Well, I don't know, you guys. She hasn't had any other problems. She's using her litter box fine. I even put her back in the tub a few times to see if she'd go again. Nothing. And she's got some major spring fever and full of energy. I'm starting to wonder if she just got spooked when she was in the tub before. I did move the door and it made a pretty big noise. Maybe that's what did it? I'm still keeping a close eye on her. I am not one of those types who brings my cats in to see the vet after every sniffle. But at the same time, obviously if it is a UTI, that is serious and needs to be dealt with. Oh, I so wish they could talk sometimes! lol.
Well, she was fine until yesterday and then she peed in the tub again. So I took her to the vet today. $175 later the vet says she's fine. No temp, urine is really good, no crystals, no blood. And after this amount of time if it was a UTI there should be some detectable blood cells. So, looks like it's behavioral. We'll have to start trying some things with the litter boxes to make sure she doesn't start depending on the tub.
I'm sorry to hear she's still doing it. Is her litter box in the bathroom? If not, maybe you can break the behavior by keeping the door closed. If so, then can you keep your shower curtain closed? Maybe if she doesn't get in there, she won't go in there since that's the only place she seems to do it.
Did the vet investigate the GI tract? Discomfort in the litter can be caused by either GI or UT and the behavior will be the same.
Thanks, Teresa. We do actually keep the bathroom door closed. It's just when we go in that she comes in with us (little puppy that she is, lol). So it's not a huge issue. And at least it's in the tub, not on the carpet or something. I've also read that some cats like to pee in sinks and tubs because they associate it with the dripping water. Our tub does have a slow leak. So maybe that's part of it.
Jan - yes, the vet was quite thorough with her and is confident it's behavioral. She does mostly pee in the litter box and we've been watching her closely when she's in there. No signs of discomfort or anything. The vet thinks maybe she just wants her own box for herself. That will be difficult to try and rig up, but we may have to try it.
Oh, I just realized something else. We have their litter boxes set up in a place with poly around the floor and walls. The bathtub has poly around the walls (the seals are broken and we don't want to cause more damage) as well right now as we've had to do that so we can use the shower just until we get the new tub in. Maybe she's associating the poly in both places. Hmmmm.
You may want to try adding a LitterMaid.
Sometimes cats start this behavior from discomfort and then will relapse. If you are confident she will not choose a worse alternative, you may want to leave an inch or so of water in the tub. This will drive her from using it - hopefully to the box.
Try tin foil in the tub when you are not using it. Sometimes the sounds of the pee hitting the foil will scare them off. I also use the cat attract litter to stop mine from peeing outside the box.
I feel your pain, TRUST ME!
Good Luck.... try the foil
