Cat suddenly peeing outside the litter box

[ExuberantDaffodil]

..this usually indicates a urinary tract issue, doesn't it?

My 12 year old cat just suddenly started peeing on any clothes she finds on the floor. For instance, if I undress in the bathroom and take a shower, by the time I come back to get the clothes, she has peed on them. Also, my son left his sweater on the floor, and she peed on that. She also crawled into my diaper basket, and peed on a prefold. After catching her scratching behind our computer desk, I carried her to the litter box (same place it's always been) and she used it right away.

I absolutely cannot tolerate cat urine all over my house, and I am at a loss. If she has some kind of urinary tract infection, what is the normal course of action? We are so very tight on money right now, as I had a baby 3 months ago and am still out of work. I'm terrified if we take her to the vet it'll be a $500 bill we can't afford.

[Catubodua]

yes, it's usually a UTI.

call your vet and ask for a cost estimate. but, do take the poor cat in. it's not right to let it have an untreated UTI. plus, getting it treated will stop the behavior that you can't stand.

also, ask your vet if they participate in the care credit program. it's basically just a credit line with the vet, but it would allow you to get treatment for the cat without having to pay for it all up front.

[Ola_]

Yes, a sudden change like that is almost always a medical issue. I remember when I had a UTI it hurt so much to hold any pee in, I imagine it's not that different for them. I'd call your vet and explain what the problem is and that you're tight on money, perhaps they can tell you how to collect a urine sample so they don't need to draw it and you'll just need one appointment and some antibiotics.

You can also ask if that particular medication is available through regular pharmacies and if your vet will write you a script. Often it is cheaper to get it that way.

[rhiOrion]

That's the exact symptom my cat gets when he is starting to get a UTI (or a build-up of crystals in his urine...which is more frequently his problem).

He will walk right in front of me and pee in the clothes hamper. I think it's a mix of just not feeling well and equating the litter box with pain, needing to pee RIGHT THEN, and wanting me to see it happen so I'll make him better.

Call your vet and explain the situation. Explain very very plainly that you do NOT have a lot of money.

IF you can really get that through to them, then I'd say you're looking at the money for a urinalysis (and possibly having the urine drawn out, if you can't get a relatively clean catch at home... to do that you'd put packing peanuts in a clean litter box and then pour the urine into a container, but kitty may be too reluctant to use a litter box), the cost of the physical exam, and maybe a bag of specialty food, or a few cans (which will be cheaper for you, and has more moisture, which is good for a UTI).

BUT, if you don't get it through to your vet, you're going to get talked into lots of bloodwork, possibly ultrasounds and xrays of the bladder and kidneys, etc. Not to say that these things aren't necessary sometimes, but I think that they're overkill to start with. Some vets are great about starting simple...but some love to use their fancy machines!

That said, do get kitty in quickly. Let me tell you what is even more heartbreaking, pathetic, and EXPENSIVE than a UTI- a completely blocked up cat. Ugh. I've BTDT so many times that I don't fool around with UTI symptoms anymore!!!

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Thanks for the replies!

I lay out some prefold diapers in the corner of the bathroom, and my kitty has been drawn to those. I also put a couple in my room.

I called the vet this morning, and with a exam, and an update to her shots (which expired earlier this year), I'm looking at a ballpark of $125 before meds and new food. I know that's a small fee on the grand scale of things, but still a ton of money for our family. the kitty has an appointment for tomorrow, poor thing.

rhiOrion -- thanks for your suggestions! I'm going to definitely keep them in mind and see what I can do!

One of my former students works at this particular vet office, and I'm hoping she's working tomorrow because I'll be able to speak very plainly with her about doing just exactly what is needed to get the cat healthy and no extra stuff.

[Ola_]

Not sure how you feel about vaccines, but is the vet saying that they need to be done in order for the urinary issue to be diagnosed? Generally even the vaccine manufacturers say that they should only be given to healthy pets.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

nak

she said the vet could not legally see the cat unless her rabies shot (the cat's, not the vet's )was up to date. it's been two years since my cat got the rabies shot, and she's an indoor only cat, but I guess I just took the receptionist's word at face value...?

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by ExuberantDaffodil

nak

she said the vet could not legally see the cat unless her rabies shot (the cat's, not the vet's )was up to date. it's been two years since my cat got the rabies shot, and she's an indoor only cat, but I guess I just took the receptionist's word at face value...?

My guess is that it varies state by state. Though I do know that I've had a vet give me the "we legally have to do this" line about something that I knew wasn't true, unless the laws had changed drastically since I worked for a vet! Sometimes vets are just like some people drs in that regard.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

Sometimes vets are just like some people drs in that regard.

Agreed! If you can't talk them out of it I'd get the rabies shot only (no combo vaccs!) and see if they can give you the 3 year one instead of the 1 year. They are essentially the same shot, just "rated" differently.

[stephienoodle]

Originally Posted by Ola_

Agreed! If you can't talk them out of it I'd get the rabies shot only (no combo vaccs!) and see if they can give you the 3 year one instead of the 1 year. They are essentially the same shot, just "rated" differently.

One of mine has specifically peed in front of me in the past when he's had a UTI. It was like he wanted me to realize what was going on.

There is a chance that it could be something worse like diabetes (btdt) or kidney problems (also btdt) but usually those are a slower buildup and you see other symptoms like lethargy and eating/drinking a ton. If it is a UTI with a complicating factor like crystals, you can treat it with diet (which can be homemade rather than prescription) after dealing with the initial problem.

If you end up needing diet help, let me know. I've got two diabetic cats in remission, one of whom has had urinary issues in the past, and the other has stabilized early renal failure and inflammatory bowel disease. I would not spend a penny on prescription food from the vet, particularly if it is dry food (defeats the purpose of resolving a urinary issue imho).

