I have a cat problem. HELP

[juajen]

I have a screened in porch with a cat door. I have six cats, two who are in the house a lot, the rest outside and porch kitties. One of them is doing their business all over my porch and I can't identify the cat or the problem. I am faced with scrubbing down a large amount of concrete, which will probably have to be done over again tomorrow. Anybody know what could cause this? We took one to the vet last week. He was given an antibiotic shot for a possible urinary infection, but doc couldn't find anything else wrong with him. Their litter box is clean. I'm getting totally frustrated.

[MissMillie]

1. We had a cat that did this

And the problem was never corrected.

The vet diagnosed urinary tract infection, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, anxiety, and every medication seemed to work for a while, but sooner or later the behavior would always come back.

[ashling]

2. The title of your post is redundant

Not to make light of your situation, but "Cat" and "problem" are synonymous.

As a matter of fact, I think "problem" is one of the entries for "Cat" in some dictionaries.

Edit: Please note, I am a cat lover myself. This is just a fact I have come to accept.

[mr_hat]

3. Too many cats per square foot. Someone's letting you know.

[nickinSTL]

4. too many cats

This is likely the problem.

One of them (or more) is marking territory, claiming it theirs.

Are the outdoor/porch cats neutered? Even if they are, with enough cats/square foot, some might feel the need to mark. If not, that might help.

[juajen]

7. They are all neutered

Also, they are outside cats, who I graciously allow on the porch. I believe, though, that you have hit on it. I did take in a cat that has normally not been on the porch. This might be it.

BTW, all of these are rescued cats. I have never felt that six cats were too many, when death or mistreatment was the alternative.

[mr_hat]

9. Sorry -- I didn't mean to be critical of you at all. >

Just sounds like you have one cat who's decided what his/her limit is, and is expressing having reached it. This, despite your best intentions.

[iconoclastic cat]

10. That doesn't matter! Too many in a small (to them) area, and

this happens.

[Bertha Venation]

12. Six cats are NOT too many. We have six, too. Well, nine...

we feed three ferals. We have a problem eliminator, too. I feel your pain.

Good luck. :bounce:

[Kali]

5. or at least per box

they can handle a certain amount of crowding but you might want to try another (or more) litterbox.

[juajen]

8. Thanks for your reply

However, they rarely use the litter box; most go outside only. Even my two inside cats go out to the bathroom and play outside most of the day, and only come in at night. The litter box is cleaned daily and sometimes, if needed, more. I'm in Louisiana, so we have a lot of rain. Though there are plenty of shelter spots outside, a couple like to come on to the porch during rainstorms, or, in the unlikely event that we have some really cold weather; hence, the cat door.

I do think this might be "marking territory". So, I'm going to make the porch off limits for a while.

Thanks to all for the help.

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Yes, we have 1 box per cat

and we've never had an accident. And we have 5 indoor cats! The only way to cope with nature: Get one box per cat, scoop every day, change the litter once every week.
We haven't had one out-of-box accident since doing this. Seriously.

[juajen]

6. What? Six is nothing in my neighborhood!

Besides, I have a pretty large house and garden. They have plenty of play room and the litter box on the porch is just a convenience. I am locking the cat door and the four totally outside cats will just lose their screened in porch. I just hate to punish all of them, when I believe only one has the problem. I just can't seem to isolate which one.

Thanks for all replies, though. Any other suggestions I would welcome.

[TrogL]

13. So do I

My new male cat has been marking the laundry piles. Worse, it's clean laundry.

I'm thinking of switching cat litters, but I'm wondering if there's a psychological component.

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

14. Valium

Seriously, I took in a male cat who was very good until I adopted a male dog. They were both neutered, but the cat started peeing in the house. The vet and I tried all sorts of things, then finally as a last hope he was put on 2mg of Valium (1mg. twice a day hidden in cat food.) He never had an accident after that. (He also weened himself off of the Valium after 8 years or so.)The vet thought that the dog just made him very nervous and upset and that was how he expressed it. Cats are such sensitive creatures.

It may be hard to do with six kitties, but maybe the newest one has upset one of your older ones. Good luck.