Trying Not To Worry

@fawkes62 (1276)
United States
April 22, 2016 2:42pm CST
My older cat, Allie (she's 7), has been occasionally peeing on the bathroom rugs in one of the two bathrooms in my house. It's always the same bathroom and typically on the rug closest to the toilet, but can be anything on the floor. When it first started we had been locking her in there to feed her so that her and Captain (our almost a year old cat) wouldn't eat each other's food since he was on kitten food. We moved him to adult food a few months early so that they could be fed together thinking it would solve the issue (she had peed on the rug several days in a row when we made that decision). At first we thought it had solved the issue, but it just delayed it some. Now she pees on the rug about once a week or a little less often. Once I was fairly positive it was her (since we didn't catch her in the act it took a while to make sure it was her and not Captain), I called the vet and they recommended having her checked in case she has an infection. I had her in yesterday and the vet thought it was probably behavioral so she suggested trying a calming collar and removing the rugs from the floor when they aren't needed. They did do a urine test and it came back clear for an infection which is why they think it's behavioral, but there was something else. They said it had "quite a few" transitional cells in it and recommended having her urine rechecked in about a month. When I asked what it means they said they hoped it was a fluke and wouldn't go into much detail other than those cells line the bladder. So, of course, I Googled it and most of the results came back with transitional cell carcinoma. Now I don't know if I should worry or not. I'm a bit irritated that they wouldn't go into much detail, but I was in a hurry so I didn't push the issue too much. I'm trying not to worry to much about her, but it's hard not to. I also have to not show my worry to my kids because I don't want them to worry if it does turn out to be a fluke. My youngest would be very upset to find out, she's very attached to Allie, so I'm trying not to let her know until we know for sure. I did message a cousin of my husband's that is a vet tech and I'm hoping she can explain it better if she gets my message. I don't know how often she's on FB and that's the only way I have of contacting her. All I've got at this point is to hope it's nothing (at least Google did say it's rare for cats to get this).
6 people like this
7 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
23 Apr 16
Just let it go and don't worry. You did what you could, you took the cat to the vet, try their suggestions about the rugs or keep that door closed. Stop worrying, it will be what it is. Take care of yourself and be kinder to yourself.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9115)
• United States
23 Apr 16
I hope you can find out what is going on. I do not have experience with cats, is 7 old for them?
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr 16
I hope you are worrying over nothing, don't cats use peeing to mark their territory? Let's hope she hasn't got cancer.
@sallypup (62736)
• Centralia, Washington
22 Apr 16
Cancer? Most of the time when a kitty has potty issues its behavior or a blockage- for boy kitties stones and crystals are way too common. One of our boy kits is on permanent Vet diet food cause of stones. He is a pricey but loved guy. I hope it is just behavioral though that is no fun, either.
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
I can understand that you are concerned. I hope it turns out to be something minor. It is awful when pets start to have problems.
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
23 Apr 16
I hope its behavioral. My cat started doing that a few months ago. We had to keep her outside for a time but when we moved we decided to try in the house again. She was good for 6 months and then she started pooping and peeing everywhere. The vet said there was nothing wrong. She's back to living in the garage.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
22 Apr 16
Very sorry to hear about your cat. Could it be like a cat UTI or something? I know my cat peed and pooped all around the place when she was just getting very old and sick -but she was about 15 years old. Your cat is not nearly as old. Hope she feels better soon...