Ragdoll Cat Peeing On Sofa
Floppycats.com reader, Kelly, wrote me with the following problem:
“My 2.5 yr. old female ragdoll cat, Polly, in Jan 2011 started peeing on leather furniture after my daughter brought her cat to visit at Christmas. She seems to go on my husband’s chair or on the sofa. Nowhere else. She has done it on the floor in front of my husband’s chair and on the arms of the sofa when I have it completely blocked from her to get on the sofa. Vet visit determined UTI that was treated with two rounds of antibiotics, and cleared on recheck.
Kept happening, had her checked again several weeks later and vet found another UTI with crystals and treated her with stronger and longer dose of antibiotics. After recheck, and x-ray and culture it was determined no stones, no more infection, but still had some crystals. Vet sent her home and suggested adding more moisture through wet food. She eats dry no grain food. Added wet food with probiotics and started on Azmira herbal for urinary tract. Has water fountain and drinks good amount of water. Happened again the other day.
All this time, I’ve pretty much had our furniture blocked off where she can’t get on it. She went on the arm of the chair the other day. Each time, I cleaned up with the Just For Cats Nature’s Miracle Cleaner. I’ve also tried the Comfort Zone spray,
and it hasn’t helped, as well as the diffuser earlier on. Still did happen with those. Now, I’m waiting to see if the probiotics and the herbal with wet food makes a difference.
I really hate keeping “stuff” in my furniture to keep her off of it. It looks like we’re moving in or something.
I use Dr. Elsey’s crystal litter for long-haired cats, and have used it probably since they were kittens. I have two litter boxes and clean them everyday. Since they eat no-grain food, they don’t have alot of elimination going into the litterboxes. I even tried putting a litterbox downstairs and that didn’t work either. I don’t know what she’s thinking or why, but I wish she could talk to me.
In the meantime, I’m tired and need it to stop. Any thoughts are appreciated. I do have another Ragdoll female who just turned 3, and a rescue DLH cat who is 2. Had ragdolls together as kittens, and added rescue cat in Nov. 2009.”
Kelly would love help from you all (the readers) as to what other possible solutions she could try with Polly. Thanks in advance for any tips!
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
One of the first things you mentioned was another cat was brought into the house.i strongly suggest a flower essence be made up for your cat to deal with the emotional aspects of the situation. Also cranberry extract for prevention of future infections…have faith..everything is mind…body
My cat has UTI occurence several times last yr, now I use Glucosamine HCL complex, liquid, from Vet link (company), it is recommended by my vet. I give her one or 2 ml (only occasionally 2 ml) a day using syringe. It helps protect bladder and joints issue. It is for everyday maitenance. When UTI occurs, still have to use antibotics, but I use only a very short time, since her urine does not have infection, but inflammation.
The above does not clear crystals though.
She only had one occurance this yr in hot weather. I use falidae cat and kitten dry food for her, occationally a little canned. This yr her occurance happened why I tried to switch food, maybe due to switch or due to it happened after 6 months of dry food. During which one or 2 days per month or so eating wet food only could help.
In all, I think Glucosamine is good for cat and it does helps.
Hi Donna and Morgan,
Many people, such as the RAW feeders, do feed their cats mice and rats, whether live or frozen. Mice are the perfect food for cats. Due to the chance that wild mice and rats may have eaten toxins that people put out to kill them, the safe way to feed them is by purchasing them from a reputable sellers who raises them soley for the purpose of feed for cats and certain reptiles. Many people, for whatever reason, can’t do this type feeding. And I truly understand that. I currently don’t do it, but am considering the frozen mice and I am looking into it currently for feeding it to my cats or at least mixing it in with their food to start. Mice are 50% prey sized meat protein, the PERFECT cat food.
Are you saying we should feed our cats MICE AND RATS???????????
“Safest to stick with cat-sized and appropriate prey species such as rabbit,
mice, rat, quail, chicken, fish, insects, etc etc etc”
Morgan adds triple locks to his Bilge Rat Cages and locks the keys up in a steel vault.
Kelly,
Just some info on what you are using. Only trying to help, I hate to see a cat suffer for any reason.
