Currently I'm tapering him down to 2.5 mg/day and he did urinate outside his box after only 4 days on the lowered dose. I'm going to see if this continues at the lowered dose...hopefully not. I'm not sure if there is an option of keeping him on 5 mg/day for life because that may be what is needed.

I'm very pleased with the results up to the tapering down of the dosage. He seemed a bit spacey (not really lethargic though) for the first couple of weeks but since then I didn't notice any obvious side effects. One other thing, fluoxetine is on the $4 generic list at Target, Walmart, etc. So it's not too costly which is great.

I think it's great that you are trying this and I hope you have success. I know all the exams, tests, etc really add up and that can be frustrating when the behavior isn't changed.

It sounds like you have been trying everything! When you first brought him into the house, how was he introduced to your cat and the house? Did you isolate him in a room for a period of time? Have you tried putting him back into an isolated room (with all his supplies) until he behaves without incident and then slowly giving him (monitored) introductions to the house and the resident cat?

I hope not to sidetrack your thread but could anyone qualified comment on a hormone shot called Depo Provera? I hardly ever read anything about it for spraying issues other than from breeders taking their studs out of commission. (It comes with great success stories). It's probably a completely different situation but I've often wondered if this was an alternative to having to dope up kitty cats.

I am happy to hear about the success with your kitty. Did your vet suggest you taper the dose? Stanley weighs 9lbs so maybe that is why he is on a lower dose than the 5mg that worked for your cat. I hope is doesn't take 2-3 weeks- argh!!!! May I ask what you used to clean up the mess, and did it work? Stanley wont eat pill pockets- how do you get the pill into your cat?

When we first found Stanley, he lived for 4 weeks in my daughter's bedroom. Then for another 4 weeks, we kept the door open, but blocked off to my cat (who Stan dislikes) and dog (who Stan doesn't care a lick about) so he could come out IF and when he wanted to. After a while he spent more and more out and about in the house. We moved his litterbox into the guest room in addition to my other cat's box.
Since the accidents started , at night, and when no one is home to watch him, he is in the guest room, with 2 litterboxes (I check that they are clean 150 times a day it seems) fresh food and water. He is having accidents in there as well. I am going crazy :"

I think a lot of CRF cat people use these gel caps...that's how I got the idea. Google empty gel caps and cats and I think you'll find some information. My cat is super friendly but super smart...there was no way with my skill level for me to pill him everyday. My vet thought my idea was crazy but so far it works for me.

I'm glad kitty is doing well!!!

After 1 week the marking stopped. I kept her on the pills for two months then tried to reduce the dosage and it started again. It was difficult to reduce the dosage using the pills because they don't divide very evenly, especially if you try to cut into quarters. I think that was a big problem when trying to wean her off it. Eventually, I was not longer able to get her to take any pills so I switched to a liquid.

I found the liquid easier to get in her and it was much easier to control the amount she was getting. Every 6 weeks or so I'd reduce the dose and watch to see if she did any marking. Often the peeing started again, so then I increased it to the regular amount. I had to keep her on the medicine for about 8 months, then I was able to gradually wean her off the medicine over about a month.

Once I weaned her off she didn't mark at all for over a year and then she did have a relapse while we were on vacation. I put her back on the medicine for 6 weeks then stopped it, that was about 4 months ago and there's been no problems since. It definitely works, you just need to carefully monitor how your cat is doing with it.

I'm glad it's working so far for your cat! I also think it works best as a liquid so you can control exactly how much you're giving.

The combination is 16oz Hydrogen Peroxide + 1 teaspoon liquid dishsoap ( dawn, palmolive, etc) + 1 tablespoon baking soda. Mix together as much as you need to thoroughly drench the area. I doubled it the first time because I wanted to make sure it went through the carpet, pad and onto the concrete flooring below. Pour on the area and leave it to soak in and dry on its own- do not blot up. Repeat as necessary.
*test for color fastness first if concerned about staining.

Good Luck- it worked wonders for me