Room Diffusers

- I am running out of ideas!?
Hi everyone, Thursday Jones has been urinating on my futon and I'm at my wit's end. I did ask this question a day or so ago and got an answer about mousetraps (which I'm afraid might hurt him, so I won't do), but I'm hoping other folks might have other ideas. I have gone so far as to email a local rescue to begin the process of putting TJ in the "owner foster" program, where he'll continue to live with me while the rescue lists him until a new owner is found. Here are the things I have tried to solve the couch-peeing problem: Veterinary exam and urinalysis -- Yes, he has a MILD UTI, and he did get an antibiotic injection for it. This was nearly 5 days ago. Since then, he's peed on the couch SIX more times! I thought surely I'd see a little improvement by now. Besides, this recent jig of him peeing on the couch hasn't been the only time. He's done this I'd say every couple of weeks for the past 2-4 months. He is neutered, and to my knowledge there are not any intact cats in the apartment complex. I've cleaned the couch with Nature's Miracle, hoping to remove any left-behind kitty smells. I have washed the decorative covers and replaced them SEVERAL times, cycling through my 3 covers. Since I put on the most recent clean futon cover, I found a plastic carpet-protector and laid it spiky-side up on the couch. A couple of days ago I left him here alone for a few hours with the carpet-protector on the couch, and came home to find a puddle on the plastic carpet runner! Clearly, having his paws poked by little plastic spikes does not bother him. In my 500 sq. ft apartment I have ONE cat and TWO litterboxes which are scooped EVERY day. The addition of the second litterbox just happened a couple of weeks ago after the LAST time he peed on the couch. One of the litterboxes is situated immediately next to the couch. It is a covered litterbox. The other litterbox is in an opposite corner, uncovered. I use Tidy Cats litter. I tried a feliway plug-in for about a month until the little oil canister ran out. I have not bothered to buy a refill, but I intend to go out today to get more feliway. (Should I get a diffuser refill or the feliway spray?) My veterinarian/boss has suggested possible behavioral medications -- i.e., buspirone or fluoxitine. I haven't done this yet but am seriously considering it. The past couple of days he's been staying in his "room" with litter box, food, water, toys, and bed when he's not supervised. It's the only way I can come home confident that he hasn't peed on anything. Is there ANYTHING ELSE I can do to get him to stop this?! I am exhausted and exasperated.

A Don't know how good natures miracle is for getting rid of all smells. biological washing powder and surgical spirits may be a way to go though you will have to spot test first. How old is he? you are doing all the right things. he must be kept away from the sofa as he is obviously developing a habit. Keep him away from the sofa for a few weeks, make sure its as clean as it can be as you need to remove all the smell and cats have a good sense of smell.

- Trying to keep old cat from marking in new house, but part of it is making me feel guilty.?
First off cat is neutered and healthy, but we knew moving to the new house was going to start him marking. We have the black light and Nature's Miracle (btw, fans of NM may find that their new "Urine destroyer just for cats" works better than the original if used as directed) Feliway diffuser refills are on the way, (have the spray, but that's never worked...diffuser seems to) He has his own room (only because this house had an extra room we didn't know what to do with) with two recliners , one with a heating pad for cats for his arthritis, toys, a kitty condo, litter box, dry food and water...of course that whole room smells like him because it's the furniture he always has slept on. He doesn't cry to get out until late in the day, but I still feel guilty leaving him in there almost all day even though I know he sleeps from about 9 - 5 with a little break for lunch. Whenever we are able to watch him, we allow him into the living room and kitchen keeping doors to all rooms except his closed. He's normally a sweet cat who likes to be with people and I don't want to make him lonely. Am I just projecting human feelings on to my cat? Could locking him up so much make him anti-social?...he's never been a particularly independent cat. Yes he has a history of phases of spraying and he's alreayd proved we can't trust him here yet. Hope aversion to the water spray bottle will help since cat's aren't allowed to run loose in this subdivision, per HOA. I just feel so darn guilty about locking him up even though I know he's in there sleeping in his favorite chair.

A Don't worry your cat if fine. If you got a "playmate" he'd probably get really jealous, whether it's a puppy, hamster, mouse, snake, or a possum.