Azmire Kidni Flow ingredients:
Ingredients
Fresh Juniper Berry, Fresh Spring Horsetail, Fresh Corn Silk, Fresh Goldenrod Leaf & Tops, Fresh Cleavers Herb, Fresh Marshmellow Root, Grain Alcohol
This might be good for people but not for cats. Herbs don’t help cats and this formula is loaded with herbs. There is no research studies that show this will help a cat, only hurt a cat. In cats it doesn’t matter how little you give, it is poison. The reason is this:
Humans have a very sophisticated liver which is designed to detoxify
substances that do not belong in the body – including whatever is left
over of a herb that is medicinal. In addition human liver function
will take the herbal components and break them apart into beneficial
ones – even if it is short term benefit needed for medicinal reasons.
Cats lack that ability. They lack the liver function.
Herbals are plant-based medicines and cats, as obligate carnivores, are physiologically unable to properly detoxify most plant materials due to a lack of a crucial liver enzyme called glucuronyl tranferases which most other animal species have (including us and dogs). majority of herbs contain feline toxins as well (chemicals such as cyanoglycocides, phenols and the like which humans can process but cats can not.)
What’s good for humans is not automatically safe (much less a nutritional supplement) for cats.
This important physiological difference means that cats are generally incapable of properly detoxifying all but a very select few herbals. Herbs are not digestible by cats – they lack the liver function to
break down plants and especially lack the liver function to break
down phenolics, cyanoglycocodes and a host of other “antioxidant”
chemicals that are components of herbs (thus toxic in the same way
that garlic is toxic) Plants can only be fermented by feline cat bacteria – not digested.
So when humans break down herbal components (using the liver) into
beneficial subcomponents, cats instead are poisoned as their liver is
not designed for ANY plant breakdown at all. Even beneficial
antioxidants for people can be pure toxins for cats.
Catnip, Slippery Elm Bark being two good cat plant items.
THEY need animal protein. Plant protein is toxic to
cats and damages their organs. It is why kidney disease is the
leading cause of death in cats – the main reason is they are given
plants to eat in commercial food etc.
If yours have generally had plant protein instead of animal protein
as they need, they will have compromised heart and eyes in a short
time, and predisposition to numerous chronic diseases.
Wholistic Feline Digest All Plus
Each teaspoon provides the following units of activity:
Protease blend 47700 HUT
Amylase 14300 DU
Cellulase 480 CU
Hemicellulase 480
HCU Lipase 750 LU
Bromelain 9500 FU
Papain 9800 PU
Invertase 10 INVU
Peptizyme SP 50 SP
Lactobacillus acidophilus 5 billion CFU’s/gm
Bifidobacterium longum 5 billion CFU’s/gm Free of Soy, Milk, Wheat, Yeast, Corn, Cheese and other Dairy Products
From what I’ve learned, enzymes can be dangerous unless there is proof the cat is unable to make them.
It’s better to feed the basic nutrients and let the cat make the right amount of each enzyme.
Rocky Mountain Feline Formula with Roasted Venison & Smoked Salmon
Ingredients
Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea protein, potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, DL-methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Right up front in the ingredients are peas, potatoes, pea protein, potato protein. This product is loaded with veggies/fruit and toxic yucca, it is a class one toxin for cats. The protein from this food is plant based, it will promote further kidney damage and raise the PH, definately not the food for a cat, especially one who has already had struvite problems. Cats NEED prey appropriate animal protein not plant, toxic ingredients. Cats have ZERO ability to digest plants.
Potatoes contain toxic glycoalkaloids, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine.
Cats can not process these, their liver is not sophisticated enough so potatoes are not good for cats. (The greener the potato the worse
it is, as well.) This company is using potato as the starch to bind the kibble. They would be much better off using rice as the starch instead of a toxic potato starch as some starch is necessary to bind kibble.
