Cat Inappropriate Peeing
Desperately looking for some advice on what our next move should be. I have a 3.5 year old male tabby, Aiko. As a kitten he was completely fine and no signs of stress shown. We slowly introduced him to my housemate’s kitten and once again initially he showed no signs of anxiety or stress.
As he got a little older though, the other cat never really warmed up to him. There were never any full-blown fights, but she would often size him up, intimidate him, and occasionally swat at him in a way that definitely wasn’t playful. Over time Aiko became increasingly anxious around her and also around visitors at the house.
Around 2.5 years old he started peeing on things. If clothes were left on the floor, he’d pee on them. He peed on our quilt a lot as well. He’s always had good quality wet and dry food, filtered water, and a clean litter box.We tried multiple things including vet visits, Feliway, and separating the cats when we were at work and when we slept. Eventually he developed Feline Idiopathic Cystitis and ended up at the emergency vet. He was put on pain medication and stopped peeing on things for a while, but then started again.
At a follow-up appointment, the vet suggested the peeing might be a self-soothing behaviour related to anxiety. I’ve also wondered whether some of it could be territorial.
At the start of May this year, my partner and I moved out and no longer live with my friend or her cat. I really thought removing that stressor would solve the problem. He was good for a while after the move, but recently he’s peed on our quilt cover twice and has also peed on our brand new couch twice within the last week.
The last time we saw the vet, while we were still living with the other cat, she mentioned fluoxetine as a last option. I was hoping the move wouldnt have to lead to that but now I’m considering going back and discussing it again.
My biggest concern is that Aiko is an incredibly affectionate, loving cat and I’m worried antidepressant medication could change his personality.
Has anyone used fluoxetine for inappropriate urination/anxiety in cats? Did it help? Did you notice any negative effects on their personality or quality of life? Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.