[ExuberantDaffodil]

My other cat died 5 years ago from kidney complications as a result of diabetes, and this cat does not seem to have the same symptoms, thankfully. That was a very sad time for our family, as he was a beloved cat.

I would love some ideas for diet. My cat cannot tolerate most commercial foods and is right now on a limited ingredient diet. She regularly pukes 2 times a week, all day. She also has pica and will seek out the dirt in our houseplants. We know we're going to have a "pukey day" when we catch her eating dirt. The routine usually goes something like catch her eating dirt, licking plastic, rubbing her head on corners... puke. What a fun kitty.

I was taking her to several different vets when I lived in another city. One prescribed cortisone shots every month. We did that for a while and she seemed all better: no puking or anything. Then I moved & took her to another vet who said the shots were slowly killing her. That vet gave us special food. The puking continued. She had crystals one time and I put her on different (canned) food, and another vet said it was nutritionally deficient and would kill her. So I switched again. That was 2 years ago, and I stopped routinely taking her to the vet because I was shelling out tons of money, never seeing true results, and have at this point just resigned ourselves to having a "special needs" kitty. We were hoping to just give her love and care until it is her time to pass, but here we go again with the health issues.

[stephienoodle]

I make homemade raw based on the recipe here: http://www.catnutrition.org . You can make homemade raw VERY inexpensively if you have a grinder and follow grocery store sales and for about the same price as prescription food if you have to buy meat & bone preground so that you don't need a grinder. One of mine came to me with very few teeth, so we don't feed whole prey raw, but that is also an option if your kitty has good teeth.

If you make your own raw you can do different proteins based on what your cat can tolerate. Chicken is the bulk of what I make (though I can't get the super cheap leg quarters from the store, my IBD cat gets itchy when he eats them) but I've also made turkey, duck, goose, and rabbit. I've fiddled with the recipe a little bit over time to make it work better for my guys, though I've kept most of the supplements in tact since I don't want to screw up the important parts nutritionally. For example, I've added cooked egg white to the food for a while now, to lower the phosphorus level for my cat with kidney issues. For a cat with urinary issues, I'd add extra water to the food to help keep the urine dilute.

If you're anywhere near me, I'd be happy to give you some food to try. If not, I might be able to hook you up with a cat lady friend nearby. There's a pretty helpful community of crazy cat ladies online who make their own cat food because they've ended up with sick kitties. Feel free to PM me and I'll try to hook you up with somebody to help.

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by ExuberantDaffodil

I called the vet this morning, and with a exam, and an update to her shots (which expired earlier this year), I'm looking at a ballpark of $125 before meds and new food. I know that's a small fee on the grand scale of things, but still a ton of money for our family. the kitty has an appointment for tomorrow, poor thing.

.

If there is a UTI they should not vaccinate at the same time. That is a good price where I work you are looking at that just for the vaccs or urinalysis.

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by ExuberantDaffodil

nak

she said the vet could not legally see the cat unless her rabies shot (the cat's, not the vet's )was up to date. it's been two years since my cat got the rabies shot, and she's an indoor only cat, but I guess I just took the receptionist's word at face value...?

Yeah, I don't think so. If your cat were in kidney failure or hit by a car, they would not insist on doing a rabies before treatment. That is asinine and certainly not true. It may be a legal requirement in your state (it is in most if not all) that all domestic animals must be vaccinated for rabies but there is not restriction on which animals a doctor can treat. Call somewhere else.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Well now I'm in a truck load of crap

The vet wanted to keep her overnight because they couldn't get a urine sample before closing. I pitched a fit, and the vet said they wouldn't charge me for overnight.

Another vet in the practice called me this morning. My cat bit a technician during a procedure, and since she isn't current on her rabies, she has to be quarantined for 10 days. At my expense, a couple hundred dollars.

And now I can't stop crying. My cat is probably terrified and wondering where I am. I don't have the money to have her boarded for 10 days, and my gut says I'm being really taken for a ride here and I have no idea what to do.

[rhiOrion]

Can you talk to them about doing a home quarantine? The laws regarding that may vary by state, I'm not sure. But since it was technically "provoked" (not to say that the tech did anything wrong...just that there was a good reason for the cat to have bitten), then you may be able to push for a home quarantine with a list of things to watch out for. I'm not sure, though.

[womenswisdom]

Def. check the laws in your state. In Ohio, a home quarantine is acceptable, and the animal needs to have an exam by a vet at the end to prove they are not showing any signs of rabies. The vet just signs a form and the owner sends it to the health dept. Is this the same place that told you she had to have the rabies vax in order for them to treat?

[maptome]

My cat started doing the same thing, but I assumed it was because he's jealous of the new baby. Let us know if he really did have the UTI.

[Ola_]

I agree - push for a home quarantine! And from what you said the rabies didn't expire that long ago, they're really being UAVs about it, it's not like one day the cat has immunity and the next day, poof, it's gone.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Today hasn't been a good day.

The vet called animal control. A home quarantine was refused on the basis of no rabies vax paperwork. They basically confiscated my cat and I had no recourse. After bawling into the phone at the vet, she said I could come in and see my cat, but I couldn't hold her, pet her, or touch her. They had her in a TINY pen, just barely big enough for her, a teeny litter box, and a food/water dish. She was in a closet-sized room with about a half a dozen large dogs, all barking at the same time, and she was petrified. I tried talking (over the really loud dogs) to her gently, and just stood there sobbing, looking at her and telling her I was so sorry.

The thought of her in that tiny pen scared out of her mind and wondering why in the world I abandoned her there is almost more than I can stand.