Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 6 year old Bengal who just this past week began urinating on my custom draperies that are long and "puddle" on the floor, leaving plenty of room for him to urinate all over the bottom of them. I need to find wasy to correct this because if my hubby finds out, he'll make me get rid of him. Some background: Last Xmas my first cat (male) died leaving my 14 year old Abbysinian (male) and Meiuxy the 6 yr old Bengal (male). On 2/14 I rescued a new male kitten and after a few days they all did very well. I have had the kitten neutered and have had quite a few trips to the vet lately. Could this be a jealous behavior just now starting? They all use the litter box, I keep it clean, haven't changed litters, and I've not seen him do the actual deed, but I hear him "covering" the area on the curtains and it is fresh urine, he's the only one in the room. The other two are sleeping. Let's assume it's him, he is the dominate cat of the house and the other two do not threaten him in any way. I try to give the same attention to all three, although the kitten tends to get a bit more because he is a kitten (even though he doesn't like to cuddle much). ANy help, advice and/or suggenstions would be greatly appreciated! I want to deter this behavior. I have not scolded him for it either, there's no point in that.

Well, I'm assuming though you didn't mention it that he is nuetered? And that this is the only spot he's urinating? If so, you can try removing the curtains (tell hubby you want to redecorate) the place a litter pan there. I had a male cat how was fixed and insisted going to the bathroom in a particular room, in a particular spot. I placed a litter pan there, and it took care of the problem.
OR
Get some feliway and spray it there, this will deter him from marking it. But before you spray the feliway, get some Natures Miracle, it's not that expensive and treat the spot to eliminate all the odors, before using the feliway.
Vinegar also works to deter (as I've learned from the people here) and remove odor, but you have to treat the spot before it dries.
I bet other people here will have some better suggestions.

DestanyF

Yes, all three of my kitties are neutered. Unfortunately I didn't have the spot cleaner you recommended on had and used OxyClean crystals. I will be getting some Feliway and Natures Miracle as soon as I can, but also taking him to the vet today to ck for UTI. Unfortunately I leave for out of town at 2PM today and didn't want to make him wait all weekend if he has a UTI. If it is negative, I have to assume it's behavioral and will remove the curtains, possibly have them shortened so thaty don't lay on the floor! THanks fo ryour help!

Don't give up - there are more things you can do to prevent urinating problems if the vet visit and the tips you are going to try don't work. Do try a Comfort Zone plug-in with Feliway also.

If all else fails there are antianxiety meds that the vet can prescribe that will also help with this. Good luck. Keep us posted!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

I took my Bengal (Meiuxy) to the vets on 4/30, but they could not get a urine sample and I was leaving for an out of town wedding that afternoon. I was hoping to get a DX on the problem from the vet before I left in case he was ill (I didn't want him to suffer). Unfortunately, the vet couldn't do anything then and thought it was behavioral. I don't think it is. He has begun urinating on anything soft left on the floor and this morning was pacing and crying. I locked him in a bathroom with a litter pan and am taking a urine sample to the vet on my lunch hour today. (I managed to get a sample within 5 minutes of being home Sunday night with a litterpan filled with litter and thn covered in a plastic liner over the litter.) At least he's cooperating on that front! I will have to get the odor remover suggested and the Feliway just to be on the safe side, but I'm thinking it's medical at this point!

Will let you know! THanks for all the tips!

The peeing on something soft really does sound like a urinary infection to me - this is so common. Usually marking would be on walls or upright surfaces. The catch word here is "usually". Cats can and do "mark" on floors and other flat places. But at least you are going to get a yes or a no on a urinary infection. Good starting point!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Oh, no! It's not a urinary infection. So the problem appears to be behavioral. So here I go trying to play kitty shrink and it ain't gonna be easy! I've purchased the Nature's Miracle, Feliway spray and have the Feliway plug in on the way, as well as another Littermaid litterbox...so about $275 later I sure hope all this works! (Or I'll need the shrink and a better job!)