Cat experts - need quick litterbox help!

[Momit]

We have loved our sweet kitty for almost 14 years but we are not "cat people" and don't know much about cat behavior, so I need help!

We went on vacation for 2 weeks and left our cat and dog at home. The neighbor came over 6-8 times/day to feed, water, walk them. She also changed the litterbox and mentioned that the cat had diarrhea (which she's never had before. Oh, and the dog had diarrhea too - my poor neighbor!)

In the week since we've been home, the cat has been peeing out the front of her litterbox every night. She has one of those covered ones with a swinging door at the front. And somehow the pee comes out and gets all over the mat we have in front of it. I don't know if she is pissed (literally, ha ha) at us, if it's an accident, if something is different with the litter or the box, or what. She has never peed or pooped anywhere but in her litterbox,.

We have left them in the care of this same neighbor a couple of other times for up to a week, but never 2 weeks.

Please tell me what I should do, because mopping up cat pee every morning is getting old. Thanks!

[FTMLuc]

It seems like there is something in the litterbox that is displeasing her. Have you tried washing the litterbox after you came back? There may be some remains of diarrhea in there. Your cat, as they are fastidiously clean, could be using the cleanest spot in the litterbox to do her business, and that particular spot happens to leak out of the box.

[fedoragirl]

Whenever our cats pee in the house, it's because they have a medical problem. First, change all the litter in the litter box and put in fresh litter. Clean the litter box while you're at it. We use bleach and water. Do not use ammonia.
If the behavior continues, put the litter box in a more convenient location for the cat but not the near her food.
If that doesn't fix it, take her to the vet. She is an older cat, recently had diarrhea and she may have a UTI. We have male cats and they get crystals which block their urethra and that makes peeing very painful. We take them to the vet asap because they could die. I wouldn't wait more than 3 days if the situation has not resolved. Cats can take a turn for the worse very fast. Hope it works out without a trip to the vet.
Also wanted to add that you should carefully monitor the pee color too. If it's too yellow, she's not getting any water and dehydration will kill her.

[Minnifer]

Originally Posted by fedoragirl

If that doesn't fix it, take her to the vet. She is an older cat, recently had diarrhea and she may have a UTI.

My older cat has been suffering from diarrhea and when I took her to the vet she said that is one of the primary symptoms of a UTI in cats.

[trcy]

I would take her to the vet to rule out any medical reasons. Also, cats will avoid the litter box if they associate it with pain. At 14, there could be arthritits and I am sure the diarrhea episodes did not help. Good luck.

[Philly Mom]

I second, and third the vet. When our cat started doing that, it was because she had diabetes.

[Wondermom]

Yes, take her to the vet. If the pee is NOT very stinky or seems clear or watery (as opposed to super stinky normal cat pee), then it may very well be UTI or diabetes. We've had both with 2 separate cats.

[Momit]

I made a vet appointment for early next week. In the meantime I scrubbed out the litter box (there was definitely some yucky stuff just under the clean litter right at the front).

She is peeing in the litter box, or at least trying to. But all the pee ends up on the mat right in front. And yes, the pee is VERY stinky.

[geochick]

I'm glad you made an appointment. My cats have done that kind of thing to punish us (due to a long vacation, etc.), because the litter box is messy (scoop it daily), because they needed a bigger litter box, or because of illness. I'm glad you're taking kitty in. In the meantime, a clean or new litter box should help.