Older Cats

I have two rather large DSH males ages 11 and 13. Both have been neutered. This summer, the 11 year old decided to start urinating on the carpet even though he always has a clean box.

He seems to be in good health. There are no signs of any urinary disorders (we've been through that so I'm aware of the signs) and he doesn't appear to be in any discomfort. Some of the other obvious causes can also be ruled out: there have been no changes to his diet, no changes in daily routine (i.e., amount of time that he receives attention), no change in his litterbox and no new pets introduced to the household.

He seemed to do it when we were asleep or away from the house. I only caught him twice and scolding him had no effect. He's quit this behavior for the time being but I'm concerned that he may start acting up again next summer. The spot has been thouroughly cleaned, disinfected and deodorized but I'm afraid he'll just find another spot.

Can anyone give me any insight to this behavior?

I have no help to offer you on your immediate problem, but could I suggest something for the cats' next annual check-up? When you take them in, ask the vet to run a geriactric feline blood panel on them. With the drawing of a small sample of blood, they can check for a number of problems that older cats are prone to. These include, kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and liver function. Some early signs of several of these problems include increased and inappropriate urination. Early diagnoses can lead to treatments that can prolong the cats' life. -Melinda