is definitely spraying. I read a book a vet wrote and it was all about cat litter boxes and the cats behavior. He is neutered. I had a handyman quote me a price to put a cat door on, I think it was at least $500.00. I can't afford it even though it would be nice. I think because its such a small job nobody really wants to do it so they give me a high price. That's a good suggestion though so thanks for that. I don't know of any other outdoor cats but probably a stray cat, they have been reported on the neighborhood website. Funny thing is, he keeps spraying in my bedroom, which has a window that's higher up that he can't see out of and the shades are drawn during the day. I do use Natures Miracle but I'll give the cleaner from Jackson Galaxy a try. I live in a climate where the winters are very cold and I think he prefers to be inside but who knows, after living as an outside cat for 13 years you can't break those habits it seems and I think that may have been the problem, he heard something and wanted to investigate but couldn't get out to do it. I bought him a scratching post and toys but he has no interest. I don't want to buy more stuff because I may not be keeping him. I didn't know they made those black lights like a flashlight, that's new to me. Thank you for your help, I appreciate that!

  • 7 years ago

    First, that's a ridiculous price for a cat door. Purchase the door yourself then ask around at lumber yards and small hardware stores if they know someone who can install it. If you know your neighbors, ask if any of them are able to help......with payment. It's not a difficult job since I've installed both thru-the-wall, window and in-door cat doors. My cat doesn't stay out during bad weather but just having the option to come and go thru a cat door makes a huge difference in his mental state :).

    If your cat is only spraying in one area, then I believe there's hope in solving the problem. First, clean the area...walls and carpet.....then put either shelves, a cat tower or anything that reaches the window and allows him to lie there. Maybe a chair below a window shelf? Sounds like he's spraying in order to claim that area, so put something there that he can claim as his. Wouldn't hurt to also put a litter box nearby. I would also go outside and look around the area outside your bedroom window to see if there are signs of another animal.

    I really hope you're able to work things out with him. Adoption of older cats can be difficult and I'd hate to see him go thru another transition.

  • 7 years ago

    I agree about the cat door price. I had it quoted for a steel door for my garage, but then I was thinking - I have both a storm door and a steel door on my house. So I don't know how that would work. I am wondering if the cat is a bit hard of hearing and misinterprets any noise the neighbor may be making outside for an invader, my bedroom is right next to the neighbors driveway. I think the cat is misinterpreting sounds outside for an invader. Is that feasible? I will try putting something there that would be his and see if that works. I also have to keep the door to one room closed all the time because everytime he goes in that room he marks. It also has carpet. I really don't want to try and find another home for him but I am on my last nerve with the marking. There are some people that live about 1/2 block from my house that claim him as theirs and yet they abandoned him a long time ago. Otherwise I would get on the neighborhood website and try to find someone willing to take in a senior cat, but these people say he is theirs and yet they never come and get him. I have texted the daughter several times to say come pick up your cat but she never comes, but yet her and her mother post on the neighborhood website he is their cat. I don't know which house they live in, but I doubt he would stay there and I doubt they will start taking care of him now since my neighbor fed him for 10 years before that. Strange that they want to claim him on a website everyone is reading but yet don't want to come get him. But it prevents me from asking around if someone would want to adopt him. I actually did not want a cat, I just felt bad for him, and I like the cat, but I don't like the marking. Thanks annztoo. You know a lot about cats.

  • 7 years ago

    One other thing you should check out. There are cat doors made for windows, so depending on the type window you have, that may be an option. Here are a few ideas.