I have 4 persian cats. I have one cat that's giving me the most trouble. He urinates outside of the litterboxes. I've tried everything, including buying Cat Attract, Natures Miracle urine destroyer, etc. The thing is that he hates closed doors, so he will urinate right by a closed door. I'm to the point that I am having to find a new home for the cat. The breeder that we bought the cat from isn't returning our phone calls, even though in her contract it says to contact her if we can no longer take care of the cat. Help!

Cats urinating in front of a closed door is actually quite common. Your boy is trying to tell you something. He is under stress and feel shut out of the room that the door is closed. Is this room off limits to him for some reason? There is a medication that you can ask your vet for that reduces stress in male cats and will correct improper litterbox habits called amitriptyline.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_amitriptyline.html
I have used it with a couple of males that had improper urination exactly like what you are experienceing (in front of a closed door mainly), and was able to correct it with this drug. You will need to give the medication once a day for 3 to 4 wks and restrict the cat to a smaller space- either by caging- or by closing him in a small room with a box and food/water to retrain him to use only the litter box. I would get one of those newer high side extra large OPEN boxes that Petsmart sells. My boys love those because they can see all around them. Your boy is feeling stress when he has to use the box, so maybe the other cats are ambushing him whenever he goes there. I would change all of the boxes to the open extra large style, and have AT LEAST 4 or more throughout the house. Observe the behavior of all of the cats when they use the box. Are your other cats by chance boys too? Are all of your cats neutered/spayed? How old is your male that is giving you trouble? Any blood in his urine? Also- what kind of litter are you using?

Thank you for your reply! The boy persian that's been urinating by the doors is 5 years old. He used to be so good at using the litterboxes. We turned one of the bedrooms into a cat room - lots of quality cat furniture, toys, beds, water, food, and 4 litterboxes. The litterboxes aren't the cat litterboxes per se. Instead, they're the Rubbermaid boxes for storage (low profile). Up until 2009, the cats had free roam of the house, except for the bathrooms and the closets. But when I got pregnant in 2009, I had to put all 4 persians in the cat room. And shortly thereafter, this boy cat, started urinating at the door. We have real hardwood, so he's destroyed that wood. We're going to have to take it up, which will be a pain because the wood is glued down, and replace it. We know what the problem is, he just hates to be confined in the cat room. But we can't let the cats out. I have a baby and I want things to be sanitary, as he is putting everything in his mouth including his hands.

It's gotten to the point that my husband and I are resenting this cat. We've tried to contact the breeder that we got him from, but she hasn't called back. We have to give him away. He's the most loving cat, never scratches, just wants to be loved on. You can see his picture in my avatar (if I did it correctly!). He's a cream persian that the breeder was going to show except that he has a bump on his forehead.

I just want to give him to a person that will love him and take care of him like he needs to be. We are unable to do that. As much as it's hard letting him go, it's better for him. I can't put an ad out in the paper, as I don't want just anyone to have him. In a perfect world, I would want a breeder to take him. At least I would know he's going to a good home. This isn't an easy decision for us. Like I said before, he hates being confined. And there is no way we can let him roam the house. So the only thing is to give him to a loving home.

Jerlin:
Would you please contact me privately. I would like to try to help you if I can. I know if this was my cat, I would be happy to take him back or at least give you some guidance on how to rehome him. I really think, after hearing your entire story, that the boy doesn't really have a urination problem, he simply wants to be let out of the room and doesn't understand why you have confined him. He would probably be fine in another home. The breeder should take him back, but if that isn't possible, you need to rehome him. I can give you some tips on how to do that. My email is:

Obviously, it's not fair to this cat to keep him confined and I think you already know this. If his breeder won't take him back for some reason, please do find a loving pet home for him. I also think he would be just fine in a home where he does not have to be confined to one room. Remember, he was one of your "babies" before your human baby came along. He simply cannot understand why he's being confined and obviously will never adjust to this confined environment.

I am sorry you are having a problem but I can understand why your cat is acting this way. My question would be why on earth do you feel you need to have a sanitary environment for a baby? Babies grow into kids who come into conact with unsanitary things every day, they would never develop their immune systems if they didn't. I have had 4 kids, 16 grandkids and 5 great grand kids and never have any of them had any disease or illness from the association with their cats, or mine. Maybe you are taking it a little too serious or have listened to some of the old wives tales. Kitty is trying to tell you something, I hope you find a good home for him, he would probably do fine if not locked away. He doesn't want cat toys and furniture, he wants your love and attention

Dianne, I was wondering the exact same thing. Kids are exposed to germs daily and don't need to grow up in a sterile environment.

I feel really bad for this poor kitty.

Me too Tracy, healthy kids are exposed all the time and having a loving pet is good for them, poor kitty and poor baby

I was always raised around cats and lives as a baby in a house with 7 cats. My mother still lived with her mother then...my grandma was the cat lady of the neighborhood.

People obsess over this stuff with their babies but really coming in contact with germs is how we develop our immunities...right? Plus what germs are cats going to pass around beside poopy...babies are covered in poopy all the time! Lol

Well, a sanitary clean environment should always be provided for babies, and I undertand this is what you are wanting, and why.
But, unless your baby has spefcific health concerns or issues.. my opinion is there's no reason that your cats need to be segregated, confined and kept apart from the main household area - the source of the problem you are having.

Supervison in direct interaction is needed, yes.. since very young children dont know to be gentle with kitty.
But as far as germs go...there really is no specific risk of illness that this would bring.

As mentioned there is a lingering old wives tale that cats and babies dont mix, and I wonder if this is part of your general concern?
It's just a myth.
In my family, cats and babies have always mixed beautifully. Over two generations of kids...not aware of one single health issue that came from this

Whatever course of action you take on ths.. I wish you and your kitty all the best.