I have always heard that there is a high rate of schizophrenia among
torties (& calicos).  I'm not sure if this is true, but I've certainly met
enough torties who were insane that I tend to believe it.

I'm not a proponent of throwing drugs at problems, but if there is a real
need, it may be worth looking into.  I wonder if there are any psychotropic
drugs that would help with the problem.  Phil?

All I can tell you is that my tortoiseshell does the same thing.  She's the
odd one out of my three cats -- the other two are littermates.  She's a
sweetheart, but she pees on laundry, as you say yours does, and doormats,
and the back door, and it does appear to be a territorial/ownership
behavior.  So we don't have any doormats and we lock up the laundry.  While
we were out of town for a couple of weeks over the holidays, she started
peeing on the kitchen mat, so that's been washed and put away, too.  This
particular cat is a very odd cat in many respects.  But it does seem to be
predictable that the more stressed or bored she is, the more she marks.

Another of my cats, a neutered black male, used to mark when he was a baby,
but I somehow managed to train him to stop, or he stopped on his own, years
ago.  (He recently developed OCD, though.  "Bald belly syndrome."  Licks the
hair off his tummy.)

I used to have a tortie who peed in houseplants -- that was the *worst*.

It's always something.

ep

Have you tried adding additional litter boxes and has she been to the vets
for a check up?

Celeste

Smartin,
    Have you tried Feliway spray? If not I would definitely try it.
Without getting too technical, it is a synthetic feline phermone spray
that calms down cats with aggression or territorial problems. It
seriously saved my cats life. She was a feral that we caught and
socialized, and she is completely tame now, except for sometimes when
she is stressed out territorial issues arise. She would urinate in
places she shouldn't, like the sofa or on place mats or the bed once.
With a combination of retraining and using Feliway religiously she is
now only using the litter box. I would also look up retraining online.
You basically put them in a small enclosed space like a dog cage with
just enough room for a litter box, bed and food and water dishes. They
have no choice but to go in the litter box, because otherwise they will
go in their bed. You have to take them out to get excersize each day
and spend lots of time keeping them company. I know it seems cruel to
keep them in a cage for a few days, but if the only other choice is
getting rid of them, I think it is worth it. There is a great book
written by a cat behaviorist named Pam Johnson-Bennett. The book is
called How to Raise a Well Adjusted Cat, and it has tons of great info
on how to deal with territorial issues, I run to get that book any time
I have a problem with my cats and it always helps. The Feliway is sold
through amazon.com, and also at any pet supply store. It is a little
pricey but I swear it works miracles. Be sure to follow the directions
that come with it exactly, because you have to use it in a specific
way. There is another product which is a litter called Dr. Elsey's Cat
Attract. I buy it at Petsmart, and I have also spoken to other people
whos cats were innapropriately urinating who used it and it does work.
Those things all combined worked for my cat, and I was having a nervous
breakdown with her. I was heartbroken because I thought I wasn't going
to be able to keep her. I hope you try them!!! Also, you might want to
consider that to save this kitties life, you may want to stop bringing
in other cats because she will probably never be okay with her
territory being invaded, and as long as you bring in others she will
continue to be a pee pee head:-) This is what I had to do. Good Luck!

My sincerest thanks to everyone who responded. After reading your
suggestions, it seems redoubling our efforts to find a cure, such as it
may be, is worthwhile.

You folks are tops!

Just a couple hours ago, she turned about in a wooden chair (which
happens to have a gift bag on it), hiked her rear up and marked.

Right in front of me she did this.

We have just purchased four months' supply of Feliway diffuser, plus
spot spray online. Will arrive soon God willing.

Side Q: anyone heard of Feliway being restricted in the US (Michigan)? A
local pet supply told us the Dept of Ag. removed their stock because it
is "not approved." I can find nothing of this claim on the net. FWIW,
other stores have it on the shelf, though the first store claims "they
will probably not restock after those are sold". Weird. Much cheaper
online anyway.

Elavil (ask your vet) and Precious Cat brand  Cat Attract cat litter by
Dr. Elsey (Google it).  Also replace the litter boxes if they are over
a year old - plastic absorbs odors.

-L.