While reading posts on a favorite cat forum today, I came across an interesting situation about one cat's inappropriate urination since the sudden death of her sister some six months ago. It seems immediately after the sister cat died, the problem of inappropriate urination began in the owner's bedroom and has subsequently escalated to an intolerable level all over the house.
Without going into great detail about the personal situation of the family involved, this cat was apparently not well liked after her behavior changed following the death of her sibling. And while the person writing the post seemed sympathetic to the offending cat, the escalating problem of inappropriate urination was put in a way which was more about getting rid of the stains and smell than helping the cat.
So why did the cat begin to change her urination pattern after the sudden death of her sibling? There are many stories online about how our cats demonstrate grief. Some cat behavior suggests certain cats are more emotional than others; not so much by breed as by personal characteristics based on a multitude of environmental and hereditary influences. I've had cats who were very affectionate while others were the exact image of what you would see if you looked up the word 'aloof' in an encyclopedia.
This particular cat had experienced not only the sudden loss of her sibling by death but also the subsequent loss of all the other cats in her family as her people moved out of a shared house for a period of time. They purposely didn't take the offending cat because of her inappropriate urination and her bullying of the other cats, which had not been a problem prior to the noted death. She was left in the care of the other household inhabitants who, one imagines, probably were not very interested in helping the cat acclimate to the sudden changes to her family life. They just let her continue the inappropriate urination behavior in the bedroom of the person who had left as if the whole room were a litter box.
Another change in circumstances brought the original family back to the shared premises and now they are dealing with the results of the longterm inappropriate urination in the bedroom. Additionally the offending cat has begun to urinate while sitting beside people on furniture which has made getting rid of the cat seem like a good idea. They have been reluctant to see a vet due to finances.
While all of this is kind of heartbreaking when you think about what the cat in question has gone through, there have been responses posted asking about the possibility of a urinary tract infection playing a key role in the inappropriate urination that started six months ago. Some replies indicated a belief that a FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) or UTI is a much more plausible explanation to the behavior changes than a continued reaction to the death of a sibling.
Because we love our pets and treat them as members of our immediate family, sometimes we think of them as having the same feelings as we do or believe they act out their emotions as a child would. While there is certainly evidence to suggest that some pets do demonstrate emotions similar to human emotions, when a pet's behavior changes suddenly it is prudent to assume there may be a physical reason for the behavior change rather than an emotional one.
And when we have tried our best without success to resolve behavior problems, it is our responsibility as loving and concerned pet owners to seek skilled help for our pets. Whether a cat behaviorist or a vet, or another more experienced cat owner you know; seek help for your cat before inappropriate urination becomes such a major factor in your home. Solve the underlying problem and the inappropriate urination behavior will also be resolved.
Louise Allen is a cat lover and writer focused on cat behavior meaning. Stop by AboutCatsInfo.com for more great information about cats and the joy they bring to life.
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