Cats that suddenly start soiling outside the box after using a litterbox for years, usually have medical problems. She may have a bladder infection or worse, a kidney infection. Get her to the vet for urinalysis, a urine culture and blood screen.

The cat associates the litterbox with pain, so she uses other places. So since she is likely in pain, it is good to get her to the vet ASAP.

When a cat's behavior drastically changes, always consider medical concerns.

Good luck. Let us know what the vet says.

It sounds exactly like a bladder or urinary tract infection to me, too.

Years ago, my old cat suddenly started urinating outside the litterbox. I KNEW she must have a urinary tract infection, but the veterinary test came back negative. I insisted the vet give me a round of antibiotics for her, anyway, and within a week Pea was using the litterbox normally again. Vet tests can miss a low-grade infection that is, nonetheless, making your cat ill enough to cause litterbox avoidance.

Laurie

The fact that your kitty peed right next to his head is a major indication something is wrong and she is trying to get someone to notice. Most animals when pottying somewhere they are not suppose to, they will try to hide it from you, they know better, but when they are ill they will act totally different, she is not doing this to be spiteful, she is asking for help.

I agree with the others. If your vet won't work with you on finding a problem, or putting her on meds, then go to another vet.

"Get her to the vet for urinalysis, a urine culture and blood screen."
Elly-I have had her to the vet.2 different ones as a matter of fact.Once when she first started doing this and again just a couple of weeks ago.I thought I made that clear in my OP.If it were a bladder or kidney infection/problem,it would certainally have had enough time since the first vet visit to be full blown enough to show up in a screening.The only behavior changes is the peeing one.She is active,eats well and has not lost any weight.Neither vet could find any problems and both did extensive blood/urine testing.There are only 2 vets in this town.She has been to both and I have no reason not to trust what they say or that they missed something.
Micke-She didn't pee right next to DH's head.She peed on a pillow laying beside him almost at the foot of the bed.She pees on my bed during the day,on the furniture in both conspicuous and inconspicuous places,on the drapes,on the carpet,on the rug,on a pile of laundry in front of the washer,on clean clothes waiting to be folded. You name it,she's peed on it.This seems to be a behavioral problem,which is what the vet that saw her most recently suggests.I posted here because I thought someone just might have some suggestions other than the ones I have already tried to break her of this nasty habit,not to be told to take her to the vet. I made it clear in my original post that had already been done.So,does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might do to break her of this before I have to take other measures?

Yes. Ask your vet for a round of antibiotics just to cover your bases in case the tests that have already been done missed a low-grade urinary infection. It happened to my cat. It may be happening to yours.

Laurie

OK Laurie,I will do that,even though the vet says there is no infection and if there was it would be bad enough by now (since it has been several months since the first vet checked her),that it would certainally be detectable.I will call him and see if he will give her something.

I'm sorry. I gave the best advice I knew.

Have you changed her situation? New cat or dog? New child? Some cats do that under stress. Is her litter the same as before? Have you tried adding more litterboxes to the places she is soiling? Perhaps limit her access to only certain rooms in the house (not allow her access to the bedrooms) and maybe keep her contained to one room at night?

I hope Meghane reads this, maybe she has some other ideas.

I forgot to mention: Nature's Miracle works quite well. you have to really soak whatever was soiled (and I mean soak) i it, let it dry and maybe do it again. If the carpet is soiled, buy gallons of NM and soak it to the floor.

How about Cat Attract Litter? I have heard of people having success with it.

I know what you are going through. My sister's cat peed in three different houses for years and ruined thousands of dollars in carpeting. It all started when she moved into a house where the former owner's cats had peed. She finally had her put down as the very last resort. She felt horrible about it but she was a single mother and worked hard for what she had.

I wish you good luck.

It's just strange that after 1 1/2 years (I assume you've had her since she was a kitten) she would start this. As elly mentioned..........has ANYTHING in your household changed?

I've also owned a pet that started having urinary problems. All tests came back negative but my vet went ahead and put her on antibiotics based on my description of the problem. The urinary problem disappeared after treatment.

Just remember that often it's up to us to determine how our pets should be treated by the vets. We live with them 24/7 and are able to observe the slightest changes in their behavior and health. I'd think your vet would be willing to try other measures before you resort to having her euthanized.

Another option is to keep her in a cat habitat.

