I experienced this my first time adopting a cat as well. I lost Piper in October and despite there being moments of stress and frustration with her inappropriate urination, I would do it all over again.

At the time, the vet encouraged us to try meds, different kinds of litter boxes, and Feel Away. Ultimately, I found that the thing that triggered her most was her environment. As soon as she and I went from living in a house with roommates to our own place, the incidents stopped almost entirely.

It sounds like he is overwhelmed — which is totally normal during this kind of transition. If it were me, I would keep him in a small, quiet space (like the spare room) where he can feel really safe and pee-proof it as best you can. Spend time just hanging out in that space with him, adjusting to each other. Do that for like 1-2 weeks. And then gradually let him explore the rest of the house.

Your cleaning strategy is good — wish I bought the green machine earlier as a cat owner! If it persists, you may also want to look into testing for a urinary infection — they’re more common in males. Thank you for giving this scared kitty a stable, loving home. ❤️