Following loss of sibling, cat peeing all over house

by Peggy
(North Carolina)

Has anyone had experience with helping an old cat grieve over the loss of his sibling and starting to pee all over the house?

We are 1 week into this and I don't know what to do to get Bailey back on track. He will use the litter box if we are not around, but will look at us and deliberately squat and pee on our bed, chairs, and floor.

How do I help him get back to the cat he was prior to loosing his brother. He never had accidents in his 15 year existence. Any suggestions very welcome.

My thoughts: I'm sorry to hear that your cat is having problems and I'm sorry for your loss. I wouldn't usually go for drugs as the first solution, but he's clearly suffering and needs relief.

In extreme cases like this, you might want to consult with your veterinarian to see if drug therapy might help. Another option would be to work with a cat behaviorist, possibly along with the drugs prescribed by the vet.

If you'd like to try something other than drugs, I would give him as much attention as possible and distract him with play. On the other hand, I would also give him his space and allow him to be alone if it seems like that's what he wants. You could also try products like Feliway and Rescue Remedy to see if that takes the edge off.

Given the stress he's under, I would also consider the possibility that he's developed some sort of urinary tract problem on top of this.

I hope that helps, and I hope he gets past this quickly and becomes his old self again.
-Kurt