Here is a link that might be useful: enclosure

Elly-there has been nothing out of the ordinary going on in my home.No kids here,no other pets that haven't always been here,same litter after trying different ones that didn't make any difference.I tried confining her,no luck there either.Tried Nature's miracle,washed everything I could that she has peed on but she goes right back and pees again.If I put litter boxes in every spot she has peed on they would be lining the walls and on the furniture in every room!LOL We keep the doors to the bedrooms closed and DH normally closes his at night but left it open the night she peed on his bed because it was hot in there.
Livvysmom-,I really don't think the Cat Attract litter would help.She uses the litter box ALL the time for pooping,just not all the time for peeing.I do confine her to my bedroom,bathroom and computer room at night and part of the day(they are all connected).Her litter box is in the computer room which is the only feasable place for it.She pees under my bed and in the bathtub at night or if she is confined to those rooms during the day.If I close her up in the computer room she howls and scratches on and under the door all night.She has even pulled up the carpet under the bathroom door because I locked her in there one night!I have even tried taking her water up at night thinking if she doesn't drink water she won't pee.WRONG!!!!LOL I am in the same position as your sister.I can't afford to replace furniture and carpet and as bad as I hate to I may have no other recourse but to put her down.I thought about trying to find her another home but who else would want the problem? I will call the vet Monday and ask about the antibiotics.
Anyway,thanks everyone for all the advice and keep the suggestions coming if you have more.......Lillie

Peeing in the bathtub is a symptom of UTI, I believe (urinary tract infection). Peeing on cold surfaces is one of the symptoms.

I suggested the Nature's Miracle to rid you of the odor.

It is never, ever advised to remove an animal's water unless they are going to surgery.

You did not say if you actually used litter boxes as I suggested. Sometimes if cats are offered more litterboxes, they actually use them.

Good luck anyway.

Elly-I put the days used towels in the bath tub and she pees on them,not actually "in' the tub.Sorry I didn't make that clear.No I didn't try putting out different litter boxes but I will do that tomorrow and see if it helps.
As for removing the water,I just did it one time and she could have gotten a drink anyway from the lavatory faucet because it drips.Her water bowl is in the lavatory and she sometimes turns her bowl of water over and licks the water from the faucet anyway.So it's not like she didn't have "any" access to water.LOL
I have used nature's Miracle and the odor is still there. I even had to throw away some bath towels that she had peed on even after being soaked in Nature's miracle,washed in hot water and bleach and dried outdoors.They still smelled like pee.Of course it could just be that my nose is very sensitive but as far as I'm concerned the Nature's Miracle was a waste of money.

It did work quite well for me. I used it as I said.

You seem to have all the answers.

Good luck.

I called the vet and he gave me a round of antibiotics(5 days)even though he just the same as said I was wasting my money.LOL So I guess we will see.
I did put out 2 other litter boxes yesterday in places where I know she is peeing.She hasn't used either of them for peeing or pooping! She did however pee on my nightgown and shirt laying on the end of my bed this afternoon! Hmmmmmm....maybe I need to put a litter box in the middle of my bed??? LOL

Peeing on soft surfaces like the bed and clothing is a classic sign of a UTI. I don't know what in heck is your vet's problem, but just because it doesn't show up in the culture doesn't necessarily mean that she doesn't have one.

I confess I did not read the rest of the posts past your first one. But that being said, you have two options -- either your cat is weird (and who's isn't?) and being naughty -- or your cat has a bladder or urinary tract infection.

MANY cats get UTIS (Urinary tract infections) and most commercial pet foods promote them.

Get your cat a check-up. She may be trying to tell you something. UTI's are EXTREMEEEEELY COMMON with cats -- this from a retired shelter manager.

OK after I posted I DID read the posts....

I don't care what your vet says... your cat has an infection. Cats do not just pee for no reason.

Change vets and get a second opinion. Humans do so all the time.

OK guys....read......I GOT antibiotics! And,this is the "second opinion" and the only one left in the town where I live.I also trust him.He has been caring for my animals for many years.
I am beginning to think my cat is just weird,but I guess we will find out in a few days! Hopefully the antibiotics will solve the problem because if they don't I will not hesitate to do something else.This cat has ruined the carpet in just about every room in my home and some of the furniture.My house smells like cat pee despite thorough cleanings with Nature's Miracle and a couple of other things that were "guaranteed" to work. So.....It's either the cat or my DH and I'm not ready to get rid of DH just yet!
Anyway,thanks for all the advice.We will see what happens.

My sister's cat who did this for years did tend to do it in the same place which suggests to me it was behaviorial. She was a skittish nervous kitty living with a dominant female cat; I believe her peeing became a learned behavior.

Since your cat is doing it all over the house maybe it is a hidden infection. All you can do is try the antibiotics and continue to clean, clean, clean. It is such a difficult situation because you are scared to replace the carpeting for fear she ruins it yet again.

I wish you good luck in whatever you decide.