Well, my 14 year old cat started peeing outside the litter box a few months ago... we had him checked out at the vet and turns out he has a thyroid issue, so he's now on daily thyroid meds. That seemed to work for a couple weeks/a month, and then he started peeing again in the same place - but it turned out there was some sort of leak in the floor there that maybe is reactivating the smells that were deeper down (or bringing them up to the surface?) even though we drenched the area with the stuff that's got enzymes to try and take care of it (a couple different kinds, actually). At least we thought that was what's wrong... then he stopped using the litter box completely (for pee - he still seems to poop there). 
So we called the vet and he said it's probably a UTI and we should try antibiotics. Soooooo now he's on antibiotics (started yesterday) and I'm PRAYING this will take care of the issue, but we think maybe he associates the litter box with pain from peeing, so it could take some time to get him back to using it, I suppose. This morning and last night, we were able to catch him when he started trying to pee somewhere and we stuck him in his litter box and he went. This morning, I did it (last night it was DH) and his tail was, like, quivering when he peed Poor kitty.
Anyway, I guess my main question is this: I know when people are on antibiotics, you gotta take probiotics to try and fix the gut flora so you're not all screwed up after. Is there something like that for cats? Also what can I do to help ensure more urinary-tract health. Are there any supplements for that? I wish there was a holistic vet in my area, but there just isn't
Also is there any insight on this situation? I'd be open to other interpretations. Nothing in his life really seems to have changed, although this all seemed to start when we took him outside a few times last summer (on a leash - he's indoor only, the rest of the time) - there are other cats in our yard frequently, so I'm not sure if he picked up something out there, or was trying to mark territory? He was checked for kidney disease (along with diabetes and thyroid issues) about 2 1/2 months ago and again 1 1/2 months ago, so we think he's likely clear on kidney disease or diabetes.
thanks for any help you can give!
So we called the vet and he said it's probably a UTI and we should try antibiotics. Soooooo now he's on antibiotics (started yesterday) and I'm PRAYING this will take care of the issue, but we think maybe he associates the litter box with pain from peeing, so it could take some time to get him back to using it, I suppose. This morning and last night, we were able to catch him when he started trying to pee somewhere and we stuck him in his litter box and he went. This morning, I did it (last night it was DH) and his tail was, like, quivering when he peed Poor kitty.Anyway, I guess my main question is this: I know when people are on antibiotics, you gotta take probiotics to try and fix the gut flora so you're not all screwed up after. Is there something like that for cats? Also what can I do to help ensure more urinary-tract health. Are there any supplements for that? I wish there was a holistic vet in my area, but there just isn't
Also is there any insight on this situation? I'd be open to other interpretations. Nothing in his life really seems to have changed, although this all seemed to start when we took him outside a few times last summer (on a leash - he's indoor only, the rest of the time) - there are other cats in our yard frequently, so I'm not sure if he picked up something out there, or was trying to mark territory? He was checked for kidney disease (along with diabetes and thyroid issues) about 2 1/2 months ago and again 1 1/2 months ago, so we think he's likely clear on kidney disease or diabetes.
thanks for any help you can give!
I don't know what to think 
