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Comment by Bailey on February 7, 2010 at 1:28pm

Our four year old male cat would do this all the time too. I really do think it is a behavioral issue because he only did this when we left him alone for too long. She may just need a little more attention (not like you don't give her enough right now), but our kitty is very spoiled, and LOVES to be the center of attention at all times. Whenever I feel like I'm giving too much attention to our Corgi, I always have to remember to throw some extra love at our kitty. I hope this helps. Our cat did this for a good two years, and *knock on wood* but he has been mark free for over a year! Good luck!

P.S. When we were having these issues with our cat, the vet recommended Comfort Zone Pheromone Plug Ins. It should help ease their distress and thus prevent marking.

Comment by Bev Levy on February 7, 2010 at 9:53am

Cats with urination problems are really hard to help. Sometimes it helps to add additional litter boxes and experiment with different types of litter. Another idea after using a good enzyme cleaner put tin foil or saran wrap over any areas that she prefers. (taped down) If they do not like the surface they usually won't pee on it. In a really extreme situation you may have to kennel her for a few weeks unless you can watch her constantly. Problem is they do it for a reason and then it becomes a habit. Cats are really prone to forming habits and are reluctant to change. Good luck!

Comment by Jane Christensen on February 7, 2010 at 7:24am

I FORGOT...MY ONE THAT ONLY LIKES UNSCENTED LITTER ALSO DOES NOT WANT TO SHARE THE BOX WITH ANY OTHER CATS!!!!!

Comment by Julia on February 7, 2010 at 12:09am

Most ideas have already been mentioned here. Try changing all variables: number of boxes (1 per cat plus one), locations (traffic area, proximity to food area, facing Mecca, etc.), type of box (covered, not covered, size), type of litter (natural, regular, clumping), depth of litter, etc., etc. I'm sure you've been thru it all.

There is also the Hail Mary of changing to a higher quality food, a grain free food such as Innova or Evo, or examining the possibilities of food allergies.

I have actually spoken to a women who called in a cat behaviorist. I have no idea how you would find one.

This is a very tough problem. I wish you luck with this, and I appreciate that you're asking for help, and tried for so long, rather than just giving up.

Julia

Comment by Jane Christensen on February 6, 2010 at 11:26pm

My only thoughts would be are you always using the same cat litter and does she like it? I have a cat that will do this 1. if her litter is dirty and 2. she will not use ANY scented litter but will then find a different place to go. Try adding a cup of vinegar to the laundry to get the smell out also! Good Luck!

Comment by Kristin P on February 6, 2010 at 11:25pm

Ahh, so I see my furry beast isn't the only spiteful one out there! ;) She's currently pouting in her bedroom because she knows I'm ticked off at her.
The kitties have 2 boxes, one for each of them, both are hooded with expensive fancy-pants litter, and in our unused "office" / cat room. There is even a little gate blocking the doorway so my curious corgi can't go explore in there.

Comment by Beth on February 6, 2010 at 11:10pm

Here's a good article, with some possible causes and some tips:

http://cats.about.com/cs/litterboxproblems/a/urinewoes.htm

Is it possible that at the times she goes outside the box, something has frightened her away from the box? Have you tried different litters (we always used one of the unscented ones; the perfumes are so strong they burn my eyes, so I can't imagine what they'd do to a cat). WIth more than one cat, they do recommend one per cat plus one extra.

I know you can't "reclaw" her and I know she was that way when you adopted her, but I have frequently heard that declawing can lead to behavioral issues of all sorts.

Is her litter box in a quiet place? Many cats are easily disturbed by noise while they are in the box. Is it open or hooded, and have you tried the opposite (hooded if it's open, or open if it's hooded.)

Comment by Beth on February 6, 2010 at 11:02pm

Oh my. Sorry, I've got nothing. I had a dog when I was younger who would pee on my bed if and only if I stayed out late at night. Mind you, she would not pee on the bed if I was home but awake and downstairs late at night, only if I stayed out. She slept on the bed and I guess it pissed her off that I wasn't where she was meant to be. I solved the problem by kicking her out of the bedroom.

The only thing I can suggest is that we always scooped the box out every day and some cats will not pee in a spot that they already peed in. Have you tried adding a third box (I know, litter boxes are a pain) and scooping more often?

The other thing is shelter animals are sometimes there for a reason, so it's possible this behavior is why she got dumped the first time around. I love cats, but it seems to me that the cat you have is the cat you are stuck with; they are much harder than dogs to train/ recondition etc.

Comment by Sky and Lyla on February 6, 2010 at 10:53pm

Oh dear! I wish I could help, but I don't have any clues for you. I do think cats can be spiteful though. I once left for the weekend and put a can of food out for my cat. She accidently knocked it onto the floor, still full, where it fell face down. So because she had no food for 2 days, she pooped and peed on my carpet. She's never done it before, and never since, but she wanted to show me for ruining her meal (even though it was her fault). My only suggestion would be talking to a vet about kidney issues, since frequently urination is often associated with kidney diseases. As for if it's a behavioral issue though, idk. I hope it gets better. Maybe there is such a thing as a cat behaviorist? (I actually think that there IS one in my area... crazy!)