Disappointed..........a setback???

[jenluckenbach]

I no longer know if this is MEDICAL or BEHAVIORAL so I'll post here. I found a rather large pee spot on a pillow tonight. It is in the far bedroom (the cat room) and I know it was not there at breakfast, but I do not know when it happened. It could have been any time between 7 am. and 8 p.m. and it could have been ANY cat. Needless to say I am a little sad and afraid the problem will start all over if I do not figure out who is the culprit.
This evening (5:30) was Sterling's first dose of the amitriptylin in cream form placed in the ear. Could that have made the difference? I don't know.
DRATS. :(

[nodgeness]

Jen, I have no clue! I'm sorry wish I could help you out. Where I'm concerned you've been my expert! Good luck!

[K & L]

That's too bad. It's so hard when there's so many (I know). Kevin found some pee in our magazine basket last night. Of course we have NO idea either. We find something like this every onece in a while. I sure hope you get yours solved soon.

[kimlovescats]

Poor Jen.... I sure hope the ear cream works for you.... I know you have been through so much! I don't know what else to suggest, except that you might have to start secluding one cat at a time for a few days, just to be certain who it is that has the problem!?:confused:

[NoahsMommy]

:( Uh oh! :(

I really hope the ear cream works for you. I forget, did this start happened after one of the fosters came? I ask because Micah has been doing this too, but only on my work shirts! :mad: :( I'm not sure if its the smell of other cats/dogs/etc or if he's mad with the foster kittens.

I added lots of Rescue Remedy to their water and he hasn't done it in two days. That...and I hid my shirts!

I sure hope you can get this figured out. Its been sad and frustrating for me as Micah just had a urinalysis and I know its not a physical thing.

[jazzcat]

Jen I'm so sorry. How frustrating to get this far and have a set back. Just a thought but is this the kind of meds they will have to be weened off? If so then I would think there would still be enough in his system from the oral even if the cream isn't is strong. That is if he had a dose of oral yesterday.

I want you to know I now feel your pain. I watched Ripley back up to my freshly painted wall and spray all over it and my brand new carpet. The carpet hadn't even been down 24 hours when he did it this morning. I'm going to post about it to see if anyone has suggestions.

Hang in there and please share any suggestions.

[Miss Meow]

Sorry Jen, that's a setback you didn't need. :(

Maybe we need a Urinators Anonymous group. Someone widdled on our bathroom vanity basin the other day, filled up the indentation that holds soap :rolleyes:

[krazyaboutkatz]

Jen, I'm so sorry to hear about your setback. :( Hopefully you'll be able to figure out which cat did this and that the meds will continue to work. Good luck and try not to get too discouraged.

[catmandu]

I thought that I had sams peeing over except now that I have found that he has been going on the spare bed in the basement and in the dirt around the water meter.I love him and if it means more cleaning , then so be it. But I know what you are going through as there is a smell in the house that I may nevr lose!Oi Ve!

[jenluckenbach]

Well, I actually caught Sterling spraying the wall. I will be calling the vet in the morning to find out if there is a possibility that the cream form is not as effective as the pill form (since that seems to be the only thing that has changed).
Wish us luck...........Sterling is in solitary for the duration.

[slick]

Oh Jen, sorry I'm late getting to this thread and sorry for the setback. I'm surprised that the cream is not helping and maybe the pills are the way to go. Poor you and poor Sterlling. You've certainly had your hands full lately and I wish there was something I could do to help.

And once again, I count my blessings because I've never had any peeing or pooping problems at all (**knock on wood, I mean, my head **)

Please keep us updated as to what the vet says.

[sasvermont]

Jen, it is my understanding that the cream form does have some differences in the doses, as the actual medication is diluted by the cream. I would contact the vet and see if increases the amount or frequency would be ok or recommended.

When I first took Miley to an emergency vet when she had the puncture wounds from Ti's bites, the vet there at the time would not give me a prescription for the cream with amitpline because he didn't believe anyone would ever be able to determine the amount of medicine being supplied. However, other vets prescribe it all the time, and it works. I think the secret is to get the right dose.

Please keep us posted....and keep a stiff upper lip.

Remember, sometimes kitties are happier in a single cat household....or in some cases, just a different household. I know it sounds like a real heart breaking situation/decision, and I wouldn't want to be in your place. As long as you find your kitty, just the right house, you will be surprised how much happier everyone will be.......and then, maybe everything will work out without having to rehome the kitty. Rehoming is not "giving up" on the kitty, merely adjusting the kitty to a new living situation. The kitty will survive. Really.

I hope I have not offened you but just given you some food for thought.

SAS

[jenluckenbach]

No offense SAS, just tears. I feel that even if Sterling would adjust elsewhere, I would not. After all, he was FINE......perfectly FINE.......until I brought in too many and why should HE have to be the one to leave?:(
But the other nagging thought is" What if I rehome Sterling and it doesn't stop, and then I rehome Jim and it doesn't stop.......?" And possibly Bonnie would have to go next, as she was the one who may well have started this whole problem.............See my problem, what if I get rid of my kitty only to find out I did not have to, that is was someone else all the time? Once they are gone, there is no going back.

