Inappropriate Urination/UTI

I’m at a loss. I’ve got a ragdoll kitten (M) at 8 weeks old already desexed and microchipped, vaccinated etc.

From the first day we brought him home, he has urinated inappropriately. We thought nothing of it initially because he was so young, it was a new environment and he was just adjusting. Fast forward 4 weeks and he’s still urinating inappropriately. We are 1000000% convinced it’s a UTI, he has small frequent urinations, he licks at his genitals constantly, he meows consistently and loud AF as if he’s distressed after urinating inappropriately, he uses his litter tray for pooping but continues to pee on the bath mat, the sofa, the bed. Literally any soft fabric surface .

The first vet we took him to told us it’s behavioural, completely dismissed the idea of him having a UTI as he is “too young to get UTI’s” before sending us away. Mind you this is the same vet that decided to do the desexing surgery the day he turned 8 weeks old. The second vet we took him to requested a urine sample as she stated “we don’t want to rule out that possibility without first doing a urinalysis” FINALLY we thought, super relieved we were being taken seriously.

We got a call back and they said that based on the urine sample we provided he more than likely has a UTI and said they wanted to send us on our way with some antibiotics to trial but without a biopsy there’s no definitive way to determine what the bacteria is so a broad spectrum antibiotic will be the way to go. Both my partner and I were working and they closed by the time we finished so we couldn’t pick them up that same day. No worries, we’ll pick them up the following day.

I had the following day off and as I was about to leave to pick up these antibiotics, I get a call - “we’ve looked at the urine sample again and we think it may be behavioural. We’ve prescribed gabapentin for this as it will calm him down and stop the inappropriate urination”.

sigh you’re the vets, you know best. We pick up the gabapentin, take it home and trial him. One in the morning, one at night.

He has urinated on the couch multiple times the day before yesterday and urinated on the couch 3 times last night within a 2 hour period, each time a small amount of urine and each time he did the same consistent loud distressed meow. This is with the gabapentin on board. He was also sighted licking at his little peen multiple times last night and has been licking constantly this morning as well. We called the vets and asked for a course of antibiotics but they’re so Gun-Ho about it being behavioural that they’re not even considering the possibility of it being a UTI and suggesting behavioural therapy.

We love him and we don’t want to rehome him but I literally cannot finish a 12 hour shift every day, come home and deep clean cat piss off of the couch anymore. I physically cannot afford $500-$700 for a behavioural therapist to come out twice and tell me I need more toys, diffusers, cat towers, a litter tray with different kitty litter and more hiding spaces.

My house is full of stimulating activities for the fur babies both towers and toys, there are plenty of hiding spots and privacy areas for them, I’ve got 4 litter boxes spread out across the house (2 cat household), I’ve tried all the different kitty litters, different litter trays, I’ve tried changing the diet (urinary care) & (wetfood only), I’ve tried all of the enzyme cleaning products, I’ve tried the cat deterrent sprays on the couch, I've tried the medication, I’ve tried aluminium foil on the couch, I’ve literally tried every single thing that every dickhead “specialist” on YouTube and qualified vet has recommended. I’ve never had these issues with a cat before and it’s exhausting.

I’m not convinced it’s behavioural because he doesn’t present as a cat with anxiety or stress, he’s a ragdoll for Christ sake, if he was anymore relaxed he’d be in a coma. The only thing I can put it down to based on his symptoms is a genuine physical medical issue but no qualified vet that I have taken him to is taking me seriously because he’s only 12 weeks old.

What do I do in this situation, I love the little guy but I can’t do it anymore. I come home to my couch saturated and soiled after a long day at work and just cry, I don’t have the energy to be frustrated anymore.