If a meat comes from a species which cats have not naturally evolved to be able to take down and eat, then cats also have not evolved to safely and properly utilize the particular amino acid ratios of that meat. So ALL of the larger-sized animals are out (deer, elk, moose, cow, calf, sheep, goat, etc etc etc) Prey consists of prey-suitable meat, not meat from larger animals with different amino acid ratios that can harm feline kidneys (kidneys being cats’ weakest point).
Safest to stick with cat-sized and appropriate prey species such as rabbit,
mice, rat, quail, chicken, fish, insects, etc etc etc
Has anyone heard of or used a product called ProKlean to get odors out of leather furniture, especially cat urine? It sounds promising.
Thanks
those so-called cat food companies wd rather pander to the ideas of main-stream public that if it’s good for humans it must be good for cats! shame on them!!! What you need to do is remove the “maintaining CAUSE” of the problem – namely the wrong food. Crystals are formed in the urine when the pH is too high. It is vegetables and plants and also concentrated plant protein (eg glutens) that causes high pH and thus crystals.
It is animal protein like meat, fish and egg, that bring down the pH.
Fruit and veg is NOT healthful for cats – the antioxidants that work for humans are actually very toxic to cats. Also, fruit and veg (and herbs) cause alkaline pH which makes cat block for sure. Make sure food is free of fruit, veg and herbs. Rice is a safer “filler” in cat food, as it does not wreck the urinary system and gut system the way fruit and vegetables do when used as filler (nonmeat nonfat is filler). Add a cat who is under stress and you have the perfect situation for a struvite crystal blockage. Vets who prescribe acidifiers are only swinging the PH to the acidic side and usually too much and then the cat gets oxalate stones. s/d from Hills is a lousy food, look at the ingredients there are no good cat appropriate meat proteins and a lot of junk. I had this problem many years ago and did a lot of research on the problem. Thankfully the male only blocked the one time and I changed his diet, I refused to use the s/d and I refused the antibiotics because he didn’t have an infection. Vets throw out antibiotics like candy to cure everything and it only makes matters worse since there is no infection. I hope your kitty does better. You mentioned a herbal formula, is it the Azmire KidniBiotic with these ingredients: Certified Ingredients: usnea lichen, fresh uva ursi leaf, fresh pipsissewa herb, fresh echinacea angustiflia & purpurea root, flowers and seeds, grain alcohol. If so, they is no good for cats, almost all herbs are no good for cats, slippery elm bark being one exception which is good to coat the gut lining. Most others are either toxic, or produce a high urine ph.
Water (for wet or dry food) has zero effect on pH thus zero effect on
clogging – so it makes no difference how wet or dry food is, only how
much plant material is in it.
A GOOD dry (or wet) food has animal protein and has it in quantity –
and has zero plant protein.
Also a GOOD dry (or wet) food has zero fruits. They raise the pH very
badly and are toxic too.
The stories on the internet against dry food are incorrect. They
should be against plant food.
So it depends what is IN the dry food (or wet food), not whether it
is dry or wet, that is what determines clogging potential.
Check your dried (or wet) food for these cloggers:
– Plant proteins like corn gluten, wheat gluten or any other gluten;
or any soy or any by-product protein.
– Low quality protein like chicken by-product, animal by-product or
any other by-product (aka “derivatives”) overseas.
– any fruits at all.
– vegetables (many are toxic and they also raise pH)
– phosphoric acid and other acids added to hide high plant material
pH wrecking (they do not work)
Try homeopathic canthariis 30c, mixed with bottled water and shaken 100 times. Dose .5 to 1 ml every 5 to 15 mins if totally blocked, till urine runs free.
(If not right in 2 or 3 hrs, take to vet for emergency catheter and
continue later.)
– If only partly blocked give 2 doses 15 mins apart then hourly till
urine runs free.
I will go on and on so I will shut up now. My frustration is not with you, sorry if it sounds harsh, it’s with Vets who don’t know what they are doing and are only making matters worse for our beloved animal companions.
Lynn,
No she is on Azmira Kidni Flow to help with the crystals. She is on a no grain diet and has been eating wet food no grain. I also add Feline DigestAll Plus to her wet food. I feed Taste of the Wild in the Roasted Venison/Salmon. It does have some veggies but I think they are fine. Wet food is either Taste of the Wild or Wellness. I appreciate your info.