As for the medicine, they vet asked me the dose of my pills so the cream could be made accordingly and supposedly that amount is in the dose that I am to use. (In this case, the dose is 5 mg and I administer .1 ml.....so 5mg in .1 ml)

Tomorrow morning I will be giving him a pill (not cream) and then I will talk to the vet when the office opens.

[rg_girlca]

Oh Jen i'm so sorry to hear of your setback.
I hope and pray that the meds take effect or whatever is bothering Sterling will soon be solved.

[sasvermont]

Jen, you were/are merely trying to take care of your pets and those in need of a new home. Some kitties adjust better than others.

I know how you feel about Sterling. It would be like me giving Miley a new home, when Ti was the last arrival..... I was more committed to Miley, since I had had her for much longer.

What about a cat behaviorist? Are there any around you? The one I was to engage was not that expensive, although I didn't keep Ti and didn't use her services. I was going to though.

Prayers coming your way!

L,
SAS

[nemechek]

Hi-
I know what you're going through, I see it often here too. May I suggest my opinion here.

I think you can link this problem to one of 2 things, most likely.
The first one is a FUS. Which is basically a urinary infection in a cat. It's pretty common in cats and needs medical attention. If you can't get to a vet right now, I can tell you how to treat it like it was FUS without having to go in. I know not everyone, my self included, always has a few hundred dollars laying around to spend on vet expensise at the drop of a hat. So it could be an infection.

The second would be behavoral. Some cats, when they are mad or stressed (like a cat who has too many other cats in the house, and they feel crowded, or a cat with kids who are tormenting it) will go and pee to get it's owners attention. I have a boy here, I'm still decideding what to do with. He pees on stuff because he doesn't like the other 3 cats in the house. He's stressed, even thought the other cats are very nice and never harm him. He just likes to keep to himself and stays in pretty much one room. I know this is his problem, as he was previously in a one cat household and never had a problem there. I took him to the vet 3 times to be tested for a urinary infection, and it was nothing. This tells me that it's the other cats.

Good luck! If I can help in any other way, email me and I'll do what I can :)

[IttyBittyKitty]

I am sad to hear that Sterling is still having troubles. I hope that the vet can sort something out to make it go away. I am having a little headache introducing and managing the problems that having two babies can cause - I can't imagine what you go through having 14 plus the fosters. I can guess that sometimes these type of things will happen - it's not your fault, Jen, sometimes cats get a bee in their bonnet. When Mum first introduced Whisky and Milo to her boyfriend's cats these sorts of things happened but it settled down again. Maybe all it needs is lots of cuddles and even more time.

[PayItForward]

Just a suggestion....

Kim mentioned she had this problem until she opened up the garage and cat run to her cats,that seemed to stop the problem.

Is there any chance of using an outroom or outside cat run to give them a little more space !!! Might be too impractical/expensive to consider.

Maybe space isn't the problem but I just hope the situation gets sorted for both your sake and the cats.

[jenluckenbach]

Is there any chance of using an outroom or outside cat run to give them a little more space
Unfortunately, Not likely.

But interestingly enough, I read where it can actually be TOO much space that causes the problem. (here in lies the reason for confining to a smaller space). Since the cat has SO much territory to "protect" it needs to spray the areas it feels that it cannot patrol properly. Don't get me wrong, too little space with too many cats would be bad also.

Last evening Sterling sprayed again. This time I had allowed him out of his single room into the room with me and the fosters (I did this during their original confinement, under supervision). So I feel that it most definitely IS the foster kittens that is bugging him the most. Hopefully when I let him back downstairs again (and the fosters are upstairs) things will go back to the dry period.

But if the truth be know, I am seriously thinking of rehoming him. (much to my dismay). But I truly don't see where he has a good chance at being wanted by anyone else. After all, it is not like I can guarrentee that he will not keep spraying.

[sasvermont]

Jen, where there is will, there is a way.

Sometimes, and I have seen it, cats do not continue with their bad behavior when put in a new environment.

It sounds to me (and I am NOT - IN NO WAY - EVER an expert, but it sounds to me as though Sterling would make a wonderful only pet in a house that has not been sprayed before.

Have you considered a cat behaviorist? They often work with people who's cats are misbehaving, elimination-wise! Give it a try?

My heart goes out to you!

What about pampers?

;)

[PayItForward]

Jen..

What about waiting until the fosters have been homed, maybe absence of stranger cats might cure him.

SAS idea of a cat behaviourist is a great idea.

I agree that I can't see Sterling having this problem in another home but I still hope that you might not have to rehome him.

[jenluckenbach]

What about waiting until the fosters have been homed, maybe absence of stranger cats might cure him
But I still have Bonnie and she is another possible cause for his dismay. (as she WAS the first foster.......and SHE is a strange cat to Sterling..............and the fosters were not even downstairs when Sterling sprayed on Thursday)

[jenluckenbach]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid56/pa0c6da2135d6c66a1796dbd60d121994/fc75e2bc.jpg

Could YOU say good bye to him???
I have been staring at this picture for a good 20 minutes, and I do not know if I can do it. I LOVE him!

[ChrisH]

Jen, I am so sorry about the continuing problem with Sterling. I am also sorry that I don`t have any advice/solutions to offer either. :( I just wanted to let you know that although I haven`t posted much you & the problems have been in my thoughts and prayers. Will be keeping you there and doubling those requests to the Big Guy.

lots of Hugs
Chris

[sasvermont]

Well, Jen, maybe you should be looking for a new home for Bonnie and the fosters. By the way, fostering is a wonderful thing in my humble opinion, but it can lead to some issues at home...... Cats can sense a new cat.....even from the smell on your clothes etc. not just that they are "upstairs".... CATS CATS CATS...

Sterling is a handsome dude and I too would have a hard time rehoming him.

What about putting him on a leash in the house and then letting him know that it is a no-no when he decides to stray?

I really think a cat behaviorist is the answer. My good vet gave me the name of the person I was going to use with the Ti and Miley situation. I think she charged $75 for the visit. The form I was to fill out was all about inappropriate elimation issues...and then a tiny bit on aggression. Anyway, maybe a few phone calls to different vets will land you with a number to call. My guess is that the U of Pa Vet clinic/school should know someone within the general area. They usually come out to the house, and Allentown isn't that far from Phila area.

Good luck deary.

I cannot stand the smell of cat urine and know that you must be going through hell removing the smell. By the way, many years ago I had a foster cat that sprayed (female!!) and the only scent that would cover the cat urine smell what Ralph Loren Polo - men's cologne. Hehehehehehehe! Really.



:cool:

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
But I still have Bonnie and she is another possible cause for his dismay. (as she WAS the first foster.......and SHE is a strange cat to Sterling..............and the fosters were not even downstairs when Sterling sprayed on Thursday)
Yes I agree Bonnie could be part of the problem but she might not be. You could rehome several beloved cats and still not pin point the cause.

After all Sterling will know the foster cats are upstairs on his property and that is upsetting to him. Maybe as he couldn't spay upstairs so he tried his best to mark downstairs ? My guess anyway.

I suggested waiting until the fosters have gone and temporily refusing any more to see if this help Sterling. As this will also be the least upsetting for you, after all you expect the fosters to be rehomed.

I reckon he'll get used to Bonnie but the strange cats on the 2nd & 3rd floor is too much for him. As scent is the factor for cats, the smell of the strange cats on you, might be enough to set him off. He knows they are up there if he sees them or not.

Cat are very aware of scent, my cats spit at the handbag, I took to a friends house and her cats marked it by rubbing cheeks across it. Cats !!!

[PayItForward]

Bump

[jenluckenbach]

maybe you should be looking for a new home for Bonnie
Bonnie would be HARD to rehome. We tried and she **FREAKED** out and the people returned her. Finding her a suitable home could take quite a long time.


You could rehome several beloved cats and still not pin point the cause.
This is one of my fears, because once they are gone there is no turning back. No saying....."well, that didn't stop my problem, I want him/her back"


Cats can sense a new cat.....even from the smell on your clothes
But keep in mind that I smell like strange cats (and dogs) EVERY day from work. How could he know the difference?

I am still wishy-washy about what I will do. After all, I still have Jim and his problem might start up again any time now.

[K & L]

I don't know Jen, that would be a tough decision and I don't think I could get rid of any of my cats. That's why we have the cat run, it helped our problem tremendously. I wish you luck on this very emotional and tough decision.

[NoahsMommy]

It seems like this problem is so "popular" right now!! Micah is doing the same thing. :( :( :( :( :( And...my boss's dog is going even when she leaves her house for five minutes. :(

I'll be bringing home a feliway plug in and not leaving ANYTHING that he wants to pee on on the floor (that's what he's been doing...poor David did laundry and found the clothes that didn't make it to the basket were peed on!)

Jen, is there any way Sterling can be separated? I thought you said you had three floors, could maybe she only have access to one? Did the Feliway work at all? Does she do better in a confined space?

[jenluckenbach]

I can confine Sterling to one room but only temporarily. I don't think I could keep him separate for life. And so far he DOES do better when he is in one room.
As for the feliway, I tried the plug-ins first, before the medicine, and by themselves they did not help. They are still plugged in so i do not know if they do anything or not (I have had good and bad times with them in use). The fliway spray could be helping. I was using that during the time I had no accidents and I do have to admit to slacking up on its use right before the first relapse. (You are suppose to use it daily, twice daily in situations like mine, for a month). Let me tell you, that's HARD to keep up with.