Thanks
Oh, also, you can find Feliway online too, many times I’ve seen it cheaper than in stores… ! Hope this helps..
Hi, I think it’s stress related from your daughter bringing in her own cat to your home. Obviously your kitty is reacting to the newcomer. I would give your kitty her own space, and make sure the other kitty isn’t bothering her. Our one cat (we have six) did this when we rescued a litter of three. Her urinalysis was negative, and it cleared up on it’s own. After she calmed down,and we made sure she had her own space, a high place to go to escape if she chose to, like a nice cat tree, etc. it helped.
Cats are very sensitive to changes. If you read Dr. Richard Pitcairns book on Natural Health for Cats and Dogs, he believes the majority of these things are stress related, and in his practice had not seen any actual infections of the bladder.
I would try Feliway, there is also Rescue Remedy for PETS (make sure it’s the PET one, the human version has alcohol in it)..And give her space, extra love, be patient with her. She is adjusting to a newcomer and deserves the extra care right now.
Is this new cat staying permanently? If not, I wouldn’t allow visiting cats to come and go because your kitty may not adjust well and she may be a cat who likes to be the only kitty in the home..see if you can figure it out.
Go online to http://www.cats.about.com there are wonderful forums there too, and behavioral issues are talked about and you can get good suggestions from cat people like me and also vets.
Our cats eat organic foods too, like Evo canned, Felidae cans, Wellness cans. You are right on not feeding Grains! We feed Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul dry food too,but try to feed half canned, since it’s best for their teeth and it is more natural to them anyway.
Good luck to you and your beautiful Ragdoll…give her time…and love….
It may be a territorial reaction due to your daughter bringing her cat, cats are sensitive when it comes to territory and a new unfamiliar scent. Your daughter’s cat’s scent will be around your home even after he or she (the cat) has left. There are some homeopathic remedies I discovered off of floppycats that links to a different website that may be of some use. I recall there being one that specifically targets this type of behavior. A lot of vets recommend trying baby food whenever there is something wacky with a cat’s stomach but I do not know whether that applies to your situation.
It could be stress. A few months ago, we introduced a new kitten to our family (Minou and Gary, former Ragdolls-of-the-Month). Samson was not well received by Gary, making Samson’s life miserable. Samson responded by peeing on our daughter’s bed and in a laundry basket. Our WONDERFUL vet recommended “Feliway Diffusers“. It’s like a Glade Plug-In, but it’s really happy cat pheremones. Wow. What a difference. Everyone now gets along, no stress, no inappropriate peeing. This product calms the cat, making them feel happy and stress free, without any mood-alering drugs. It’s worth a shot!
Interesting perspective Alissa. But I am curious why you would recommend a diet you have never tried? I personally don’t like Hills based on personal experience with my Sheltie – but Royal Canin is a great food.
The normal dry food for my gang is Evo Chicken & Turkey – which even my Diabetic Cat is allowed. And what I like best is No Ingredients from China.
Although I’m not crazy about some of the ingredients in the Urinary Diet stuff – it’s usually a temporary diet until they get back to normal.
Enjoying the different thoughts
Thanks so much to everyone for your comments. I really appreciate it, and I will be using all suggestions to hopefully remedy this situation very soon. Polly is a sweetheart and I hope she gets over this soon.
Sorry to hear about that, Kelly. It sounds like it was a combination of a stress reaction to the new cat and a UTI. Frustratingly, cats tend to return to the “scene of the crime” so once she’s urinated in one spot, she has the desire to return to it. It sounds like you’re doing a lot of good thing–I would continue with the Comfort Zone diffuser as close by as possible. Try adding a few drops of Bach’s Rescue Remedy to her water (or dose her directly). As far as food goes, I would *highly* recommend switching to Wysong’s “Uretic” formula. If your cats are eating a no-grain food it sounds like you are already somewhat knowledgeable about healthy pet food, but I would emphasize NOT to go over to a urinary diet by a mainstream company. I’ve never used Wysong’s uretic formula myself because I don’t have a need, but I’ve talked to the company and read wonderful things about it. Keep up with the wet food as much as your cats will eat it and you can afford it. They would be fine with an entirely wet diet but that is simply unaffordable for most people. Stick with a really good wet–Spot’s Stew is great, Nature’s Variety, Wellness…etc.
I’m not an expert on UTI but have talked to a good number of people through our shelter’s hotline about litterbox problems. Have you tried putting the box right next to where she urinates? You could also try putting something unpleasant smelling on the area–cats hate citrus (if you do this, don’t put the litterbox right next to it). I know there are other things to try, but you’ve tried most of the things I would do. I’m sure you already have done a comprehensive internet search but if not, that would help to see what others have done.
If I think of anything else I’ll post it! Best of luck.
She is gorgeous! Since she has a history of crystals – she may well have them again. I’ve been through this a few times – the latest is my 5 year old Amigo. He actually was totally clogged – and had to be cleared 3 times in a week. He’s now on Hills S/O dry which he loves! SO/wet and UR wet. He’ll be re-tested and we may be able to switch him back to something else – but we have to see.
I personally believe it’s a genetic thing. His younger brother who lives next door also has the same issues.
My first cat ever Nikki also had them all her life – and every time she was having a problem she would pee on something. Back then the treatment caused an even worse infection. Thank heavens medicine has come a long long way!
Wishing you the best of luck!
Years ago one of my male Ragdolls had UTI problems, along with what you’ve already done…my vet put him on a daily acidifier prescription & c/d prescription food, both dry & can. Sounds like Polly also felt “threatened” by your daughters kitty. I’ve heard that crystal litter is bad for kittys, especially Ragdolls & other purebreds. Polly is beautiful & sounds like “her mommy” is doing everything possible to help Polly get better.. Let us know how she’s doing!
My 1 long haired cat had been doing this and actually went in front of our door and to turn out it was because she was so stressed because she is allargic to fleas and she had them when we got her(didnt realize) and what teh vet thought was a food allergy turned out to be allergic to fleas.Make sure you remove the complete spot so there isnt any smell, it took what seemed like weeks to get rid of the odor, for us once we didnt smell the odor we put a carpet protecter (plastic in front of the door and sh ehasnt done it again, also my other girl cat when we got her didnt like teh other cats and didnt like the hooded litterbox so I just had to get litterbox without a hood also try cat attract (by the same company of litter you said you are using)Hope that helps
One suggestion, is to get a black light and check the areas she has peed to make sure the smell is gone for her. Pee will show up in the dark under a black light. I use a product called Urine Off (best out there in mho). Try Feliway, there is a spray and a diffuser spray the furniture where she has been peeing. I hope her crystals and UTI goes away and her behaviour stops.
Rebecca- this is good to know about the black light! I had no idea!
I got a blacklight today at Petsmart, and it doesn’t really work well. Any suggestions?
Thanks
poor little thing!!! She is so adorable!!! She must have been having pain with her UTI, and many cats associate the litter box with having pain. The furniture, unfortunately, has a strong scent that keeps attracting her back 🙁 could u get it re upholstered in those spots?
Is she being treated for pain along with the UTI treatment? UTIs can burn and be painful. I am a nurse, and those patients with UTIs are in pain.
My kitty, Cookie, had colitis, and was pooping outside the litter box for a long time, even when the colitis was gone, on a certain carpeted area. I read that she associated the litter box with pain. I got rid of the carpet, and got hardwood floors in that area, and she started using the litterbox again.
It sounds a little mean, but I closed her up in a large bathroom with no rugs and just a litter box (not all day, but parts of the day), food, and water, and she started using it again because there were no soft areas, no other options.
(they seem to like to go on soft areas such as couches/rugs if they are not using the litterbox).
I guess the main thing I think of is pain, and if she is being treated for it……pain can make them not use the box. Even when pain is gone, they remember.
Hope this helps,
Katie
i can’t offer any advice other than my friend’s ragdoll that is 2yo female, is doing the same thing only she pees on the bed and the curtains that are on the floor. She had crystals and is on wet food only. Hang in there